The LeapFrogBI Platform

Pattern based development is super nice way to expedite development while ensuring that a consistent process is followed.  Building a data solution often requires hundreds of steps to be completed.  Design patterns can be used to implement groups of steps nearly instantly.  For example, when loading a dimension, we need to collect data from our source, apply delta load logic, consolidate the data, track load status, ensure the data is at the appropriate grain, load the target dimension, and mark the record as being processed.  A design pattern can do all of these steps in just a few clicks.

Maintaining accurate logs is important to troubleshooting and performance optimization.  LeapFrogBI generates logs specifically designed for data solutions such as component lapse times, record counts, and upsert counts.  Platform users do not need to lift a finger.  This is 100% automatic.

LeapFrogBI not only generates logs, it also gives you a nice monitoring solution to easily access the logs.  A prebuilt SQL Server Reporting Services project exposes logs and present key trends in visualizations.  You always have access to verbose logs either via the monitoring solution or by accessing logs directly through SQL Server facilities.

Not everyone is a coder.  An easy to use expression builder is built into the platform exposing the full power of the T-SQL language to all users.  Grammar and syntax are checked to ensure that expressions are successfully executed.  Not sure what value is required for the first argument of the DATENAME function?  No problem.  LeapFrogBI has you covered.

All fields can have statistics collected.  These statistics can be used in your project for things like delta load logic or they may be used to keep track of key values via the monitoring solution.  To collect a statistic, you simply check the box next to the chosen aggregation method.  LeapFrogBI will be sure to present the user with only appropriate aggregation methods based on the selected field data type.

LeapFrogBI auto generates a visual diagram describing your project’s data flow and relationships.  You can see graphically how your data flow is designed and you can navigate using the graphical interface.  Choose between related, dimensional model, and entire model views of the diagram to focus in on the area of your project you are interested in viewing.

It is always a good idea to design development assets such that they can be moved from one environment to the next without requiring any changes.  LeapFrogBI achieves this by implementing centralized configuration along with an indirect connection to configuration.  So, if you want to move your solution to a new server then you can do so without regenerating the development assets.  You also can move asset between dev, test, and production environments without queuing a new build.

Copy and paste is nothing new, but it is not exactly the simplest thing to do when we are working with complex data flows.  LeapFrogBI gives you the ability to make exact copies of a component.  These copies can then be redirected to consume a new source or they can be consumed by a new downstream process.