---
name: alloydb-basics
description: Manages clusters, instances, and backups for AlloyDB for PostgreSQL, and integrates with AlloyDB MCP tools for automated database operations including AI-powered search and vector capabilities.
metadata:
  source: google/skills (Apache 2.0)
---

# AlloyDB Basics

AlloyDB for PostgreSQL is a managed, PostgreSQL-compatible database service
designed for enterprise-grade performance and availability. It utilizes a
disaggregated compute and storage architecture to scale resources independently.
It also provides AlloyDB AI, a collection of features that includes AI-powered
search (vector, hybrid search, and AI functions), natural language capabilities,
conversational analytics, and inference features like forecasting and model
endpoint management to help developers build AI apps faster.

## Quick Start

1.  **Enable the AlloyDB API:**

    ```bash
    gcloud services enable alloydb.googleapis.com --quiet
    ```

2.  **Create a Cluster:**

    ```bash
    gcloud alloydb clusters create my-cluster --region=us-central1 \
        --password=my-password --network=my-vpc \
        --quiet
    ```

    *Note: For production, we recommend using IAM database authentication
    instead of passwords. If passwords must be used, use secure secret
    management (e.g., Secret Manager) instead of passing passwords in
    cleartext.*

3.  **Create a Primary Instance:**

    ```bash
    gcloud alloydb instances create my-primary --cluster=my-cluster \
        --region=us-central1 --instance-type=PRIMARY --cpu-count=2 \
        --quiet
    ```

## Reference Directory

-   [Core Concepts](references/core-concepts.md): Architecture, disaggregated
    storage, and performance features.

-   [CLI Usage](references/cli-usage.md): Essential `gcloud alloydb` commands
    for cluster and instance management.

-   [Client Libraries & Connectors](references/client-library-usage.md):
    Connecting to AlloyDB using Python, Java, Node.js, and Go.

-   [MCP Usage](references/mcp-usage.md): Using the AlloyDB remote MCP server
    and Gemini CLI extension.

-   [Infrastructure as Code](references/iac-usage.md): Terraform
    configuration and deployment examples.

-   [IAM & Security](references/iam-security.md): Predefined roles, service
    agents, and database authentication.

*If you need product information not found in these references, use the
    Developer Knowledge MCP server `search_documents` tool.*


---
Source attribution: davila7
Original project: https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates/blob/4efb68547887d2a4dd714074bd7ecb4171dc9fee/cli-tool/components/skills/database/alloydb-basics/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Dave AI.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2025 Daniel (San) Ávila

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.


# Dave AI resource metadata

Creator / publisher: davila7
Original project: https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates/blob/4efb68547887d2a4dd714074bd7ecb4171dc9fee/cli-tool/components/skills/database/alloydb-basics/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Development & Engineering
Roles: Backend Developer, Data Engineer, Database Administrator, ML / AI Engineer
Specialties: API, Database
Tools: GCP, Terraform
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: c658db8a9e344869b4a4dda47ba563a7d843a91854e8f5a96389b79572ea395d