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Built in Git support in PowerBI Desktop

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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

Comments (49)
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3bfd608a 71a2-451a-99d7-12cb3805e731 on 05 Jul 2020 23:46:48

RE: Built in Git support in PowerBI Desktop

This would provide extremely valuable insights. Please make it happen.

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a84c2520 a28d-46dd-8f8d-1925b5c32b63 on 05 Jul 2020 23:42:30

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.

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d64829bb ac26-4ef0-8758-0c7f2425c393 on 05 Jul 2020 23:42:18

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.

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17286cb1 ba7b-e811-a963-000d3a1be90a on 05 Jul 2020 23:37:24

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)!!!!

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0050775b 68c7-4b07-b644-b09b946678c6 on 05 Jul 2020 23:36:52

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.

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0050775b 68c7-4b07-b644-b09b946678c6 on 05 Jul 2020 23:36:52

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.

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f3776d52 8ace-434b-a0f2-cde5dab18f61 on 05 Jul 2020 23:33:16

RE: Built in Git support in PowerBI Desktop

go to bitbucket integracion please! do it!

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99c595dc 2946-4c56-a13b-71dcf5d54b8e on 05 Jul 2020 23:23:31

RE: Built in Git support in PowerBI Desktop

Just a transparent git connector (repo/branch/filelist) to list the files (and potentially access them) would be great.
No custom github/bitbucket/gitlab/.. integrations

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453eed30 e0a9-4c93-a2d3-0a87e98dd71d on 05 Jul 2020 23:17:57

RE: Built in Git support in PowerBI Desktop

Yes please! PowerBI is a great tool and it need to be integrated with all those git-based software!

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e8477b15 a654-40ef-aa4b-3abd252ff2b0 on 05 Jul 2020 23:03:26

RE: Built in Git support in PowerBI Desktop

Yes, Bitbucket support will be awesome!