# itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling architecture

> Architecture diagram of the GitHub repository itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling, generated by GitDiagram from its file tree, README and a sample of source files (last updated 2026-06-25). It is an AI-made overview: check details against the source.

- Interactive diagram: https://gitdiagram.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling
- Repository: https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling

## Overview

This repository is a LookML-only semantic layer playground for Looker. It does not contain an application runtime; instead, it shows how model files and view files are structured to control how warehouse data is exposed to business users.

1. **Repository role**
   The project is organized as a set of production-style LookML patterns for enterprise analytics modeling. The “system boundary” is the Looker semantic layer: raw/warehouse data is transformed into views, then assembled into explores in model files.

2. **Top-level layout**
   The repo is split into three example tracks:
   - `lookml-snippets/` for modularity and inheritance patterns
   - `usability-optimization/` for governance and analyst-facing UX controls
   - `caching-and-datagroups/` for model behavior around freshness/caching

3. **Core semantic-layer flow**
   The data flow is: warehouse tables → LookML views (`*.view.lkml`) → LookML model (`*.model.lkml`) → Looker explores and user-facing fields. The repository is about shaping that last layer, not about ETL or application logic.

4. **Modularity / inheritance track**
   `lookml-snippets/` demonstrates reuse through LookML inheritance (`extends`) and base definitions. It contains shared patterns centered on `users`, `events`, `location`, and a `training_ecommerce.model.lkml` model that ties those definitions together.

5. **Model/view separation**
   The view files in `lookml-snippets/` and `usability-optimization/` represent the field-level contract: dimensions, measures, labels, groups, and hidden fields live there. The model files define which views are exposed, how explores are composed, and how the business-facing navigation is organized.

6. **Usability optimization track**
   `usability-optimization/` is focused on making the semantic layer safer and easier to use. It includes `users.view.lkml`, `order_items.view.lkml`, and a model file, suggesting a domain where field exposure, naming, and explore composition are tuned for non-technical users.

7. **Governance and privacy boundary**
   This track explicitly uses LookML controls such as hidden fields and field exclusion to restrict sensitive attributes. The important architectural boundary is that privacy is enforced at the semantic layer, not left to downstream dashboard authors.

8. **Business-facing organization**
   The README indicates use of labels and grouping to separate domains such as Inventory and Marketing. That means the model is not just translating schema; it is actively designing the analyst experience by grouping fields and curating which explores appear together.

9. **Field abstraction and reuse**
   The snippets and optimization examples rely on LookML field references and derived logic rather than duplicating SQL. This keeps business rules in one place and lets the same semantic definitions cascade through multiple explores or views.

10. **Caching and datagroups track**
    `caching-and-datagroups/` is a separate model example focused on Looker model behavior around cache invalidation and data freshness. Architecturally, this is the layer where query reuse and refresh policy are controlled for performance and consistency.

11. **External technology dependency**
    The only runtime platform implied here is Looker, with the warehouse side referenced in the README as BigQuery. The repository’s artifacts are LookML files, so the key integration point is Looker’s compiler and query generator, not custom application code.

12. **How to draw the architecture**
    A good diagram would show three pattern families feeding into the same Looker semantic layer:
    - reusable view definitions and inheritance
    - governed/user-friendly model compositions
    - cache/freshness policy examples
    All of them sit between the warehouse and the end-user exploration experience.

Main entry points: [`lookml-snippets/model/training_ecommerce.model.lkml`](https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/lookml-snippets/model/training_ecommerce.model.lkml) (Training model), [`caching-and-datagroups/training_ecommerce.model.lkml`](https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/caching-and-datagroups/training_ecommerce.model.lkml) (Cache model), [`lookml-snippets/users.view.lkml`](https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/lookml-snippets/users.view.lkml) (Users view), [`lookml-snippets/events.view.lkml`](https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/lookml-snippets/events.view.lkml) (Events view)

## Diagram (Mermaid)

```mermaid
flowchart TD

subgraph group_core["Semantic layer"]
  node_warehouse[("Warehouse<br/>data source")]
  node_looker{{"Looker<br/>platform"}}
  node_semantic_layer["Semantic layer<br/>boundary"]
  node_explores["Explores<br/>user-facing"]
  node_analysts(("Analysts<br/>consumer"))
end

subgraph group_snippets["LookML snippets"]
  node_snip_model["Training model<br/>LookML model"]
  node_users_view_snip["Users view<br/>LookML view<br/>[users.view.lkml]"]
  node_events_view["Events view<br/>LookML view<br/>[events.view.lkml]"]
  node_location_view["Location view<br/>LookML view<br/>[location.view.lkml]"]
  node_extends["Extends<br/>pattern"]
end

subgraph group_ux["Usability optimization"]
  node_ux_model["UX model<br/>LookML model"]
  node_users_view_ux["Users view<br/>LookML view<br/>[users.view.lkml]"]
  node_order_items_view["Order items<br/>LookML view"]
  node_field_controls["Field controls<br/>governance"]
end

subgraph group_cache["Caching and datagroups"]
  node_cache_model["Cache model<br/>LookML model"]
  node_datagroups["Datagroups<br/>freshness policy"]
end

node_warehouse -->|"source data"| node_users_view_snip
node_warehouse -->|"source data"| node_events_view
node_warehouse -->|"source data"| node_location_view
node_warehouse -->|"source data"| node_users_view_ux
node_warehouse -->|"source data"| node_order_items_view
node_users_view_snip -->|"inherits"| node_extends
node_extends -->|"assembled by"| node_snip_model
node_events_view -->|"exposed in"| node_snip_model
node_location_view -->|"exposed in"| node_snip_model
node_users_view_ux -->|"governed by"| node_field_controls
node_order_items_view -->|"governed by"| node_field_controls
node_field_controls -->|"composed into"| node_ux_model
node_snip_model -->|"part of"| node_semantic_layer
node_ux_model -->|"part of"| node_semantic_layer
node_cache_model -->|"uses"| node_datagroups
node_datagroups -->|"configured in"| node_looker
node_semantic_layer -->|"publishes"| node_explores
node_explores -->|"consumed by"| node_analysts
node_cache_model -->|"part of"| node_semantic_layer
node_looker -->|"hosts"| node_semantic_layer
node_semantic_layer -.->|"queries"| node_warehouse

click node_snip_model "https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/lookml-snippets/model/training_ecommerce.model.lkml"
click node_users_view_snip "https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/lookml-snippets/users.view.lkml"
click node_events_view "https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/lookml-snippets/events.view.lkml"
click node_location_view "https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/lookml-snippets/location.view.lkml"
click node_ux_model "https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/usability-optimization/model/training_ecommerce.model.lkml"
click node_users_view_ux "https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/usability-optimization/users.view.lkml"
click node_order_items_view "https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/usability-optimization/order_items.view.lkml"
click node_cache_model "https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/caching-and-datagroups/training_ecommerce.model.lkml"

classDef toneNeutral fill:#f8fafc,stroke:#334155,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#0f172a
classDef toneBlue fill:#dbeafe,stroke:#2563eb,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#172554
classDef toneAmber fill:#fef3c7,stroke:#d97706,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#78350f
classDef toneMint fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#16a34a,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#14532d
classDef toneRose fill:#ffe4e6,stroke:#e11d48,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#881337
classDef toneIndigo fill:#e0e7ff,stroke:#4f46e5,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#312e81
classDef toneTeal fill:#ccfbf1,stroke:#0f766e,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#134e4a
class node_warehouse,node_looker,node_semantic_layer,node_explores,node_analysts toneBlue
class node_snip_model,node_users_view_snip,node_events_view,node_location_view,node_extends toneAmber
class node_ux_model,node_users_view_ux,node_order_items_view,node_field_controls toneMint
class node_cache_model,node_datagroups toneRose
```

## Components

### Semantic layer

Looker semantic-layer boundary between warehouse data and analyst-facing explores.

- **Warehouse**: data source · Underlying warehouse tables referenced by LookML views.
- **Looker**: platform · Compiler and query engine for the semantic layer.
- **Semantic layer**: boundary · The LookML layer that defines views, models, and explores.
- **Explores**: user-facing · Business-facing entry points assembled from models and views.
- **Analysts**: consumer · End users who explore curated fields and governed metrics.

### LookML snippets

Reusable modeling patterns for inheritance and shared definitions.

- [Training model](https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/lookml-snippets/model/training_ecommerce.model.lkml): LookML model · Snippet-track model that ties reusable view patterns together. · `lookml-snippets/model/training_ecommerce.model.lkml`
- [Users view](https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/lookml-snippets/users.view.lkml): LookML view · Reusable user definitions for inheritance and field reuse. · `lookml-snippets/users.view.lkml`
- [Events view](https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/lookml-snippets/events.view.lkml): LookML view · Event-centric field definitions used by the snippet track. · `lookml-snippets/events.view.lkml`
- [Location view](https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/lookml-snippets/location.view.lkml): LookML view · Location-related fields shared across snippet patterns. · `lookml-snippets/location.view.lkml`
- **Extends**: pattern · Inheritance pattern used to reuse base view definitions.

### Usability optimization

Governance and analyst-friendly field curation patterns.

- [UX model](https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/usability-optimization/model/training_ecommerce.model.lkml): LookML model · Model focused on field exposure and analyst-facing organization. · `usability-optimization/model/training_ecommerce.model.lkml`
- [Users view](https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/usability-optimization/users.view.lkml): LookML view · Governed user fields with hidden and curated attributes. · `usability-optimization/users.view.lkml`
- [Order items](https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/usability-optimization/order_items.view.lkml): LookML view · Business-facing order item fields and metric definitions. · `usability-optimization/order_items.view.lkml`
- **Field controls**: governance · Hidden fields, labels, and groups used to constrain analyst access.

### Caching and datagroups

Freshness and cache behavior patterns in Looker models.

- [Cache model](https://github.com/itsakshatgm/google-cloud-data-modeling/blob/main/caching-and-datagroups/training_ecommerce.model.lkml): LookML model · Model that demonstrates datagroup and freshness behavior. · `caching-and-datagroups/training_ecommerce.model.lkml`
- **Datagroups**: freshness policy · Cache invalidation and refresh policy for model queries.

## Connections

- Warehouse → Users view: source data · Warehouse tables are exposed through LookML views.
- Warehouse → Events view: source data · Warehouse tables are exposed through LookML views.
- Warehouse → Location view: source data · Warehouse tables are exposed through LookML views.
- Warehouse → Users view: source data · Warehouse tables are exposed through LookML views.
- Warehouse → Order items: source data · Warehouse tables are exposed through LookML views.
- Users view → Extends: inherits · Snippet views demonstrate LookML inheritance and reuse.
- Extends → Training model: assembled by · Reusable definitions are tied together in the snippet model.
- Events view → Training model: exposed in · The snippet model assembles shared views into explores.
- Location view → Training model: exposed in · The snippet model assembles shared views into explores.
- Users view → Field controls: governed by · Hidden fields and curated labels restrict and shape access.
- Order items → Field controls: governed by · Field exposure and grouping are tuned for usability.
- Field controls → UX model: composed into · Governance rules are applied through the usability model.
- Training model → Semantic layer: part of · Model files are part of the semantic layer boundary.
- UX model → Semantic layer: part of · Model files are part of the semantic layer boundary.
- Cache model → Datagroups: uses · The caching track defines freshness and invalidation policy.
- Datagroups → Looker: configured in · Datagroup behavior is evaluated by Looker.
- Semantic layer → Explores: publishes · Models and views become user-facing explores and fields.
- Explores → Analysts: consumed by · Analysts interact with curated explores and fields.
- Cache model → Semantic layer: part of · Caching behavior is modeled within the semantic layer.
- Looker → Semantic layer: hosts · Looker compiles and serves the LookML semantic layer.
- Semantic layer → Warehouse: queries · The semantic layer queries warehouse data through Looker.