Skill Feedback: db-core/collection-setup (mixed)

[KyleAMathews]

Skill Feedback: db-core/collection-setup

Package: @tanstack/db
Skill version: 0.5.30
Rating: mixed

Task

Set up an Electric-backed TanStack DB collection with Zod schema, optimistic mutations, and live queries in a TanStack Start app.

What Worked

• electricCollectionOptions config shape was accurate
• getKey, onInsert/onUpdate/onDelete handler patterns matched reality
• txid handshake pattern (return { txid } from handlers) was correct in concept
• The warning about queryFn returning empty arrays was valuable context
• Schema with z.union for transformed fields (TInput superset of TOutput) was documented and saved time

What Failed

• No errors from this skill directly — the collection-setup patterns were accurate.

Missing

1. Complete Zod schema example for electricCollectionOptions — The skill shows schemas for queryCollectionOptions but the Electric adapter example just references todoSchema without defining it. Without a schema, the collection types as Record<string, unknown> which causes type errors everywhere. A concrete Zod schema example paired with the Electric collection setup would prevent agents from guessing.

2. localOnlyCollectionOptions framing too strong — The skill says "Use localOnlyCollectionOptions for prototyping — the collection API is uniform, so swapping to a real backend later only changes the options creator." This is good advice in general, but the agent interpreted it as "default to local-only even when the user explicitly requests Electric." Consider reframing: "If you don't have a backend yet, use localOnlyCollectionOptions. If the user specifies a backend (e.g. Electric), use that adapter directly."

Self-Corrections

• Initially created collection with localOnlyCollectionOptions and Electric config commented out. User corrected this. Rewrote to use electricCollectionOptions directly.

User Comments

• User was frustrated that the agent defaulted to localOnlyCollectionOptions when they explicitly said "with Electric"