Why project structure scales with team size in dbt

Introduction

Good project structure helps teams work together smoothly. As teams grow, clear organization keeps work easy to find and reduces mistakes.

When more people join a data project and need to share work without confusion

When different team members focus on different parts of data models or reports

When you want to avoid overwriting each other's work in a shared project

When you want to speed up onboarding new team members by having clear folders and files

When managing complex data transformations that need clear separation

Syntax

dbt

No strict code syntax applies here, but a typical dbt project structure looks like:

project_root/
  ├── models/
  │    ├── staging/
  │    ├── marts/
  │    └── core/
  ├── macros/
  ├── tests/
  ├── snapshots/
  └── dbt_project.yml

Organize models into folders by purpose, like staging for raw data, marts for business logic.

Use clear naming so team members know where to add or find code.

Examples

Separate raw data preparation (staging) from business-focused models (marts).

dbt

models/
  staging/
    customers.sql
    orders.sql
  marts/
    sales.sql
    marketing.sql

Core models hold essential tables; marts build on them for specific reports.

dbt

models/
  core/
    customers.sql
    products.sql
  marts/
    sales_summary.sql

Sample Program

This code creates a simple dbt project folder structure in a temporary directory and prints it out. It shows how organizing files helps teams find and work on parts easily.

dbt

import os

def list_dbt_project_structure(root):
    for folder, subfolders, files in os.walk(root):
        level = folder.replace(root, '').count(os.sep)
        if level == 0:
            continue
        indent = ' ' * 2 * (level - 1)
        print(f'{indent}{os.path.basename(folder)}/')
        subindent = indent + '  '
        for f in files:
            print(f'{subindent}{f}')

# Simulate a small dbt project structure
project = {
    'models': {
        'staging': ['customers.sql', 'orders.sql'],
        'marts': ['sales.sql', 'marketing.sql']
    },
    'macros': [],
    'tests': [],
    'snapshots': []
}

# Create folders and files in a temp directory
import tempfile
import pathlib

temp_dir = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
root_path = pathlib.Path(temp_dir.name)

for folder, subfolders in project.items():
    folder_path = root_path / folder
    folder_path.mkdir()
    if isinstance(subfolders, dict):
        for subfolder, files in subfolders.items():
            subfolder_path = folder_path / subfolder
            subfolder_path.mkdir()
            for file in files:
                (subfolder_path / file).write_text('-- SQL code')
    else:
        # empty folders
        pass

list_dbt_project_structure(str(root_path))

temp_dir.cleanup()

Important Notes

As teams grow, clear folder names prevent confusion about where to add or find models.

Consistent structure helps automated tools and tests run smoothly.

Regularly review and update structure as project needs change.

Summary

Good project structure keeps team work organized and efficient.

Separate models by purpose to reduce conflicts and confusion.

Clear structure helps new team members learn and contribute faster.

Practice

1. Why is having a clear project structure important when the dbt team grows larger?

easy

A. It helps keep work organized and reduces confusion among team members.

B. It makes the project run faster on the computer.

C. It allows the team to use more complex SQL queries.

D. It automatically fixes errors in the data models.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand team collaboration needs

   As team size increases, many people work on the same project, so organization is key to avoid confusion.

2. Step 2: Recognize the role of project structure

   A clear structure helps separate work, making it easier to manage and understand for everyone.

3. Final Answer:

   It helps keep work organized and reduces confusion among team members. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Clear structure = organized teamwork [OK]

Hint: Think about teamwork and avoiding confusion [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing project speed with team organization
• Assuming structure fixes errors automatically
• Believing complexity equals better structure

2. Which of the following is the correct way to organize models in a dbt project for a growing team?

easy

A. Separate models into folders by their purpose or domain.

B. Use random folder names to avoid conflicts.

C. Write all models in a single SQL file.

D. Put all models in one folder to keep things simple.

Solution

1. Step 1: Review folder organization best practices

   Separating models by purpose or domain helps teams work independently without conflicts.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options

   Keeping all models in one place or random names causes confusion and conflicts.

3. Final Answer:

   Separate models into folders by their purpose or domain. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Folder by purpose = less conflict [OK]

Hint: Group models by what they do, not all together [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking one folder is simpler for many people
• Ignoring the importance of clear naming
• Believing random names help avoid conflicts

3. Given this dbt project structure:

models/
  staging/
    customers.sql
    orders.sql
  marts/
    sales.sql
    finance.sql

What is the main benefit of this structure for a team?

medium

A. It forces everyone to edit the same files to avoid duplication.

B. It hides the staging models from the team.

C. It makes the project run faster by splitting files.

D. It allows team members to work on staging and marts independently.

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze folder roles

   Staging folder holds raw data models; marts folder holds business logic models.

2. Step 2: Understand team workflow

   Separating these allows different team members to work on different layers without interfering.

3. Final Answer:

   It allows team members to work on staging and marts independently. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Separate folders = independent work [OK]

Hint: Think about who edits which folder [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming splitting files speeds up project execution
• Believing all team members must edit same files
• Thinking staging models are hidden

4. A dbt team notices frequent merge conflicts because everyone edits models in the same folder. What is the best fix?

medium

A. Delete unused models to reduce files.

B. Ask everyone to edit only one model file.

C. Move models into separate folders by feature or domain.

D. Use random file names to confuse conflicts.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify cause of conflicts

   Editing many models in one folder causes overlapping work and merge conflicts.

2. Step 2: Apply project structure best practice

   Separating models by feature or domain reduces overlap and conflicts.

3. Final Answer:

   Move models into separate folders by feature or domain. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Separate folders reduce conflicts [OK]

Hint: Separate work areas to avoid editing clashes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking deleting files solves conflicts
• Believing random names help avoid conflicts
• Assuming one file for all is better

5. Your dbt team has grown to 10 members working on different business areas. How should you organize the project structure to scale efficiently?

hard

A. Keep all models in one folder but use prefixes in file names.

B. Create separate folders for each business area and assign team members accordingly.

C. Let each member create their own folder with no naming rules.

D. Merge all models into a single large SQL file to simplify.

Solution

1. Step 1: Consider team size and work areas

   With many members, organizing by business area reduces overlap and confusion.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options for scalability

   Separate folders with clear ownership help manage changes and onboarding.

3. Step 3: Avoid poor practices

   Single folder or random folders cause conflicts; one big file is unmanageable.

4. Final Answer:

   Create separate folders for each business area and assign team members accordingly. -> Option B

5. Quick Check:

   Folder per area = scalable teamwork [OK]

Hint: Group by business area for clear ownership [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using one folder with prefixes causes conflicts
• Random folders confuse team members
• One big file is hard to maintain