Documentation & Version Control Flashcards

Which file should typically NOT be committed to a shared Git repository because it holds credentials?

Answer: profiles.yml

profiles.yml contains connection details and secrets, so it is kept outside version control.

Which directories are normally listed in a dbt project's .gitignore?

Answer: target/, dbt_packages/ and logs/

target, dbt_packages and logs are generated or installed artifacts and should not be tracked.

What does the selector `state:modified+` combined with `--state` select?

Answer: Modified nodes and everything downstream of them

state:modified+ compares against a prior manifest and includes changed nodes plus their descendants, enabling Slim CI.

In packages.yml, how do you pin a git-hosted package to a specific tag or commit?

Answer: revision:

The revision key accepts a branch, tag, or commit SHA for git packages.

What does `package-lock.yml` record in dbt 1.7 and later?

Answer: Exact resolved package versions installed by dbt deps

dbt deps writes package-lock.yml so installs are reproducible across environments.

In the dbt Cloud IDE, why must you create a new branch before editing a project whose default branch is main?

Answer: Main is read-only in the IDE

The IDE treats the default branch as read-only so changes flow through feature branches and pull requests.

Which Git practice best supports safe collaboration on a dbt project?

Answer: Feature branches merged through reviewed pull requests with CI

Branching with PR review and CI checks catches errors before they reach production.