dbt (data build tool) has become the standard for transforming raw data in data warehouses. Analysts write SQL select statements, dbt handles the rest: running them in the right order, testing the output, generating documentation, and maintaining a lineage graph. It works with Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift, and Databricks. For data teams building reliable analytics pipelines, dbt is essential infrastructure.
Pros
- SQL-only - no new language to learn | Automatic testing and documentation | Data lineage graph | Version control for data pipelines | Works with all major warehouses | Strong community and packages
Cons
- Technical - requires SQL and warehouse knowledge | Not for non-technical users | Cloud version expensive for teams | Setup investment required
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