Data Modeling Languages

Last updated Feb 11, 2025

Data modeling languages or query languages. Languages above SQL.

What will be interesting, is the language we use for defining these metrics. It started with MDX, then DAX, then later came LookML and now we have Malloy and others:

• 1991 - MDX (MultiDimensional eXpressions) - First major query language for OLAP cubes by Microsoft
• 2009 - DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) - By Microsoft for PowerPivot/PowerBI
• 2012 - LookML - By Looker for their BI platform
• 202X - MAQL (Metric and Attribute Query Language) - By GoodData
• 202X - HexQL - By Hex Technologies
• 202X - Malloy Language - By Malloy (ex-Looker team)
• 202X - Tabular Model Definition Language (TMDL)

Related (?):

• 202X - PRQL (Pipelined Relational Query Language) - Open source SQL alternative
• 202X - Ibis - By Ibis project for DataFrame operations
• 202X - Substrait - Cross-platform query serialization format by Voltron Data
• Kusto Query Language (KQL)
• Apache Calcite (Extending SQL for analytics)

They are usually used or needed in OLAP Cubes or a Semantic Layer.

Related and interesting: Julian Hyde is trying to Extending SQL for analytics with more analytical MDX-like capabilities.

• 1994/96: UML

See Data Model Engine.

More on Metrics Layer and Metrics SQL. Also interesting in relation to Extending SQL for analytics.

• Query Interfaces for OLAP Systems: Great article comparing DAX vs. MDX and what Modern OLAP Systems can do with Metrics Layers in SQL: that takes SQL queries with measures as input and produces valid.
  • related to Extending SQL for analytics

Origin: Data Modeling
References: Data Modeling Techniques, Data Modeling Frameworks
Created 2024-10-16