Set up dbt

This page explains how to integrate and configure dbt with nao for advanced analytics and data transformation workflows.

Why do I need to configure dbt?

If you have dbt working you get:

• Execute & preview dbt models
• Auto-complete of models columns, jump to refs
• Column-level lineage in your agent

Without dbt, you still get:

• Agent who can create & edit: dbt models, dbt sources, dbt documentation & tests

Access dbt onboarding panel

To configure dbt, open the "dbt configuration" panel. It is available in the home page of nao, or at the left of the bottom bar.

Then follow the dbt configuration process.

Steps in the dbt Onboarding

The dbt onboarding panel guides you through the following steps to ensure your dbt project is correctly set up in nao:

1. Enable dbt
   Activate dbt features in nao, such as SQL x jinja compilation, completions, lineage, and dbt tools for AI agent.
2. Python Interpreter
   Select the Python interpreter for your dbt project or create a new environment.
3. Packages
   Choose the dbt version and install the required warehouse adapters.
4. Project Configuration
   Set the folder paths for your dbt_project.yml and profiles.yml files.
5. Environment Variables
   Add any environment variables needed for your dbt project. Add them one by one in the form here, or by creating a .nao.env file. If you already have a .env file, nao will read the environment variables from here.
6. Target
   Select the dbt target (from your profiles.yml) to use for this project.

Check dbt setup status

When your dbt project is working, you will have a tick on the bottom left here. If not, it will be a cross. If it's still not working, you can click on the "dbt project" button and open the dbt configuration panel again.