Introduction

The purpose of data modeling is to create a visual representation of data structures and relationships to understand, design, and manage data effectively. It supports communication, database design, data integrity, system development, and scalability.

The Accio Model Definition Language (MDL) file is a crucial configuration file for the Accio system. It follows a specific file naming convention with the .mdl suffix and encompasses the following components:

1. Model: This section defines the entities or objects within your data source. It outlines the structure, attributes, and relationships associated with each model.
2. Relation: Relations represent associations between two models. They describe how different models are interconnected and interact with each other within the system.
3. Metric: Metrics provide a representation of a particular model. They are commonly utilized to address aggregation problems specific to a model. Metrics allow for the calculation and analysis of aggregated data based on predefined rules or formulas.
4. View: Views are virtual tables created based on stored SQL queries. They provide a convenient way to access and analyze data from multiple models or relations. Views offer a consolidated and simplified representation of data that can be easily queried and used for reporting or analysis purposes.

By defining well-structured MDL (Model Definition Language), users can efficiently utilize Accio to write SQL statements that do not require JOIN operations, are easy to maintain, and have enhanced semantic clarity.