Skip to content
All Skills

Using Cloud CLI

Cloud CLI patterns for GCP and AWS. Use when running bq queries, gcloud commands, aws commands, or making decisions about cloud services. Covers BigQuery cost optimization and operational best practices.

DevOps & Cloud|v1|Updated 7/14/2026|GitHub source
MCP get_skill({ skillId: "using-cloud-cli-29aff398" })

Use this skill with your agent

Create a free account and connect via MCP

Get Started Free
# Cloud CLI Patterns

Credentials are pre-configured. Use `--help` or Context7 for syntax.

## BigQuery

```bash
# Always estimate cost first
bq query --dry_run --use_legacy_sql=false 'SELECT ...'

# Run query
bq query --use_legacy_sql=false --format=json 'SELECT ...'

# List tables
bq ls project:dataset

# Get table schema
bq show --schema --format=json project:dataset.table
```

**Cost awareness**: Charged per bytes scanned. Use `--dry_run`, partition tables, specify columns.

## GCP (gcloud)

```bash
# List resources
gcloud compute instances list --format=json

# Describe resource
gcloud compute instances describe INSTANCE --zone=ZONE --format=json

# Create with explicit project
gcloud compute instances create NAME --project=PROJECT --zone=ZONE

# Use --quiet for automation
gcloud compute instances delete NAME --quiet
```

## AWS

```bash
# List resources
aws ec2 describe-instances --output json

# With JMESPath filtering
aws ec2 describe-instances --query 'Reservations[].Instances[].InstanceId' --output text

# Explicit region
aws s3 ls s3://bucket --region us-west-2

# Dry run where available
aws ec2 run-instances --dry-run ...
```

## References

- [GCP.md](GCP.md) - GCP service patterns and common commands
- [AWS.md](AWS.md) - AWS service patterns and common commands
- [scripts/](scripts/) - Helper scripts for common operations

---

## Gotchas

- **`gcloud auth login` and `gcloud auth application-default login` are DIFFERENT credentials** — a script working for the user can 401 in CI because CI only has the latter.
- **AWS CLI v1 vs v2 have different config formats** — both may be installed; `aws --version` reveals which is the default `aws` binary.
- **BigQuery cost estimation requires `--dry_run`** — without it, you can run a $100 query thinking it's free. Always estimate first.
- **Precedence**: `AWS_PROFILE` vs `--profile` flag vs `AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID` direct env — three-way precedence is order-dependent and rarely documented.
- **gcloud impersonation chains via `--impersonate-service-account` need IAM token-creator on EACH hop** — missing one hop returns 403 with vague "permission denied".
- **`aws sts get-caller-identity` is the cheapest way to verify which credential you're actually using** — always check first.
#broad-capability#devops#azure#kubernetes#productivity#cloud#architectureawsbqgcloud

Related Skills

More skills in DevOps & Cloud

1password Skill

1password Skill linked from Juliano Barbosa Claude Code Skills, with the upstream skill instructions available on GitHub.

#github#broad-capabilityMIT

Actions Manager

GitHub Actions command center -- view workflow runs, read logs, re-run failed jobs, manage workflows, and debug CI failures entirely from the editor. Bypasses the deeply nested, visually-dependent Actions UI that is largely inaccessible to screen readers.

#broad-capability#accessibilityMIT

Airunway Aks Setup

Set up AI Runway on AKS — from bare cluster to running model. Covers cluster verification, controller install, GPU assessment, provider setup, and first deployment. WHEN: "setup AI Runway", "onboard AKS cluster", "install AI Runway", "airunway setup", "deploy model to AKS", "GPU inference on AKS", "KAITO setup on AKS", "run LLM on AKS", "vLLM on AKS", "set up model serving on AKS", "AI Runway controller".

#broad-capability#developmentMIT

Alz Accelerator

Deploy Azure Landing Zones using the ALZ Accelerator with AVM (Azure Verified Modules). Use this skill whenever the user mentions Azure Landing Zones, ALZ, Azure landing zone accelerator, AVM modules for landing zones, deploying management groups, hub-and-spoke networking, Virtual WAN, platform landing zones, or asks about Bicep vs Terraform for Azure infrastructure. Also trigger when the user wants to bootstrap CI/CD for Azure platform deployment, set up management groups hierarchy, or deploy connectivity/identity/management platform subscriptions.

#broad-capability#devopsMIT

Alz Accelerator Skill

Alz Accelerator Skill linked from Juliano Barbosa Claude Code Skills, with the upstream skill instructions available on GitHub.

#github#broad-capabilityMIT

Ansible Conventions and Best Practices

Ansible conventions and best practices

#github-copilot#devopsMIT