Dataform vs Redash: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this Markdown code, we will provide the key differences between Dataform and Redash.

1. Data Build Process: Dataform is a tool used for orchestration and analysis of SQL-based data pipelines. It allows you to write modular and scalable SQL code using a declarative syntax. Dataform enforces a defined structure and allows for easy reusability of code across projects. On the other hand, Redash is a tool used for data visualization and exploration. It provides a user interface to build and share queries and dashboards. While it also supports SQL queries, Redash focuses more on the presentation of data rather than data pipeline orchestration.

2. Platform Support: Dataform is a cloud-based tool that can be used on various cloud platforms like Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Amazon Web Services (AWS). It provides integrations with popular cloud databases like BigQuery and Redshift. On the other hand, Redash can be used as a self-hosted solution, allowing you to run it on your own infrastructure. It supports various databases and data sources like PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Elasticsearch.

3. Collaboration and Sharing: Dataform provides built-in collaboration features that allow multiple team members to work together on data pipelines. It has role-based access controls and allows for easy sharing and versioning of code. Redash also supports collaboration but focuses more on the sharing and visualization aspects. It allows you to create and share dashboards with other team members or external stakeholders.

4. Data Transformation: Dataform provides a comprehensive set of data transform functions and actions that can be applied to SQL-based data pipelines. It allows you to perform complex data transformations like joins, aggregations, and filtering. Redash, on the other hand, focuses more on data visualization and exploration rather than data transformation. It provides basic data manipulation features like sorting and filtering but may not have the same level of sophistication as Dataform.

5. Workflow Automation: Dataform allows you to automate your data workflows by scheduling the execution of your data pipelines at specific intervals. It provides a scheduler that can be configured to run your pipelines automatically. Redash does not have built-in workflow automation capabilities as it is primarily focused on data visualization and exploration.

6. Extensibility and Integration: Dataform provides a plugin system that allows you to extend its functionality and integrate with other tools. It supports plugins for popular source control systems like Git and allows you to integrate with notification services like Slack. Redash also has a plugin system that allows you to extend its functionality. It provides various integrations with external services like cloud storage and data sources.

In Summary, Dataform and Redash differ in terms of their primary focus, platform support, collaboration features, data transformation capabilities, workflow automation, and extensibility/integration options. Dataform is primarily focused on data pipeline orchestration and analysis, whereas Redash focuses more on data visualization and exploration.