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Declare it, then build it
dbt calls every query a model. The data model is the blueprint: declared beside the code, and checked by the tests.
Topics › Analytics engineering › In the weeds of data crafting
Start from a question: model only what it touches
John Snow's map showed only what his question needed. Jun's model starts the same way: one question from Planning, with a decision behind it, four things to model, and the person who owns each meaning, named before anyone opens a source.
Builds on Declare it, then build it
Watch the film
Press Play, or pick a chapter. Turn on Pause and think to stop for one question at the end of chapters.
Download the videoCaption filesRead the script
Where next?
You've seen one question scope a model. Now scope one yourself.
See it in the project
Every card in the film shows a real file from the example dbt project. Open the ones each chapter shows, on GitHub, or run the whole project yourself.
- The question
models/marts/planning/_planning__conceptual.ymlprofiles.ymlmacros/shared/keys.sql - The slice
models/marts/planning/_planning__conceptual.ymlmodels/marts/planning/_planning__decisions.yml - Written as YAML, drawn for people
models/core/student/_student__conceptual.ymlmodels/core/student/_student__conceptual.md - Keys and owners
sources/student_system/_student_system__sources.ymlsources/learning_platform/_learning_platform__sources.ymlsources/short_courses/_short_courses__sources.yml - Combine or split
models/core/student/_student__conceptual.ymlmodels/intermediate/student/int_credentials_unioned.sql - The agent's draft
skills/draft-the-conceptual-model/SKILL.mdmodels/core/student/_student__conceptual.ymlmodels/core/student/_student__decisions.yml
Think it through
The four Pause and think questions, for a class or a team. Open one to see the answer.
In the series: In the weeds of data crafting
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What makes it the same one
One learner, three keys, and a look-alike. Rules match most of them; a person decides the rest, and the decision becomes data and a test.