The tools analysts use today were all built for a particular purpose at a particular time. But these same tools are holding us back. Now is the ideal time to step back and see what of these legacy tools we carry with us, and what we leave behind. The Life of an Analyst Given the…

A simple framework for building dbt models that actually get used. — When I was researching the Ultimate Guide to dbt, I was shocked by the lack of material around actually building models from scratch. Not the exact steps to take in the tool — that is all covered in innumerable blogs and tutorials. I mean how do you know the right…

Understanding SQL remains the best way to work with data in our organizations. For a stakeholder, just being able to read and understand SQL queries can completely change how they work. Instead of only working with static, flat dashboards, they can work more closely with the data team, ask more…

Today we’re excited to announce the much-anticipated release of Python in the canvas! It’s clear Python is no longer a tool just for data scientists, but is highly valued in every part of the data stack. Our aim in bringing Python cells into the canvas is to reflect the way…

dbt has fundamentally changed how most data teams work. It lets them create, and maintain complex data transformation models that power nearly every dashboard, report, and insight within an organization. …

Today we released the ultimate guide to dbt — a one-stop-shop for anyone hoping to learn what the dbt hype is about, pick up some curated tips from experts, or anything in between. You can see the guide here. The guide is best viewed on your desktop. If you’re on…

“Those numbers aren’t right.” I’m not sure there is another phrase capable of eliciting as much rage, exasperation, and anxiety from a data person as this one. …

What’s the purpose of dashboards in 2023? — On April 9, 2020, I published an essay called “Dashboards are Dead”. I wrote it mainly to vent my pent-up frustrations as a data analyst, and yes, also to take on the most popular data tool at the time: the dashboard. To my surprise, a lot of people read it…

The one-stop shop for all your data hiring needs. Today we launched the ultimate guide to hiring your data team — a labor of love, research, and collaboration to bring together the best insights and wisdom around hiring a great data team. See the guide here. What makes hiring difficult? It’s impossible to underestimate…