Installing packages with packages.yml in dbt - Practice Exercises

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

What is the effect of this packages.yml content?

Given the following packages.yml file content, what will happen when you run dbt deps?

dbt

packages:
  - package: dbt-labs/dbt_utils
    version: 0.8.0
  - package: fishtown-analytics/codegen
    version: 0.3.0

A dbt will download and install dbt_utils version 0.8.0 and codegen version 0.3.0 packages into the project.

B dbt will update all installed packages to their latest versions ignoring the specified versions.

C dbt will remove all packages and not install anything because the versions are outdated.

D dbt will only install dbt_utils package and ignore codegen because only one package is supported.

💡 Hint

Think about what dbt deps does with the packages.yml file.

The packages.yml file lists packages and their versions. Running dbt deps downloads and installs these exact versions into your project.

❓ data_output

intermediate

How many packages will be installed?

Given this packages.yml content, how many packages will be installed after running dbt deps?

dbt

packages:
  - package: dbt-labs/dbt_utils
    version: 0.7.0
  - package: fishtown-analytics/codegen
    version: 0.3.0
  - package: dbt-labs/snowflake
    version: 0.2.0

A 3

B 2

C 1

D 0

💡 Hint

Count the number of package entries under packages:.

Each entry under packages: represents one package to install. Here, there are three entries, so three packages will be installed.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Identify the error in this packages.yml

What error will occur when running dbt deps with this packages.yml content?

dbt

packages:
  - package dbt-labs/dbt_utils
    version: 0.8.0

A Version conflict error because version is too low

B FileNotFoundError because packages.yml is missing

C No error, packages will install correctly

D SyntaxError due to missing colon after 'package'

💡 Hint

Check YAML syntax carefully for missing punctuation.

The YAML syntax requires a colon after keys. Missing colon after 'package' causes a syntax error.

🧠 Conceptual

advanced

Why specify package versions in packages.yml?

Why is it important to specify exact package versions in packages.yml instead of leaving versions out?

A To allow dbt to always install the newest package versions automatically

B To enable dbt to skip package installation if versions are missing

C To ensure consistent and repeatable builds by locking package versions

D To reduce the size of the packages installed by skipping dependencies

💡 Hint

Think about what happens if package versions change over time.

Specifying exact versions locks dependencies so your project builds the same way every time, avoiding unexpected changes.

🚀 Application

expert

Predict the installed package versions

Given this packages.yml content and that the latest available versions are dbt_utils 0.9.0 and codegen 0.4.0, what versions will be installed after dbt deps?

dbt

packages:
  - package: dbt-labs/dbt_utils
    version: 0.8.0
  - package: fishtown-analytics/codegen
    version: 0.3.0

A dbt_utils 0.8.0 and codegen 0.4.0

B dbt_utils 0.8.0 and codegen 0.3.0

C dbt_utils 0.9.0 and codegen 0.4.0

D dbt_utils 0.9.0 and codegen 0.3.0

💡 Hint

Remember how dbt uses the version specified in packages.yml.

dbt installs the exact versions listed in packages.yml, not the latest available versions.