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Development Environment Setup

This guide covers setting up your local development environment with the essential tools for the Data Team.

Homebrew

Homebrew is the recommended package manager for macOS. Install it first as it will be used to install most other tools.

Installation

Follow the instructions in the link above.

Essential Utilities

Use Homebrew to install various utilities:

# Kubernetes command line
brew install kubectl

# Docker
brew install docker

# Helm package manager
brew install helm

# Azure Kubelogin
brew install Azure/kubelogin/kubelogin

# Git version control
brew install git

# UV package manager
brew install uv

Cursor

Cursor is the recommended editor for the Data Team, offering convenient extensions and integrations.

Install these extensions for optimal productivity:

  • dbt Power User - Enhanced dbt development experience

Alternative Editors /CLI tools:

The team also uses:

  • Warp - Modern terminal with AI features

DataGrip

DataGrip is our SQL IDE for working with BigQuery and other databases.

License Required

Request a DataGrip license from your manager. You can use the free trial in the meantime.

Setup BigQuery Connection

  1. Open DataGrip and click + (New) > Data source > BigQuery

  2. Configure the connection with these settings: 

    Name: DW_MAJORITY
Host: dw-prod-gwiiag
Port: 443
Authentication: Google User Account
Project ID: dw-prod-gwiiag
Default Dataset: dbt

  3. Click Test Connection to verify setup

    • You'll be prompted to download drivers (one-click installation)
    • Authenticate with your Majority Google account

  4. Once connected, test by running a simple query: 

    SELECT * FROM dbt.your_table LIMIT 10;

GitHub Copilot in DataGrip

  1. Go to Settings > Plugins
  2. Search for and install GitHub Copilot
  3. Restart DataGrip
  4. Sign in with your GitHub account when prompted

GitHub Copilot Setup

We use GitHub Copilot across VS Code and DataGrip for AI-assisted development.

Prerequisites

  1. Get assigned to the Majority workspace on GitHub (ask your manager)
  2. Ensure you have a GitHub account with access to the majority-dev organization

VS Code Setup

  1. Install the GitHub Copilot extension from the marketplace
  2. Click the GitHub icon in the sidebar and sign in
  3. Your browser will open for authentication
  4. Once authenticated, you're all set!

DataGrip Setup

See the section above for DataGrip-specific Copilot setup.

Getting the Most from Copilot

  • Write clear comments describing what you want to achieve
  • Use descriptive variable and function names
  • Review suggestions carefully before accepting
  • Use Copilot Chat for questions and explanations