Let’s dive into how Databricks interacts with data build tools, focusing on dbt:

dbt (Data Build Tool)

• Not a Databricks-specific tool: dbt is a popular, open-source transformation tool that works across various data platforms, including Databricks.
• SQL-centric: dbt empowers data analysts and engineers to write data transformation code primarily as SQL select statements, lowering the barrier to entry for many analysts.
• Transformation focus: dbt excels in the “T” (transformation) part of the ETL/ELT process. It assumes your data is already loaded into Databricks and then handles the modeling and transformation of that data.

Key Strengths of dbt

1. SQL-Based Workflow:  Analysts who are comfortable with SQL can quickly adopt and build data models with dbt.
2. Version Control Integration: Enhances collaboration and code management.
3. Testing: dbt has built-in capabilities to test your data models, ensuring reliability.
4. Documentation: Provides a framework for organized documentation of your data transformations.
5. Modularity: Promotes the development of reusable data models and code components.

How dbt Works with Databricks

1. You write dbt models as SQL select statements, often within .sql files in your dbt project.
2. dbt compiles this code into raw SQL tailored for Databricks.
3. dbt executes the SQL against your Databricks environment, creating tables, views, or other defined objects.

Why Use dbt with Databricks

• Streamlined Analytics Workflow: dbt simplifies modeling and transforming data within the Databricks Lakehouse platform.
• Best Practices: dbt fosters software engineering principles like version control and testing within your data pipelines.
• Scalability: Databricks’ powerful processing pairs well with the efficient transformations generated by dbt.
• Growing Community:  dbt on Databricks benefits from a large, active community providing support and resources.

Where to Learn More

• Databricks – dbt Core: https://docs.databricks.com/en/partners/prep/dbt.html
• Databricks – dbt Cloud: https://docs.databricks.com/en/partners/prep/dbt-cloud.html
• dbt and Databricks (Official Partnership Page): https://www.getdbt.com/partners/databricks