Looker
Looker is a cloud-based business intelligence (BI) and data analytics platform that enables organizations to explore, analyze, and share real-time business insights through interactive dashboards and reports. It connects directly to various data sources, including databases and data warehouses, using a proprietary modeling language called LookML to define data relationships and metrics. The platform is designed for self-service analytics, allowing both technical and non-technical users to create and customize visualizations without extensive coding.
Developers should learn Looker when building or maintaining data-driven applications that require robust reporting, dashboarding, and embedded analytics capabilities, especially in enterprise environments. It is particularly useful for roles involving data engineering, analytics engineering, or BI development, as it integrates with modern data stacks like Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and supports real-time data exploration. Use cases include creating centralized data models with LookML, embedding analytics into web applications, and automating data workflows to support business decision-making.
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