dbt (data build tool) is the industry standard for data transformation. It enables analysts and engineers to transform data in their warehouses using SQL with software engineering practices like version control, testing, and documentation. dbt pioneered the "T" in ELT and created the analytics engineering discipline.
Key Features
✓SQL-based Transformations: Write transforms in SQL with Jinja templating
✓Built-in Testing: Test your data with schema tests and custom assertions
✓Auto-documentation: Generate documentation from your models
✓Incremental Models: Efficient processing of large datasets
✓Packages: Reusable macros and models from the community
✓Lineage Graphs: Visualize data dependencies
Pros
👍Industry standard with massive community
👍Excellent documentation and learning resources
👍dbt Cloud handles orchestration and CI/CD
👍Works with every major warehouse
👍Free and open-source core
👍Strong job market for dbt skills
Cons
👎SQL-only (no Python transforms in core)
👎dbt Cloud can get expensive at scale
👎Learning curve for advanced features (macros, packages)
👎Not ideal for real-time/streaming use cases
Best For
Any team doing analytics or building data products. Essential for modern data stacks. Works for teams of 1 to 1000+.
