Creating an Open-Source Data Handbook
To help startups set up data teams and build infrastructure
I'm thrilled to introduce "The Ultimate Data Handbook," a project I've been passionately working on.
You can find it online here - The Ultimate Data Handbook.
This cheekily named handbook is designed specifically for startups, providing a comprehensive guide to building data infrastructure and setting up effective data teams.
Starting your data efforts from 0 to 1 can be quite a daunting task, particularly because it's often done by founders or first-time data leaders who take on this responsibility in addition to their main roles to give their teams the tools they need to grow.
All at once, you're faced with all sorts of questions, both high and low level.
High-Level Questions
Where do I start?
What metrics do I track? What business problem should I solve for first?
What's the difference between a data lake and a data warehouse? Which one should I choose for my company?
How do I orchestrate my models?
Low-Level Questions
What should data inside a warehouse look like?
How do I name my schemas and tables?
What tool should I use to track product analytics? What events should I track?
These questions are hard to answer, particularly if you don't have any data experience to fall back on. It is precisely for this purpose that I've started writing the data handbook, drawing on my past experiences to simplify these decisions for you.
Topics Covered in "The Ultimate Data Handbook"
Orientation
Learn the key terminology and core concepts involved in running a data team.
Understand the role a data team plays inside an organization.
Good Conventions
Establish conventions to help you create a data warehouse and an analytics code base that are easy to understand.
Data Engineering
Deep dives into data engineering challenges.
Practical solutions and best practices for overcoming these challenges.
Managing Data Teams
Engineering and product management techniques applied to data teams.
Strategies for effective team management and collaboration.
When and How to Use "The Ultimate Data Handbook"
When to Use It:
Early Stages: If you're a founder or early-stage startup, use this handbook to lay the groundwork for your data infrastructure.
Scaling Up: As your startup grows, the handbook will help you transition from basic data tracking to more sophisticated data management and analytics.
Onboarding: For new data team members, this handbook serves as an excellent onboarding tool to get them up to speed quickly.
How to Use It:
Step-by-Step Guidance: Follow the chapters sequentially to build your data infrastructure from scratch.
Reference: Use it as a reference guide to solve specific problems or to make informed decisions about your data strategy.
Customization: Since it’s Open Source and distributed with an MIT license, feel free to adapt and modify the content to suit your unique needs.
Join the Journey and Provide Your Feedback
The Ultimate Data Handbook is Open Source and distributed with an MIT license, so you can use it as-is or modify it to suit your needs and opinions.
I've only just started writing the handbook, and as I embark on this journey, I'd love to hear from you! Your feedback on what you find useful and what's not will be invaluable in shaping this resource.