Guide to Building, Viewing & Sharing Docs with dbt Cloud

Published
May 22, 2024
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How to Build Your Docs with dbt Cloud?

The dbt Cloud Integrated Development Environment (IDE) provides a platform for users to create and preview documentation for their dbt project during the development phase. This process enables users to check and understand how the final documentation will appear before implementing changes to the production environment.

dbt docs generate

The 'dbt docs generate' command is used in the Command Bar of the dbt Cloud IDE to generate documentation for the current state of the dbt project in the IDE session's development.

  • Keyword: dbt Cloud IDE - An integrated development environment provided by dbt Cloud for building and viewing project documentation.
  • Keyword: Command Bar - A feature in the dbt Cloud IDE where users can run commands.
  • Keyword: dbt docs generate - A command to generate project documentation.

How to View Your Docs with dbt Cloud?

Dbt Cloud IDE not only allows users to build their project documentation but also view it. The 'dbt docs serve' command is used to view the generated documentation in a web browser.

dbt docs serve

The 'dbt docs serve' command is a subcommand of the 'dbt docs' command. It allows users to view the generated project documentation in a web browser.

  • Keyword: dbt docs serve - A command to view the generated project documentation in a web browser.
  • Keyword: Web browser - A software application used to locate, retrieve, and display content on the World Wide Web, including Web pages, images, video, and other files.

How Does dbt Docs Help in Sharing Documentation?

Dbt docs is a powerful tool that aids users in sharing their data documentation with their team and other stakeholders within the company. It also provides the functionality to add descriptions to tables, columns, and macros.

// Adding description to a table
{{ config(materialized='table', description='This is a description for the table') }}

The above code is an example of how to add a description to a table using dbt docs. The 'config' function is used with the 'description' parameter to add a description.

  • Keyword: dbt docs - A command in dbt for generating and viewing project documentation.
  • Keyword: config function - A function in dbt used to configure various aspects of a model.
  • Keyword: description parameter - A parameter used in the config function to add a description to a table, column, or macro.

What is the Scalability of dbt Cloud?

Dbt Cloud is a scalable solution that allows users to develop, test, deploy, and explore data products using a single, fully managed software. This scalability ensures that as your data needs grow, dbt Cloud can accommodate the increased demand.

There is no specific code associated with the scalability of dbt Cloud as it is a feature of the platform itself. As your data needs grow, dbt Cloud scales to meet those needs.

  • Keyword: Scalability - The ability of a system, network, or process to handle a growing amount of work in a capable manner or its ability to be enlarged to accommodate that growth.
  • Keyword: dbt Cloud - A fully managed data transformation service that allows users to develop, test, deploy, and explore data products.

How to Add Descriptions to Tables, Columns, and Macros in dbt?

Dbt allows users to add descriptions to each of the tables, columns, and macros in their project. This helps in providing context and understanding to other users who might be viewing or using the data.

// Adding description to a column
{{ config({{ column_name }}, description='This is a description for the column') }}

The above code is an example of how to add a description to a column using dbt. The 'config' function is used with the 'description' parameter to add a description to a specific column.

  • Keyword: column_name - The name of the column to which the description is being added.
  • Keyword: Description - A brief account of the details about something, providing a clear image of it.

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