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What language does Superset use?

Published in Superset Languages 2 mins read

Apache Superset is primarily written using Python and TypeScript.

The Core Languages of Apache Superset

Apache Superset is a powerful open-source data exploration and visualization platform designed to be highly scalable and flexible. Its robust architecture is built upon a combination of programming languages, with Python handling the backend logic and TypeScript powering the interactive frontend.

Python: The Backend Powerhouse

Python serves as the backbone of Apache Superset. It is utilized for various critical backend operations, including:

  • Data Processing: Managing connections to numerous databases, executing queries, and processing large datasets.
  • API Development: Building the server-side logic and APIs that allow the frontend to interact with data sources and analytical engines.
  • Database Interactions: Handling all interactions with databases, including fetching metadata, managing queries, and ensuring data security.
  • Security and Authentication: Implementing user management, roles, and permissions.

Its strong ecosystem, extensive libraries, and readability make Python an ideal choice for the complex data-handling requirements of a business intelligence tool.

TypeScript: The Frontend Foundation

On the frontend, Apache Superset leverages TypeScript, a superset of JavaScript that adds static typing. This choice is crucial for building a scalable and maintainable user interface:

  • Interactive Dashboards: Creating dynamic and responsive dashboards, charts, and data visualizations.
  • User Interface (UI) Components: Developing robust and reusable components for the Superset user experience.
  • Enhanced Code Quality: TypeScript's type-checking capabilities help catch errors during development, leading to more reliable and maintainable frontend code.
  • Improved Developer Experience: Providing better tooling, auto-completion, and refactoring support for large frontend codebases.

Key Aspects of Apache Superset's Technology Stack

Understanding Superset's core languages gives insight into its technical foundation. Here's a brief overview of some other key details about the software:

Aspect Detail
Primary Languages Python, TypeScript
Original Author(s) Maxime Beauchemin / Airbnb
Operating System Cross-platform
Latest Stable Release 3.1.0 (as of January 18, 2024)

The combination of Python for backend strength and TypeScript for frontend robustness ensures that Apache Superset can offer a comprehensive, scalable, and user-friendly platform for data analytics.