Matt Smith on 28 Feb 2019 17:19:38
When you create a PowerBI report in Power BI Desktop it transparently create \ use a git repository. So you just worked normally, then when you hit publish, it actually push to remote.
Gitignore could be used to exclude data from being published to the repository. PowerBI would have version control which is desperately needed.
This would work well with the whole Microsoft buying Github \ Azure DevOps, both from the perspective of promoting good practices such as code version control and CI\CD - process of developing in development and promoting to UAT\production
It would also allow IT to get visibility of code, allow tests to be run - such as moving DAX calculated columns with M
This would also solve the other ideas:
https://ideas.powerbi.com/forums/265200-power-bi-ideas/suggestions/17523715-report-version-control
https://ideas.powerbi.com/forums/265200-power-bi-ideas/suggestions/7861287-dataset-report-version-control
https://ideas.powerbi.com/forums/265200-power-bi-ideas/suggestions/34315045-seamless-version-control-of-queries-data-model-st
https://ideas.powerbi.com/forums/265200-power-bi-ideas/suggestions/9677517-source-control
https://ideas.powerbi.com/forums/265200-power-bi-ideas/suggestions/9080776-using-git-or-some-other-sccs-to-store-m-queries-n
Administrator on 06 Dec 2023 16:56:47
Released for public preview in June 2023: https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/deep-dive-into-power-bi-desktop-developer-mode-preview/
Update 10/17: This is now in our upcoming roadmap and we will share more details in the coming months. Mo
March 2022 update: We are working on this item but no timeline can be shared yet. We appreciate your patience
- Comments (82)
- Merged Idea (6)
RE: Built in Git support in PowerBI Desktop
I'd suggest a publish template button for the Git integration. This way everything except the actual data will publish, maybe with the option to remove even the small amount of data resident in template files.
RE: Built in Git support in PowerBI Desktop
This would be amazing. Currently, diffing measures requires extracting and saving them using a 3rd party tool like Power BI Helper. Being able to natively diff PBIT files would be a major step forward.
RE: Built in Git support in PowerBI Desktop
Fantastic write up Matt. Totally agree with the github angle too - it makes too much sense not to pursue.
RE: Built in Git support in PowerBI Desktop
This would provide extremely valuable insights. Please make it happen.
RE: Built in Git support in PowerBI Desktop
Just to expand on the "why version control \ git" from newbie point of view.
Version control is essential for any developer regardless of level. Version control allows you to track changes. It's highly unlikely you are going to ever develop a perfect solution, even if you are a expert, first time that isn't going to require any changes. By tracking changes it allows you to quickly identify WHEN something has changed, WHAT has changed - as you can "diff" the old vs the new file and if you have added a useful commit message, WHY something has changed.
Git is a distributed version control system. This means there is no spoon. I mean there is no server. Every copy has everything and is equal. Because of this commits are performed locally and you "push" them to remote servers, this means you can develop offline then push when you are back online. Pushing basically means you have a backup and allows others to "clone" your work (permissions willing). Git has become the defacto code version control.
The current problem is Power BI Desktop creates PBIX or PBIT which are .zip binary files. This means you can't "diff" the files, so you can't track changes - you can't see that you've changed the [Price] measure to [Price - Exc VAT]. In addition because you can't "diff", you can't merge changes - which you need to do if you have more then one developer working on a project. So if Dev-A changes [Price] to [Price - Exc VAT] and Dev-B adds [Price - Inc VAT] you can't work independently then merge the two together. This limits Power BI development to a single developer.
RE: Built in Git support in PowerBI Desktop
If this were to be implemented it would truly raise the level of Power BI development. This combined with the upcoming XMLA endpoint exposure would make proper collaborative enterprise level work possible.
RE: Built in Git support in PowerBI Desktop
Yes also from our side a M-Query Git Control is desperatly needed especially if you work together.
Please also for the new Cloud Based MQuery (dataflows)!!!!
RE: Built in Git support in PowerBI Desktop
I really believe that would be important Power BI having with Bit Bucket inside of Power BI desktop, the possibilitly to upload our work directly to a git tools would improve a lot our productivity and organize better our Job.
RE: Built in Git support in PowerBI Desktop
I really believe that would be important Power BI desktop having integration with Bit Bucket or Gitbub inside of Power BI desktop, the possibilitly to upload our work directly to a git tool would improve a lot our productivity and organize better our Job.
RE: Built in Git support in PowerBI Desktop
go to bitbucket integracion please! do it!