---

name: tygen description: Generate and use TypeScript types for one CDF data model in a Dune or Flows app. Use only when the TyGen alpha flag is explicitly enabled. allowed-tools: Read, Glob, Grep, Edit, Write, Bash

TyGen

Use a TyGen-enabled cognite CLI to add generated model types and typed view references to a Dune or Flows app. The generated files describe the selected data model. They do not provide a runtime client, query helpers, or data-model CRUD APIs.

Availability

TyGen is experimental and is not part of the normal app workflow. Before suggesting, running, or editing code that depends on generated output, verify that COGNITE_ALPHA_ENABLE_TYGEN is explicitly set to true for the command environment. If it is not enabled, explain that TyGen is an opt-in alpha capability and continue with the native @cognite/sdk types and APIs already used by the app.

If you introduce TyGen as an option, confirm the user wants to use it before running it. An explicit request to generate types is sufficient confirmation. Do not enable the flag, add it to a repository, or change deployment configuration without the user's explicit approval.

Generate

Generate against one versioned data model:

npx @cognite/cli@latest tygen generate \
  --data-model mySpace:myModel:v1

Use the CLI installed by the app or a local build that exposes tygen generate --help. Code on main may not yet be in the published @cognite/cli@latest package.

In an interactive terminal, omit --data-model to pick a model from the target project. The picker selects a versioned model. The --interactive flag controls browser authentication, independently of the model picker.

The command authenticates using the app configuration and environment in the current directory. Use --interactive for browser authentication, or use --base-url and --project with it when generating outside an app directory. Use -o <directory> only when the default output location is unsuitable.

When the data-model reference is unknown, cognite api datamodels list can list available models. This command requires the separate COGNITE_ALPHA_ENABLE_API=true flag. Check that it is already enabled before running it.

The default output location is src/generated_types/<externalId>/. Each run writes types.ts and views.ts in that directory, so application code must not be written into the generated directory. Commit the generated output with the app source.

Consume

Import model property types from types.ts and view references from views.ts. Pass view references inside a source object to the native @cognite/sdk. Its response groups properties first by space, then by externalId/version. Validate the fields you use before narrowing runtime data to a generated type:

import type { Equipment } from './generated_types/PlantModel/types';
import { EquipmentView } from './generated_types/PlantModel/views';

function hasEquipmentName(value: unknown): value is Pick<Equipment, 'name'> {
  return typeof value === 'object'
    && value !== null
    && 'name' in value
    && typeof value.name === 'string';
}

const response = await sdk.instances.list({
  instanceType: 'node',
  sources: [{ source: EquipmentView }],
});

for (const node of response.items) {
  const properties = node.properties?.[EquipmentView.space]?.[
    `${EquipmentView.externalId}/${EquipmentView.version}`
  ];
  if (hasEquipmentName(properties)) console.log(properties.name);
}

Generated direct relations use DirectRelationTo<Target>, which combines DirectRelationReference from @cognite/sdk with a phantom target type. It preserves the CDF wire format and only improves static TypeScript checking.

Regenerate after a data-model change, inspect the diff, and run the app's typecheck and relevant tests. Do not edit generated files by hand.