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No-Code Cells

1 post · Jul 2022 – Nov 2024

What this trail covers

Hex has evolved its data analysis capabilities by introducing "no-code" UI-driven cells (Pivot, Filter, Writeback) that complement existing code-based workflows. These cells generate code behind the scenes, allowing users to switch between UI and code, learn new syntax, and perform common data manipulation tasks more easily. The Chart cell has also seen improvements in visualization types and customization. The Writeback cell enables sending dataframes back to the database programmatically. This evolution is part of a broader multi-modal strategy, allowing users to seamlessly integrate SQL, Python, and no-code workflows within a single notebook environment, accelerating data exploration and analysis.

All Hex trails
  1. You can now do no-code joins in Hex — no SQL requiredThis post introduces no-code joins as an extension of Hex's no-code cell capabilities. It details how users can perform table joins through a UI, with AI-assisted suggestions for join keys and warnings for potential mismatches. A key technical aspect highlighted is the system's ability to maintain accurate aggregations even when fan-outs occur, a common pitfall in SQL joins. The post emphasizes that no upfront data modeling is required, allowing for on-the-fly adjustments during analysis.
  2. Exploring one question with three workflowsThis post demonstrates the practical application of Hex's multi-modal capabilities by solving the same data question using three distinct workflows: SQL-first, no-code, and hybrid. It highlights how Hex's notebook interface supports SQL chaining, integrated charts, text cells, data browsers, spreadsheet calculations, filter cells, and pivot cells, enabling users to choose their preferred modality without sacrificing efficiency or the ability to collaborate. The hybrid workflow showcases the flexibility of mixing SQL, Python, and no-code tools within a single project, leading to faster data exploration and insight generation.
  3. Introducing: “No-Code” CellsIntroduced three new UI-driven "no-code" cells: Pivot, Filter, and Writeback. The Pivot cell allows for aggregation and pivoting of dataframes. The Filter cell provides UI-based filtering of dataframes. The Writeback cell enables sending dataframes back to a database. All these cells generate code that can be viewed or edited, promoting learning and flexibility. Enhanced the Chart cell with new visualization types and infinite scale.