This layer of the stack is all about **presenting data clearly and compellingly** — whether it's to inform decisions, explore trends, or showcase outcomes. Good visualization tools enable both technical and non-technical users to interact with data in meaningful ways.
## What I Value in This Layer
- Fast iteration and flexible storytelling (especially for demos or prototypes)
- Support for live data, filters, and interactivity
- Low friction for non-technical viewers
- Role-based sharing or embedding options
- Integration with warehouse or other data sources
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## Tools I Use / Have Used In The Past
### [[Streamlit]]
Lightweight, Python-native web app framework for building interactive dashboards, data tools, and internal apps.
- Great for prototypes and quick turnarounds
- Write everything in Python — no frontend required
- Ideal for ML outputs, what-if scenarios, and EDA tools
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### [[Tableau]]
Enterprise-grade BI tool for business dashboards and self-service exploration.
- Powerful for chart building, drilldowns, and story dashboards
- Works well with structured warehouse data
- Preferred for stakeholders used to traditional BI tools
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### [[Sigma Computing]]
Spreadsheet-native BI layer on top of the data warehouse.
- Built for analysts comfortable with Excel-like interfaces
- Real-time querying on warehouse data (e.g., Snowflake)
- Excellent for self-serve dashboards and flexible analysis
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### [[Metabase]]
Open-source BI platform for internal dashboards and metrics tracking.
- Easy to set up and collaborate on shared queries
- Great for recurring reports and operational monitoring
- SQL-native with good controls for non-technical viewers
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## When This Layer Shines
- Demoing results to stakeholders
- Enabling self-service insights without writing code
- Turning data into decisions, not just tables
> **Tip**: Build quick views in [[Streamlit]] for early demos, then move mature metrics into [[Tableau]], [[Sigma]], or [[Metabase]] depending on audience.
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**Part of**: [[Building Data Products]]