August 2021 Summaries

Apache Superset 1.3 introduces several notable enhancements aimed at improving the user experience and expanding its functionalities as a data exploration and visualization tool. Among the key updates are new chart types, including funnel charts, tree charts, and a redesigned treemap visualization, each offering unique ways to represent data hierarchies and funnels commonly used by teams in sales, marketing, and operations. The release also adds support for new data sources, namely Ascend.io and IBM Netezza, through specific drivers, enhancing the tool's versatility. Additionally, the user experience is improved with a redesigned chart gallery for easier chart discovery and a more user-friendly database connection process, replacing complex SQLAlchemy strings with a step-by-step guide. For those interested in experimental features and further details, the community release notes are recommended.

Apache Superset and Looker are business intelligence (BI) platforms that facilitate data exploration, visualization, and reporting. While both tools offer collaboration and sharing capabilities, Superset stands out as a compelling open-source alternative to Looker, which became part of Google following its acquisition in 2019. Superset is praised for its cost-effectiveness and flexibility, allowing users to immediately engage in data exploration using SQL or drag-and-drop features without needing extensive modeling like LookML in Looker. It supports various data sources, including CSV files and Google Sheets, and remains free to install, though maintenance costs may vary based on scale and complexity. Superset's commercial SaaS version, Preset, offers an affordable pricing model with comprehensive functionality and enterprise features. Both platforms offer robust SQL querying capabilities and advanced visualization options, but Superset's open-source nature provides freedom from vendor lock-in, making it an appealing choice for organizations seeking a versatile and budget-friendly BI tool.

Preset has raised $35.9 million in Series B funding, led by Redpoint Ventures, bringing its total funding to $48.4 million, to support the growth of its team and technology investments, including enhancing Apache Superset and developing a robust cloud service. The company has announced the general availability of Preset Cloud, a fully hosted cloud service for Apache Superset, which originated at Airbnb by founder Maxime Beauchemin and has become a popular open-source visualization tool for data professionals worldwide. After six months in private beta, the public launch of Preset Cloud offers a reliable, scalable environment with features like a no-code data explorer, advanced SQL editor, and rich visualization options, integrating with various SQL data sources. It aims to democratize access to data with self-service and freemium pricing, and enterprise security features, eliminating barriers to adopting Superset while maintaining strong customer momentum with partners like Funimation Global Group. Preset Cloud is designed to empower organizations by making data insights accessible, supported by a team of Superset experts, and aims to disrupt the business intelligence market with its open-source, freemium model.

Preset Cloud, now generally available, is a cloud analytics platform built on Apache Superset, an open-source business intelligence tool initially developed at Airbnb. Preset aims to democratize data usage by providing a freemium, cloud-native solution that integrates seamlessly with the modern data stack, enabling no-code data exploration and interactive dashboard creation. It caters to teams of all sizes, offering free access for small teams and a transparent, pay-as-you-go pricing model for advanced features. Preset emphasizes the benefits of open-source and SaaS models, advocating for data sovereignty and collaboration in data visualization and analytics. By focusing on the data consumption and visualization layer, Preset integrates with best-in-class solutions, contributing to and growing the Superset community and ecosystem. Open-source development and collaboration with companies like Airbnb and Dropbox underpin its mission to offer flexible, extensible tools free from vendor lock-in, supporting the evolution of the modern data infrastructure.