---
name: setting-up-astro-project-0e1755743d5d
description: Initialize and configure Astro/Airflow projects. Use when the user wants to create a new project, set up dependencies, configure connections/variables, or understand project structure. For running the local environment, see managing-astro-local-env.
---

# Astro Project Setup

This skill helps you initialize and configure Airflow projects using the Astro CLI.

> **To run the local environment**, see the **managing-astro-local-env** skill.
> **To write DAGs**, see the **authoring-dags** skill.
> **Open-source alternative:** If the user isn't on Astro, guide them to Apache Airflow's Docker Compose quickstart for local dev and the Helm chart for production. For deployment strategies, use the `deploying-airflow` skill.

---

## Initialize a New Project

```bash
astro dev init
```

Creates this structure:
```
project/
├── dags/                # DAG files
├── include/             # SQL, configs, supporting files
├── plugins/             # Custom Airflow plugins
├── tests/               # Unit tests
├── Dockerfile           # Image customization
├── packages.txt         # OS-level packages
├── requirements.txt     # Python packages
└── airflow_settings.yaml # Connections, variables, pools
```

---

## Adding Dependencies

### Python Packages (requirements.txt)

```
apache-airflow-providers-snowflake==5.3.0
pandas==2.1.0
requests>=2.28.0
```

### OS Packages (packages.txt)

```
gcc
libpq-dev
```

### Custom Dockerfile

For complex setups (private PyPI, custom scripts):

```dockerfile
FROM quay.io/astronomer/astro-runtime:12.4.0

RUN pip install --extra-index-url https://pypi.example.com/simple my-package
```

**After modifying dependencies:** Run `astro dev restart`

---

## Configuring Connections & Variables

### airflow_settings.yaml

Loaded automatically on environment start:

```yaml
airflow:
  connections:
    - conn_id: my_postgres
      conn_type: postgres
      host: host.docker.internal
      port: 5432
      login: user
      password: pass
      schema: mydb

  variables:
    - variable_name: env
      variable_value: dev

  pools:
    - pool_name: limited_pool
      pool_slot: 5
```

### Export/Import

```bash
# Export from running environment
astro dev object export --connections --file connections.yaml

# Import to environment
astro dev object import --connections --file connections.yaml
```

---

## Validate Before Running

Parse DAGs to catch errors without starting the full environment:

```bash
astro dev parse
```

---

## Related Skills

- **managing-astro-local-env**: Start, stop, and troubleshoot the local environment
- **authoring-dags**: Write and validate DAGs (uses MCP tools)
- **testing-dags**: Test DAGs (uses MCP tools)
- **deploying-airflow**: Deploy DAGs to production (Astro, Docker Compose, Kubernetes)


---
Source attribution: 420company
Original project: https://github.com/420company/artemis/blob/6fcd9f8e3045e30712e24a177f6d8d63d06cbb5d/skill-packs/cco/analysts/cco-astronomer-data-agents-setting-up-astro-project/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) 2026 420.COMPANY

This software is open source and free for everyone.
Fork it. Improve it. Make it yours.
Pull requests, ideas, and contributions are always welcome.

https://github.com/420company/artemis

---

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: 420company
Original project: https://github.com/420company/artemis/blob/6fcd9f8e3045e30712e24a177f6d8d63d06cbb5d/skill-packs/cco/analysts/cco-astronomer-data-agents-setting-up-astro-project/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Development & Engineering
Roles: Data Engineer, ML / AI Engineer, Backend Developer
Specialties: Backend, DevOps
Tools: Astro, Docker
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source category, role and specialization labels
Instruction SHA-256: e5b43ed0d169e4996131b41fecdc0dece9499defc324852aa21d2a32739cbea4