Creating your own dbt package - Visual Walkthrough

Concept Flow - Creating your own dbt package

Start: Create package directory

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Add dbt_project.yml file

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Create models/ directory with SQL files

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Define package dependencies (optional)

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Run dbt commands: dbt deps, dbt build

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Package ready to use or share

This flow shows the steps to create a dbt package: set up folder, add config, add models, manage dependencies, then build.

Execution Sample

dbt

mkdir my_dbt_package
cd my_dbt_package
# create dbt_project.yml
# add models/my_model.sql
# run dbt build

This code sets up a new dbt package folder, adds config and model, then builds the package.

Execution Table

Step	Action	File/Folder Created	Command Run	Result
1	Create package folder	my_dbt_package/		Folder created
2	Add dbt_project.yml	my_dbt_package/dbt_project.yml		Project config added
3	Add models folder	my_dbt_package/models/		Models folder created
4	Add SQL model file	my_dbt_package/models/my_model.sql		Model SQL file added
5	Install dependencies		dbt deps	Dependencies installed (if any)
6	Build package		dbt build	Models compiled and run
7	Package ready			Package can be used or shared

💡 All steps completed, package created and built successfully

Variable Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 2	After Step 4	After Step 6	Final
package_folder	none	my_dbt_package/	my_dbt_package/	my_dbt_package/	my_dbt_package/
dbt_project.yml	none	created	created	created	created
models_folder	none	none	created	created	created
model_sql_file	none	none	added	added	added
dependencies	none	none	none	installed	installed
build_status	none	none	none	success	success

Key Moments - 3 Insights

Why do we need the dbt_project.yml file?

The dbt_project.yml file tells dbt about your package settings and where to find models. Without it, dbt cannot build your package. See execution_table step 2.

What happens if you forget to add models/ folder?

Without the models folder and SQL files, dbt has nothing to build. The package will be empty. See execution_table step 3 and 4.

Why run 'dbt deps' before 'dbt build'?

'dbt deps' installs any package dependencies your package needs. Running it ensures all required packages are ready before building. See execution_table step 5.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution table, what is created at step 4?

A dbt_project.yml file

B models folder

C SQL model file

D package folder

💡 Hint

Check the 'File/Folder Created' column at step 4 in the execution_table

At which step does the package become ready to use?

A Step 6

B Step 7

C Step 5

D Step 4

💡 Hint

Look at the 'Result' column for the final step in the execution_table

If you skip 'dbt deps', what might happen?

A Dependencies might be missing

B Models won't compile

C Package folder won't be created

D dbt_project.yml will be ignored

💡 Hint

Refer to the explanation in key_moments about step 5 in execution_table

Concept Snapshot

Creating your own dbt package:
1. Make a new folder for your package.
2. Add a dbt_project.yml file to configure it.
3. Create a models/ folder and add SQL files.
4. Run 'dbt deps' to install dependencies.
5. Run 'dbt build' to compile and run models.
6. Package is ready to use or share.

Full Transcript

To create your own dbt package, start by making a new folder. Inside, add a dbt_project.yml file which tells dbt about your package settings. Then create a models folder and add SQL model files there. If your package depends on others, run 'dbt deps' to install them. Finally, run 'dbt build' to compile and run your models. After these steps, your package is ready to use or share with others.