We beg to differ…
At Lightup, we think you can have both: A Data Quality query that’s both fast and quickly built.
In fact, we know you can.
We’ve proven it.
But, before we get into that, what does this meme mean in the first place?
Let’s take a minute to dissect it:
- First, the LinkedIn author gives the context of the meme, sharing the assumption that queries can either be optimized and fast performing or built/written quickly, but not both. At least not always.
- The allusion to the Pirates of the Caribbean movie as a vehicle for Admiral James Northington to criticize “the worst query [he’s] ever run” is, no doubt, relatable on so many levels for those with battle scars writing complex queries.
- Priceless is the clever (and endearing) clap back of Captain Jack Sparrow’s response, “But it does run.”
- Implicit in that, if the end result is a query that runs,> does it matter how quickly the query was built or how fast it runs?
- After all, if a query is just a request for data from a database table or multiple tables, what qualifies as “the worst query [he’s] ever run”?
Chewing on that for a moment, realize that data engineers are faced with the challenge of manually coding queries in different languages — swiveling between platforms and grappling with compromises in the process. Inevitably, there’s an underlying philosophical question: Do you sacrifice the speed of building a query at the expense of query performance speed? Or vice versa?
Picture this: As a data engineer, you’ve been tasked with pulling data from multiple data sources. You’re bouncing back and forth between SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, NoSQL, Databricks, and Amazon Redshift. Each platform has its unique syntax, rules, nuances, and quirks when it comes to building and optimizing queries.
Hopping between platforms can be a cumbersome and error-prone process at times, leading to inefficiencies and headaches for data professionals. When coding queries manually, compromises become an inevitable part of the process, where performance might be sacrificed for compatibility or vice versa.
These compromises can lead to:
- Suboptimal query execution times
- Increased resource consumption
- Higher likelihood of errors
It’s a delicate balancing act. (And finding the sweet spot can be like trying to thread a needle in the dark.)
Enter Lightup, the modern Data Quality Monitoring platform with a no-code/low-code query builder that’s essentially data source-agnostic. Lightup was designed to understand the intricacies of different data sources and platforms, taking into account their unique query requirements, syntax, and optimization practices.
When we say Lightup is “data source-agnostic,” that means it works with virtually any data source. No swiveling between platforms with different coding requirements. No compromising on performance.
Not all data sources are created equal, but that doesn’t mean your queries can’t be.
Lightup connects to your data seamlessly, with one query builder on the frontend that works the same way across data sources.
Easy and intuitive to use, Lightup provides three ways to write Data Quality Checks for all enterprise users: No-code/low-code, Custom SQL, and APIs/SDK.
- Non-technical business users can write Data Quality Checks in Lightup’s no-code/low-code graphical user interface (GUI) by selecting options in drop-down boxes.
- SQL-savvy data analysts and data engineers can create customized, business-specific checks using Lightup’s assisted SQL query builder.
- Developers can leverage Lightup’s APIs and SDK for bulk operations and programmatic changes.
This means queries can be created fast — in minutes, not months — even for business users with zero coding skills. (But don’t take our word for it, see how McDonald’s deployed thousands of Data Quality Checks, fast.)
Under the hood, Lightup translates all your selections into the appropriate query syntax, optimized for each data source it’s being pushed down to — without any extra effort on your part. Whether you’re dealing with MySQL’s indexing preferences or Oracle’s query execution plans, Lightup’s no-code/low-code query builder adapts to the specifics of each data source. (It’s like having a multilingual interpreter for your Data Quality queries.)
The Bottom Line
In the ongoing battle to balance query building speed with query performance optimization across data sources, Lightup’s no-code/low-code approach to building Data Quality Checks is the industry’s secret to creating fast queries, fast.
TL;DR
Lightup debunks that meme’s assumption, enabling the best of both worlds: fast queries, built quickly.
Resources
Questions? Email us at info@lightup.ai or book a free strategy consultation and demo now.
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