---
title: "dbt projects with no declared orchestrator | Metacenta"
description: "If nothing in the repository schedules your dbt models, nobody can review how they run. How we look for an orchestrator, and which answers settle it."
url: "https://metacenta.com/rules/orchestration-undeclared"
updated: "2026-10-14"
tokens: 513
---

Orchestration & reliability · rule orchestration-undeclared

# dbt projects with no declared orchestrator

A Metacenta review checks this under the rule **Something schedules this project**. Everything below applies whether or not you ever commission one.

## What this rule checks

For a project with dbt models, this rule flags when no dependency manifest declares a recognised orchestrator. The list covers Airflow, Dagster, Prefect, Luigi, Kedro, Flyte, Kestra, astronomer-cosmos and others. A DAG file you name to us also passes.

## Why it matters

A schedule that lives outside the repository isn't versioned with the models it builds. Nobody can review how the platform runs in production, and a new joiner can't find it by reading the project.

## How to fix it

**Show what schedules this project.** Declare the orchestrator in the repository that holds the models. If it runs elsewhere, write down where, so the schedule can be found and reviewed.

## When it is fine to leave

dbt Cloud, a managed Airflow, a cron job or an orchestrator in another repository are all real answers. Tell us which, and the finding comes out of your report.

## What we need to check it

A dependency manifest: `requirements.txt`, `pyproject.toml`, `environment.yml` or `package.json`. With none, we report that we could not look. We match exact package names, never a substring guess.

[Ask about a review](https://metacenta.com/enquire?src=rule-orchestration-undeclared&via=md)

## Related pages

- [Airflow DAG owner: how to set it and what it does](https://metacenta.com/rules/dag-unowned)
- [Airflow DAGs with no retries](https://metacenta.com/rules/dag-no-retries)
- [Airflow DAGs with no failure alert](https://metacenta.com/rules/dag-no-failure-alert)
- [Airflow catchup: what it does and how to control it](https://metacenta.com/rules/dag-catchup-unbounded)
- [This rule in a sample review](https://metacenta.com/sample#jaffle-shop)
- [All published rules](https://metacenta.com/rules)
- [How a review is assessed](https://metacenta.com/standard)