Build button in dbt

In dbt, you do dbt build by typing this:

dbt build -s Dim_Product.sql

You can build the predecessors of that model too (meaning upstream), by adding a plus sign like this:

dbt build -s +Dim_Product.sql

That means that all the models which are used by Dim_Product will be built first. And that is not just 1 layer before, but ALL the layers before. All the upstream model will be build.

You can build the downstream models too, by adding a plus sign after the model name, like this:

dbt build -s Dim_Product.sql+

That “.sql” is optional actually. You don’t have to put it in. So this is perfectly valid:

dbt build -s Dim_Product+

Now here’s what I’d like to tell you about today: in dbt we have a button to do all that so you don’t have to type anything!

This is dbt development screen:

Notice the red arrow above? That’s the Build button? If you don’t click the Build button but the down arrow next to it, you’ll see this:

You can build just the model currently on the screen, or with the downstream, or with the upstream. Or both. Or run the model. Or test the model.

Very useful isn’t it?