The Case for Dataset-Centric Visualization

Different BI tools offer different approaches to building dashboards. On one end of the spectrum, you have tools that prescribe having one query per chart and on the other end you have tools that espouse implementing a complex semantic layer. I believe there's a middle path that lies between both extremes, and I call it the dataset-centric approach. In the dataset-centric approach, the tool is connected to individual datasets that are expected to contain all of the metrics and dimensions for a given subject area. In this post, I'll describe the strengths and tradeoffs for each of the approaches and make the case for the dataset-centric approach as the ideal one for fast-moving data teams.