Designing a Declarative Data Stack: From Theory to Practice

In the final installment of a three-part blog series, Simon Späti delves into the architectural complexities and strategic decisions in building a declarative data stack, a system that automates the entire data stack focusing on business logic rather than technical implementation. The article discusses the evolution of a proof-of-concept for a declarative data stack engine (DDSE) that defines data stacks through simple configuration files, thereby separating business and technical logic and allowing for easier automation and maintenance. By comparing template-based and parametric approaches, Späti highlights the trade-offs in data engineering, such as the challenges of integrating existing orchestration tools versus building new ones, and the importance of maintaining modularity and adaptability in the data stack's architecture. The author also explores how declarative data stacks can streamline complex processes, support non-technical users, and provide robust data governance, ultimately advocating for an open-source, modular approach that leverages existing tools while standardizing and automating data stack creation and maintenance.