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What Is Dbt and Why Are Companies Using It?

seattledataguy.substack.com

11–20 of 74 posts

Re: What Is Dbt and Why Are Companies Using It?

#11

I can't argue that dbt isn't great -- it is. It is, however , unfortunate that Python is still the dominate lingua franca here. Between all the Python data tools and JSON being shuffled around ala singer.io, I just can't help but think there is a huge opportunity awaiting the engineers who build a company around an open source set of products using rigorous languages and schemas. It's a goddamn madhouse.

In the other hand, it's convenient to use the same language as Jupyter Notebooks.

Re: What Is Dbt and Why Are Companies Using It?

#12

I can't argue that dbt isn't great -- it is. It is, however , unfortunate that Python is still the dominate lingua franca here. Between all the Python data tools and JSON being shuffled around ala singer.io, I just can't help but think there is a huge opportunity awaiting the engineers who build a company around an open source set of products using rigorous languages and schemas. It's a goddamn madhouse.

Something like Databricks?

Re: What Is Dbt and Why Are Companies Using It?

#15
post #14

So, it's like a makefile with some SQL to do ELT?

"Please don't post shallow dismissals, especially of other people's work. A good critical comment teaches us something."

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Edit: if you didn't mean it dismissively and want to clarify that, I'd be happy to remove this comment. We unfortunately see quite a few comments along the lines of "so basically, this is just super-simple $thing and therefore this is dumb" and I interpreted yours through that lens.

Re: What Is Dbt and Why Are Companies Using It?

#16
I use dbt to build small dremio data warehouse. dbt is using software engineering ideas to build data, it is quite awesome. I can use github to version control it, can did some unit test (data quality check mainly).

Another thing is its macro systems. Although Macros are not a good programming language. But it makes integrate new DBMS much easier, because most 3rd party plugins are mainly written in Macros. So, Macros is good too if it is provided by other people (not need to be written by myself :) )

Re: What Is Dbt and Why Are Companies Using It?

#17
post #15
post #14

So, it's like a makefile with some SQL to do ELT?

" Please don't post shallow dismissals, especially of other people's work. A good critical comment teaches us something. " https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html Edit: if you didn't mean it dismissively and want to clarify that, I'd be happy to remove this comment. We unfortunately see quite a few comments along the lines of "so basically, this is just super-simple $thing and therefore this is dumb" and I i…

[deleted]

Re: What Is Dbt and Why Are Companies Using It?

#18
post #15
post #14

So, it's like a makefile with some SQL to do ELT?

" Please don't post shallow dismissals, especially of other people's work. A good critical comment teaches us something. " https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html Edit: if you didn't mean it dismissively and want to clarify that, I'd be happy to remove this comment. We unfortunately see quite a few comments along the lines of "so basically, this is just super-simple $thing and therefore this is dumb" and I i…

Is it a dismissal or is it someone asking for affirmation on their understanding of the product? I think it can be read both ways.

Re: What Is Dbt and Why Are Companies Using It?

#19

I can't argue that dbt isn't great -- it is. It is, however , unfortunate that Python is still the dominate lingua franca here. Between all the Python data tools and JSON being shuffled around ala singer.io, I just can't help but think there is a huge opportunity awaiting the engineers who build a company around an open source set of products using rigorous languages and schemas. It's a goddamn madhouse.

Does it matter that dbt is written in Python? dbt models are still SQL at heart. Sure there's the addition of Jinja to enable references for data lineage and configuration, but it's all compiled to SQL with fine-grained control over what's produced.

Forgive me if I come across as combative, but I don't understand generic appeals to things like a language being rigorous. Rigorous to what end? What problem is it solving where that is required? If you know something specific in this domain where that level of rigor is needed, why not share what it is?

There are a lot of problems in the analytics space (and a lot of opportunity for new practices, tools, and businesses), but I would argue that at the end of the day the primary issue is whether or not data producers choose to model data such that it is legible outside of the system that produced it much more than it is about any particular language or methodology.

Re: What Is Dbt and Why Are Companies Using It?

#20
post #18
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

" Please don't post shallow dismissals, especially of other people's work. A good critical comment teaches us something. " https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html Edit: if you didn't mean it dismissively and want to clarify that, I'd be happy to remove this comment. We unfortunately see quite a few comments along the lines of "so basically, this is just super-simple $thing and therefore this is dumb" and I i…

Is it a dismissal or is it someone asking for affirmation on their understanding of the product? I think it can be read both ways.

I wavered about that for a little while and then settled on the dismissive interpretation.

If I misread the comment and elchief wants to clarify, I'd be happy to apologize and correct the mistake.

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