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Lineage

Lineage Diff

Show how data flow changed, not just how SQL text changed.

Compare column-level lineage between two versions of a SQL query or model.

See what actually changed in your data flow, not just which lines changed.

The problem it solves

Code diffs show line changes, but data teams need to understand semantic changes: new sources, removed relationships, changed transformations, or columns flowing from different places.

What it does

Runs column-level lineage on the before and after versions of SQL.
Compares source-to-output relationships.
Highlights added, removed, and changed lineage edges.
Improves code review for refactors and model changes.

When to use it

DURING

SQL or dbt model review

BEFORE

merging a refactor

WHEN

changing source fields or transformation logic

WHEN

governance teams need to understand data flow impact

How it works

The skill obtains the original and modified SQL, traces lineage for both, computes the diff, and reports how data flow changed.

Tools used

lineage_check

Trace column-level lineage through SQL transformations.

sql_diff

Compare two SQL versions and summarize structural changes.

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