MXQL Query Toolkit

Overview

This skill provides a complete toolkit for working with MXQL (Metrics Query Language), WhaTap's query language for metrics monitoring. It combines four key capabilities:

1. 🔧 Query Generation: Conversational, step-by-step query creation
2. 🔍 Query Analysis: Syntax validation, semantic checks, performance optimization
3. ✅ Automated Validation: Python-based syntax validator (no Java required)
4. 🧪 Test Query Generation: Create testable queries with ADDROW sample data

Supported Products (631 categories across 36+ product types):

• Database (44 categories): MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, MongoDB, Redis, DB2, Tibero, etc.
• Application/APM (16 categories): Java, Python, Node.js, .NET, PHP, Go, etc.
• Infrastructure (16 categories): Server, CPU, Memory, Disk, Network, Process
• Kubernetes (28 categories): Pod, Deployment, Node, Service, CronJob, etc.
• Cloud (270+ categories): AWS (107), Azure (147), OCI (48), NCloud (11)
• Container: Docker, ECS (4 categories)
• Real User Monitoring (13 categories): Browser, Page Load, Visitor
• Others: URL Monitoring, Log, Telegraf, Event

When to Use This Skill

For Query Generation

Activate when users:

• Request to "create", "generate", or "make" an MXQL query
• Ask to "query metrics" or "monitor performance"
• Need help selecting categories, fields, or syntax
• Want to find specific metrics (CPU, memory, sessions, etc.)

Examples:

• "Create MXQL query for MySQL CPU usage"
• "Generate query to find high memory DB instances"
• "How do I query PostgreSQL active sessions?"

For Query Analysis

Activate when users:

• Provide an MXQL query and ask "is this correct?"
• Want to "analyze", "review", "debug", or "check" a query
• Ask "why isn't this query working?"
• Request query optimization or performance improvements

Examples:

• "Analyze this MXQL query"
• "What's wrong with my query?"
• "Optimize this MXQL"

For Testing

Activate when users:

• Ask "how can I test this query?"
• Request example data or test scenarios
• Want to validate query results before production

Core Capabilities

1. Query Generation 🔧

Conversational Approach: Guide users through query creation step-by-step.

Quick Start:

1. Understand intent (What, Where, How, When)
2. Clarify product/category if ambiguous
3. Suggest relevant fields and filters
4. Generate query with explanations
5. Offer test query version

Detailed Guide: See generating-guide.md

---

2. Query Analysis 🔍

Comprehensive Review: Syntax, semantics, performance, best practices.

Quick Start:

# Step 1: Automated validation
from mxql_validator import MXQLValidator, format_validation_result
validator = MXQLValidator()
is_valid, issues = validator.validate(query)
print(format_validation_result(is_valid, issues))

# Step 2: Manual deep analysis (if needed)
# Step 3: Offer test query generation

Analysis Levels:

• Quick Check: Syntax + critical errors
• Standard: + Performance issues + Best practices
• Deep Dive: + Optimization alternatives + Security

Detailed Guide: See analyzing-guide.md

---

3. Automated Validation ✅

Python Validator (mxql_validator.py): Fast syntax validation without Java.

Features:

• Bracket/brace balance checking
• Command order validation
• Semantic error detection (UPDATE without GROUP, etc.)
• Performance issue identification
• Best practice suggestions

Usage:

from mxql_validator import MXQLValidator, format_validation_result

validator = MXQLValidator()
is_valid, issues = validator.validate(query_text)
result = format_validation_result(is_valid, issues)

Output:

✅ Query is valid (0 critical, 1 warning, 2 info)

🟡 Warnings:
  Line 5: LIMIT without ORDER - results may be arbitrary

---

4. Test Query Generation 🧪

Test Generator (test_query_generator.py): Create testable queries with ADDROW.

Features:

• Automatic sample data generation
• Field extraction from query
• Comprehensive testing guide
• Customization instructions

Usage:

from test_query_generator import TestQueryGenerator

generator = TestQueryGenerator()

# Generate test query with sample data
test_query = generator.generate_simple_test_example(original_query)

# Or comprehensive testing guide
guide = generator.generate_test_guide(original_query)

Output Example:

SUB {id: test_data}
ADDROW {'time':1700000000000, 'oid':1000, 'oname':'server-1', 'cpu':50}
ADDROW {'time':1700000060000, 'oid':1001, 'oname':'server-2', 'cpu':75}
END

CATEGORY db_mysql_counter
TAGLOAD
APPEND {query: test_data}
SELECT [oname, cpu]
ORDER {key: [cpu], sort: "desc"}
LIMIT 10

Workflow Examples

Workflow 1: Generate + Validate + Test

User: "Create MXQL query for MySQL high CPU instances"
Claude: [Activates mxql skill - Generation mode]

Step 1: Understanding intent
- What: CPU usage
- Where: MySQL
- How: Find high CPU instances (Top-N query)
- When: Current

Step 2: Generate query
```mxql
CATEGORY db_mysql_counter
TAGLOAD
SELECT [oname, cpu(xos), mem_pct]
FILTER {key: "cpu(xos)", cmp: "gt", value: "70"}
ORDER {key: [cpu(xos)], sort: "desc"}
LIMIT 10

Step 3: Validate automatically ✅ Query is valid!

Step 4: Offer test query "Would you like a test version with sample data?"

### Workflow 2: Analyze + Fix + Test

User: "Analyze this query: [pastes MXQL with errors]"

Claude: [Activates mxql skill - Analysis mode]

Step 1: Automated validation ❌ Query has critical issues (2 critical, 1 warning)

🔴 Critical Issues: Line 3: UPDATE without preceding GROUP

Step 2: Provide corrected query Step 3: Generate test version of corrected query

### Workflow 3: Category Recommendation

User: "Create MXQL query to monitor pod CPU usage"

Claude: [Activates mxql skill - Generation mode with category discovery]

Step 1: User intent lacks specific category

• Use category_finder.py to search/recommend categories

Step 2: Present options using AskUserQuestion Options:

1. kube_pod - General pod metrics
2. kube_pod_stat - Detailed pod statistics
3. server_cpu_core - Server-level CPU metrics

Step 3: User selects "kube_pod_stat"

Step 4: Load category metadata and generate query with appropriate fields

### Workflow 4: Test Query Generation Only

User: "Generate test query for this MXQL"

Claude: [Uses test_query_generator.py] [Provides comprehensive testing guide with ADDROW examples]

## Reference Files

For detailed documentation:

- **[generating-guide.md](generating-guide.md)** - Complete query generation guide
  - Conversational workflow
  - Category and field selection
  - Common patterns and examples
  
- **[analyzing-guide.md](analyzing-guide.md)** - Complete analysis guide
  - Validation rules
  - Performance optimization patterns
  - Common issues and solutions

- **[analysis-checklist.md](analysis-checklist.md)** - Validation checklist
- **[optimization-patterns.md](optimization-patterns.md)** - Performance patterns
- **[common-issues.md](common-issues.md)** - Troubleshooting guide

## Python Utilities

- **`mxql_validator.py`** - Automated syntax validator
- **`test_query_generator.py`** - Test query generator
- **`category_finder.py`** - Category search and recommendation engine

### 5. Category Discovery & Recommendation 🔎

**Category Finder** (`category_finder.py`): Intelligent category search and recommendation.

**Features**:
- Search 631 categories by keyword
- Recommend categories based on user intent
- Browse categories by product type
- Get detailed category metadata (tags, fields, platforms)
- Multi-language support (English, Korean, Japanese)

**Usage**:
```python
from category_finder import CategoryFinder, format_category_list

finder = CategoryFinder()

# Search by keyword
results = finder.search("postgresql")
print(format_category_list(results))

# Recommend based on intent
recommendations = finder.recommend("monitor kubernetes pod CPU usage")

# Get category details
info = finder.get_category_info("db_postgresql_counter", language="ko")

# List all product types
products = finder.list_all_products()

Command-line usage:

# Search categories
python category_finder.py search postgresql

# Get recommendations
python category_finder.py recommend "monitor kubernetes pod CPU usage"

# List product types
python category_finder.py products

# Get category info
python category_finder.py info db_postgresql_counter

⚠️ CRITICAL: GROUP vs UPDATE Syntax

READ THIS CAREFULLY - This is the most common mistake!

GROUP Syntax (Grouping Configuration)

# ✅ CORRECT - Use special keywords: pk, timeunit, merge, etc.
GROUP {pk: "service"}                    # Group by field
GROUP {pk: ["service", "host"]}          # Group by multiple fields
GROUP {timeunit: "5m"}                   # Time-based grouping
GROUP {timeunit: "5m", pk: "service"}    # Both time and field
GROUP {pk: "service", first: ["status"], last: ["update_time"]}

UPDATE Syntax (Aggregation Function)

# ✅ CORRECT - Use key-value pairs (must come AFTER GROUP)
UPDATE {key: "cpu", value: "avg"}
UPDATE {key: "count", value: "sum"}
UPDATE {value: "sum"}  # key is optional - applies to all numeric fields

❌ WRONG - Never Do This:

# ❌ This is NOT valid MXQL syntax!
GROUP {key: "service", value: "sum"}       # WRONG!
GROUP {key: ["field"], value: ["avg"]}     # WRONG!

# This mistake comes from confusing MXQL with SQL's GROUP BY

Reference

See generating-guide.md for detailed GROUP/UPDATE syntax and examples.

Best Practices

When Generating Queries

1. If category is unclear: Use category_finder.py to recommend categories
   • Ask user to select from recommendations if multiple options exist
   • Use AskUserQuestion tool to present category choices
2. Always clarify ambiguous requirements
3. Suggest relevant fields based on intent (use category metadata)
4. Include explanatory comments in generated queries
5. Validate generated query before providing
6. Offer test query version
7. ALWAYS use pk in GROUP, never key
8. ALWAYS put GROUP before UPDATE

When Analyzing Queries

1. Run automated validation first
2. Report issues by severity (Critical → Warning → Info)
3. Provide corrected/optimized versions
4. Explain trade-offs in optimizations
5. Always offer test query generation

When Testing

1. Generate realistic sample data
2. Provide customization examples
3. Include expected results
4. Give troubleshooting tips

Quick Commands

# Validate query
python mxql_validator.py < query.mxql

# Generate test query
python test_query_generator.py < query.mxql

Integration

This skill integrates all MXQL operations:

• Generate → Auto-validate → Offer test version
• Analyze → Auto-validate → Fix → Offer test version
• Test → Generate ADDROW patterns → Provide guide

The goal is to provide end-to-end support for MXQL query development, from creation to testing.