The difference between a data mesh and data warehouse

Data mesh and data warehouse represent contrasting approaches to enterprise data management, with data mesh focusing on decentralization and data warehouses emphasizing centralization. Data mesh, as defined by Zhamak Dehghani, is a sociotechnical method that enables organizations to handle analytical data in complex environments by connecting directly to data sources instead of centralizing them, promoting self-service and flexibility through logical domains and data products. In contrast, data warehouses offer a centralized repository for business intelligence via a single source of truth, relying on a fixed schema and often resulting in increased costs and inefficiencies due to reliance on a centralized team for changes. Starburst aids in both approaches by providing tools for connecting to various data sources and facilitating the creation of data products, allowing organizations to maintain data governance while accommodating ever-changing enterprise requirements.