7 reasons DAX is not easy

DAX is simple, but it is not easy. Watch the video to learn why, and remember: Practice. The. Fundamentals.

[Mucahtkutlu]

I wrote a lot of DAX last four years, but I still come here and listen to Alberto whenever I struggle. If you work as a Power BI developer, you will have sleepless nights 😢 Like I do now. On my weekend, I am still trying to solve something that has become my nightmare. The worst part, there will be no one to help you because your case will always be too specific. However, after you solve the issue, you will find a better way, but it will be too late.

[rick_.]

Thank you for this! I found that the addition of variables made a HUGE difference in making DAX easier.

[sebbean]

Every time I watch a Video of SQLBI I feel like a living example of the Dunning Kruger effect...

Thank you for your Videos, they are a dwell of wisdom for me!

[egorshiyanov]

Alberto, this video was really helpful and encouraging! Thank you so much!
Sometimes I even think that I don’t know why the number is slow or incorrect but when I follow your advice “Slow down, take a deep breath, maybe a cup of coffee and write down the filter context and follow it through your code” the solution hits me in the head. And I’m like “Aha! That is it!”
Thank you again! You are awesome!

[adan]

If DAX was easy, then Alberto would be really boring 😁

[qiancasper]

I met Dax a year back and I fully agree with your point and I started to follow your channel abt half year ago.Dax just like girl friend sometimes makes you smile and cry thanks for elaborate the Dax from fundamental level to help me gain the knowledge day after day

[tommyhao]

Hi Alberto, thanks very much for your video. I agree with your point that DAX is not an easy language. I started studying DAX in 2019. I read the 1st edition of The Definitive Guide to Dax and Dax Patterns, which I couldn't get any points. Then I started reading the second edition of the books along with the video training. Still, some concepts I was struggling with, such as the way of CALCULATE working. Some of the formulas were working like magic; however, I didn't know the reason why. The reason why I didn't grasp DAX well, in my mind, was TRIAL AND ERROR. I didn't get the point of the four pillars, Evaluation Context, Iterator, Context Transition and Expandaned Table very well. When the formula didn't work, I tried to add CALCULATE between codes without reasoning the code. When I read the second edition 5 times, I started understanding the foundations of DAX and the logic behind it. Now it's the six times I read the book. Wish you and Marco all the best:)

[massimocolaceci]

This video, as the others by Alberto and Marco, sheds a light on such a fascinating language. I'd say an "ACADEMIC light", because your teaching approach reminds of the best times of Computer Science Bachelor I lived in late 90s, at "Università La Sapienza" in Rome. Pure gold. I stick to your channel.

[vilmarsantos]

Este vídeo não só uma aula sobre DAX, é também uma lição de vida.

[saharlatifi]

Hi Alberto, thanks for this video. It's very encouraging. I have started learning DAX by watching YouTube videos 2 months ago, but soon I realized that it did not work. Currently I'm reading your book "The Definitive Guide to Dax and Dax Patterns" and I read some parts 2-3 times. I love the way you explain the fundamentals. Thank you so much.

[spilledgraphics]

Wise words:

Alberto: Practice the fundamentals.
Alberto: Practice the fundamentals.
Alberto: "Did I said that?" -- > Practice the fundamentals.

😅👌

[Mekinhumbel]

So glad I happened on this--needed to hear this today. I found a bad course on Udemy (not going to call anyone out here), and got very frustrated and discouraged that I couldn't apply any of it in my work. Then found the 2nd edition of the "Definitive Guide..." and I'm starting to get a sense how powerful it is, and for the same reason, why it's so hard to debug, and so easy to get wrong answers without knowing why. Also (best of all) that I'm not stupid, I just had bad teachers until now lol. :) Thanks for what you guys do. You make us cube farmers look good 💪.

[sergio_molinari]

Alberto, Complimenti, sei una risorsa Impressionante!
Grazie per quello che condividi e per come lo fai.

[paravej]

16:30 to 16:40 is the best statement of the entire video ❤❤

[sukoi]

You guys always have been a landmark to get out of any DAX situation.

[chadweber]

Alberto is so passionate about DAX! He inspires me to keep learning!

[iproskurnya]

What was the reason for Microsoft making this unintuitive language? They wanted to simplify everything but instead created a monster. SQL is an industry standard and a lot more simplier. Every imperative programming language has a debug option, and you can fix errors by debugging. DAX has no debug options, you have to keep in mind contexts, filters etc. If you are wrong in your assumptions nothing can help you.

[yoray_s]

Thanks Alberto. But another huge reason it's still hard is lack of effective and EFFICIENT debugging tool that will expose critical details regarding errors and mistakes. No matters the language, no programming language in 2021 is suppose to feel like trying to solve a rubik's cube. Of course once you understand the concept of solving the cube it's easy and of course you do want eventually to master it and reduce your dependency on debuggers. The question is how hard would it be to get to that point. The harder the challenge is the less people will be able to pass it. Unfortunately DAX is both hard and without a debugger tool - this increases the chance that more people will not be able to pass the challenge. In a result they will waste time, energy and in some cases money in a try to get there. If you ask me, without debugger capabilities it's 99% harder to master DAX.

The question is why nobody develops a convenient tool? Let's start with the simple stuff:
- What is the function's execution order?
- What is the type of data a function expecting to receive? (table, column, scalar etc...)
- What is the input/output data type a function gets/returns? (table, column, scalar etc...)
- What is the input/output data a function gets/returns?

Giving the fact that DAX is a functions languages - a strictly separated functions executions that simply calling each other.. Is this so hard for someone who knows the language's in-depth engine to put a break or some sort of a component between each execution that will read and output this kind of information?

[mwaltercpa]

Love the chair example! Always something to gain in continually learning DAX. For me DAX is not easy due having to learn it as both a functional and query language.. add to that two contexts to juggle. You’re right understanding theory and practice is the only way. Two things that helped me.. learn on practice mini models that you control, and variables are your friend in building a solution.

[franciscoherrera]

I really think you both guys are the most intelligent living humans on earth. Thank you very much for your advice and your videos and courses, this video is very helpful, a masterpiece video!