Building a Semantic Layer with DuckDB and Ibis: A Practical Guide
By
secondrow
Pure flour-power. Hearty enough to carry you through lunch.
Summary
This article provides a hands-on technical guide to building a semantic layer using DuckDB and Ibis with YAML and Python. It explains the concept of semantic layers in business intelligence, demonstrates their practical value through querying 20 million NYC taxi records, and helps readers understand when semantic layers solve real problems versus when they're unnecessary complexity.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledMany ask themselves, "Why would I use a semantic layer? What is it anyway?"
We'll build the simplest possible semantic layer using just a YAML file and a Python script—not as the goal itself, but as a way to understand the value of semantic layers.
By the end, you'll know exactly when a semantic layer solves real problems and when it's overkill.
It's a topic that I'm passionate about as I've been using semantic layers within a Business Intelligence (BI) tool
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