Airflow's Problem
To address a point the author makes: I’m entirely unconvinced the “shift left” mentality of data democracy (aka business operators should write sql) is actually shifting left or a worthy path to pursue for most businesses. More recently this 2010s fad seems to be dying and in favor we’re seeing centralized data efforts that produce data products.<p>One of the most significant pitfalls of data is failing to interrogate the value it provides and assuming that if you give everyone access all the time the magic will happen. The truth is value does not simply materialize just as value does not magically spring from computers by a human powering it on (okay sure, you may have already automated the value but that’s actually the point I’m about to make). In both cases it requires an experienced practitioner who collaborates with a larger team to intersect their work with the business needs.<p>Data is tricky, all the more so because it’s often seen as a panacea by business leaders who aren’t connected with the work of extracting that value.