Page Comparison

Introduction

Superset Apache, also known as Apache Superset, is a powerful open-source platform for interactive data visualization and exploration. With an intuitive and user-friendly interface, Superset Apache enables users to create and share custom dashboards, reports, and data visualizations efficiently. This Business Intelligence (BI) tool offers a wide range of features and functionalities, including the ability to connect to various data sources such as relational databases, CSV files, Excel spreadsheets, among others. Furthermore, Superset Apache provides great flexibility and scalability, allowing for the handling of large volumes of data and supporting business growth.

Apache Superset

Apache Superset is a modern, enterprise-ready business intelligence web application. It is fast, lightweight, intuitive, and loaded with options that make it easy for users of all skill sets to explore and visualize their data, from simple pie charts to highly detailed charts.

Exploring Superset's Core components

1. Data: In Superset, data refers to the collection of information used to create visualizations and dashboards. Data can come from various sources, such as SQL databases, CSV files, cloud services, etc. Superset provides the ability to connect and access these data sources, transform them as needed, and use them to build interactive visualizations and dashboards.

2. SQL Lab: SQL Lab is a component of Superset that allows users to execute custom SQL queries on the underlying database. It provides an interactive interface where users can write queries, view results, and explore data in real-time.
   SQL Lab is useful for users with advanced SQL knowledge who want greater flexibility and control over queries and data analysis.

3. Charts: A chart in Superset is a visual representation of data. Superset offers a wide range of chart types, including bar charts, line charts, scatter plots, pie charts, maps, and more. Users can create and customize charts in Superset by selecting data fields, applying filters, and adjusting the visual style.

4. Dashboards: A dashboard in Superset is a collection of visualizations, filters, and metrics organized on a single page. It provides a consolidated view of data and allows users to analyze and monitor different aspects of a dataset in one place. Dashboards can be customized based on user needs and easily shared with others.

5. Settings: The settings part of Superset allows for the definition of various aspects such as data source connections, user management and permissions, visualization configuration, data refresh scheduling, and integration with external systems. It is where global preferences, performance settings, visual styles, and other options related to the appearance and behavior of Superset can be set.

Roles and Security in Superset

Roles in Superset are an integral part of the security and access system, allowing administrators to control user privileges and permissions. Roles define sets of allowed and restricted actions in Superset to ensure data protection and security.

Image Removed

Image Added

In Superset, the following are common roles:

• Admin: This role grants full access and complete control over all aspects of Superset. Administrators can manage users, define roles, create and edit dashboards, and administer data sources and connections.

• Alpha​: Alpha users have access to all data sources, but they cannot grant or revoke access from other users. They are also limited to altering the objects that they own. Alpha users can add and alter data sources.

• Gamma​: Gamma users have limited access. They can only consume data coming from data sources they have been given access to through another complementary role. They only have access to view the slices and dashboards made from data sources that they have access to.

• sql_lab​: The sql_lab role grants access to SQL Lab. Note that while Admin users have access to all databases by default, both Alpha and Gamma users need to be given access on a per database basis.

• Public​: To allow logged-out users to access some Superset features, you can use the PUBLIC_ROLE_LIKE config setting and assign it to another role whose permissions you want passed to this role.

Key Features of Superset: Empowering Data Exploration and Visualization

1. Data Visualization: Superset offers a wide range of data visualization options, from basic charts to interactive and customized visualizations. It allows users to create dynamic tables, charts, maps, scatter plots, and more.

2. Connection to Multiple Data Sources: Superset can connect to various data sources, such as SQL databases, file systems, cloud services, big data, and many others. This enables accessing and visualizing data from different sources in one place.

3. Interactive Dashboard: Superset enables the creation of interactive and customized dashboards that can include multiple visualizations and filters. This facilitates data exploration, analysis, and visually appealing presentation of key information.

4. Ad Hoc Querying: Users can perform ad hoc queries using an intuitive and user-friendly interface in Superset. This allows users to flexibly explore and analyze data without requiring advanced SQL knowledge.

5. Security and Access Control: Superset provides authentication and authorization options to ensure data security and controlled access to dashboards and visualizations. It can integrate with external authentication systems and allows defining custom permissions and roles.

6. Extensibility and Customization: Superset is an extensible platform that allows adding new functionalities and customizing the platform to specific needs. This is achieved through the use of plugins and extensions, as well as the ability to modify and adapt the source code.

Use Cases for Superset

You can use Superset in various scenarios where you need to visualize and explore data interactively. Some common cases where you can use Superset are:

• Business Data Analysis: Superset can be used to analyze and visualize data within your organization, such as sales, marketing, finance, and operations. You can create custom dashboards to monitor performance and extract valuable insights for decision-making.

• Business Intelligence (BI): Superset offers powerful BI tools that allow you to explore data, perform real-time analysis, and uncover patterns and trends. You can create interactive reports and visualizations to share with your team and collaborators.

• Metric and KPI Monitoring: Superset is useful for monitoring metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) critical to your business. You can create real-time dashboards that provide visibility into the current state of your key indicators and track their progress.

• Scientific Data Visualization: Superset can also be used in scientific settings to visualize experimental data, research findings, or any other scientific information that needs to be presented and interactively explored.

• Open Data Exploration: Superset can be utilized to explore and visualize open datasets, allowing you to discover patterns, trends, and relationships within publicly available data.

Superset Version in Use (2.0.1)

A few areas of Superset have been affected by an important change that took place in this release. Limitations have been imposed within Superset’s configuration, which limit the set of tags and attributes available for use by the Handlebars Chart and the Markdown component in their default configuration. It's important to note that it was considered whether or not these modifications would constitute a breaking change, but it was concluded by the PMC that these should be treated as a security fix instead.

• CSP Configuration Check: Superset 2.0.1 includes a CSP (Content Security Policy) configuration check in production environments. It warns if the configuration is not defined. CSP policies help limit the sources of imported files/content and enhance security.

• Handlebars Chart Configuration: The Handlebars plugin in Superset 2.0.1 has limitations in its default configuration. It supports a restricted set of HTML tags and doesn't allow certain CSS styles. To enable full CSS capabilities, you can adjust the HTML sanitization schema in the config.py file.

• Markdown Component Limitations and Configuration: The Markdown component in Superset 2.0.1 has limitations compared to previous versions. It supports a restricted set of Markdown elements and attributes. You can disable HTML sanitization or expand the sanitization schema to match your CSP policies.