SSIS and ETL in 5 Minutes: Because Why Not! 🙄🕔
Hi, So this is my second article on dev.to. Which means another (failed) attempt to look cool.
FYI, this article is inspired by a recent discussion I had with one of my Mentors. Let's get on with it.
You might find yourself here because you want to learn about SSIS (SQL Server Integration Services) and ETL (Extract, Transform, Load). I know, it's riveting stuff! If you had to choose between this and bungee jumping, you'd probably choose this, right? Of course! Because who wants adrenaline when you can have data processing? 😎
Step 1: Extract (or Ex-what-now?) 🤔
The first step in our magical ETL journey is extraction. This is about getting data from the source systems. Imagine it like asking your dog, Rover, to fetch the paper. Rover is like your ETL process, and the newspaper represents the data. You command, Rover fetches. Simple enough, right? And don't worry, Rover doesn't bite...usually.
SELECT * FROM source_system
Now, the newspaper (or data) might be in a bunch of different languages (or formats), like CSV, JSON, XML, or your proprietary, secret-sauce database. Good luck with that.
Step 2: Transform (Not into a butterfly, unfortunately) 🐛
Next, you've got to transform the data, molding it from its raw, unrefined state into something a bit more, well, refined. Think of this as the process of you reading the newspaper Rover fetched, understanding the news, and translating it to your toddler in a language they can understand. "No, sweetie, the stock market isn't a real market with toys and candies."
UPDATE data_table SET column = 'new value'
Transformation can involve various operations such as filtering, sorting, aggregating, joining, cleaning, and more. Sometimes, it's a bit like having to unravel your Christmas lights from last year. 🎄
Here's a fun bedtime read on transformations
Step 3: Load (Not the washing machine) 🧺
The final stage of the process is loading. This is where you take your now-transformed data and load it into the target data warehouse. It's like your toddler now explaining the stock market to their toys. Isn't that adorable?
INSERT INTO data_warehouse SELECT * FROM data_table
Depending on your requirements, you can choose to do a full load, incremental load, or delta load. Because life wasn't complicated enough already, right? 🙃
More on data loading, because you've got nothing else to do tonight
So, Where does SSIS fit in? 🛠️
SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) is Microsoft's way of making the ETL process as enjoyable as possible. It's a platform for data integration and workflow applications. And by "enjoyable," I mean less like banging your head against a brick wall.
SSIS provides various built-in tasks, transformations, and data adapters that allow you to read and write data from various formats. And no, it doesn't make your morning coffee, though we all wish it did. ☕
You can use SSIS to perform ETL operations and also load data into data warehouses. And for the cherry on top, it also supports automating tasks. Because who wants to work when you can make a machine do it? 🤖
Let Microsoft sweet talk you about SSIS here
That's SSIS and ETL for you in less than 5 minutes. And you thought you wouldn't learn something new today. 🤷♀️ Enjoy your journey on the "ETL and SSIS" rollercoaster, and remember: keep your hands, arms, feet, and legs inside the ride at all times.
Happy data crunching, guys!
Stay Tuned !
Top comments (2)
SSIS, specifically dtexec, was the inspiration to built Dixer, a tool that has a lot of things from SSIS and some beneficial stuff to avoid the script task, also supports Linux and macOS dixer.stgo.do
Thank you for the insights @santiago