In the fast-paced, data-driven world of modern business, the role of a QlikView developer has become increasingly essential. QlikView developers help organizations make sense of complex data by designing and building interactive dashboards that turn raw information into valuable business insights. With the demand for data visualization and business intelligence (BI) skyrocketing, QlikView developers find themselves at the heart of business strategy and decision-making.
But what does a typical day look like for a QlikView developer? This article takes a deep dive into the day-to-day responsibilities, tools, challenges, and work environment of a QlikView developer, offering a detailed look into what it takes to succeed in this dynamic role.
The Role of a QlikView Developer
A QlikView developer is primarily responsible for transforming raw data into interactive dashboards and reports that enable businesses to make informed decisions. These professionals work with large datasets, often integrating data from multiple sources, and create visualizations that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional.
The day-to-day tasks of a QlikView developer revolve around data extraction, transformation, loading (ETL), data modeling, and dashboard design. However, the role also involves significant collaboration with business analysts, data engineers, and stakeholders to ensure that the final product meets business needs.
A typical day for a QlikView developer involves a mix of technical development, communication, problem-solving, and optimization, all aimed at delivering seamless data visualization solutions.
Morning: Starting the Day with Data
Checking Emails and Communications
Like most professionals, QlikView developers often start their day by checking emails and messages. This could include updates from project managers, queries from stakeholders, or overnight support requests related to existing dashboards. Reviewing these communications helps the developer prioritize tasks for the day.
A developer may also use this time to check for feedback on recently deployed dashboards or reports, ensuring that any adjustments or fixes required can be addressed quickly.
Reviewing Project Requirements and Priorities
Once communications have been reviewed, a QlikView developer usually checks in with the project management tool (such as Jira, Trello, or Monday.com) to review the day’s tasks. Projects could range from developing new dashboards to refining existing ones based on client feedback or performance analysis.
At this stage, the developer assesses the current workload and adjusts priorities accordingly. Key project goals are broken down into actionable tasks, and timelines are reassessed.
Data Extraction and Loading (ETL)
The first technical task of the day often involves working on the ETL process. Data extraction, transformation, and loading are central to the QlikView environment, and developers must ensure that data from various sources is correctly loaded into the application.
This process involves writing or modifying scripts to extract data from databases, APIs, spreadsheets, and other sources, then transforming the data to fit the business logic or model. Depending on the project, this task might take a couple of hours or extend into the rest of the day.
Common activities during the ETL process include:
- Connecting to new data sources.
- Writing SQL queries or scripts to pull the required data.
- Data cleansing and transformation (e.g., removing duplicates, correcting data formats).
- Loading the transformed data into QlikView’s in-memory engine for further analysis.
During this time, the developer ensures that the data is not only accurate but also structured for optimal performance when used in dashboards.
Mid-Morning: Developing QlikView Dashboards
Designing and Modifying Dashboards
After ensuring that the data is correctly loaded into QlikView, the next step is to design or modify dashboards based on the current project. QlikView developers spend a significant portion of their day working on visualizing data in a way that is meaningful to end-users.
This involves:
- Building new dashboards: Developers start by understanding the business requirements and translating them into a visual format that communicates the required insights.
- Customizing existing dashboards: For ongoing projects or based on feedback, existing dashboards may need modifications, such as adding new filters, updating charts, or adjusting the layout for better readability.
- User Interface (UI) design: Creating dashboards that are intuitive and easy to navigate is critical. Developers focus on ensuring that the visualizations align with best practices for data visualization, such as proper use of colors, fonts, and chart types.
Data Modeling and Scripting
QlikView developers need to have a deep understanding of data modeling, as it forms the backbone of efficient dashboard performance. In the mid-morning, developers may focus on optimizing data models to ensure that they perform well when handling large datasets.
This includes:
- Creating star or snowflake schemas: Organizing data in ways that reduce redundancy and improve performance.
- Joining or concatenating tables: Structuring relationships between tables to support dynamic querying and visualization.
- Scripting: Writing and maintaining load scripts that transform raw data into usable forms for dashboards.
A lot of attention is given to how the data is structured to avoid issues like synthetic keys (unintentional relationships between tables) or circular references (loops in the data model).
Afternoon: Collaboration and Optimization
Team Meetings and Client Check-ins
After lunch, a typical QlikView developer’s day often involves team meetings or check-ins with clients and stakeholders. Collaboration is a key aspect of the job, and developers must regularly touch base with business analysts, data engineers, and project managers.
During these meetings, developers:
- Discuss ongoing project progress.
- Review new business requirements or changes to existing requirements.
- Get feedback from clients or stakeholders on recently deployed solutions.
- Set timelines for future deliverables.
These meetings help ensure that the QlikView applications are aligned with business needs and allow for any required adjustments to be made early in the development process.
Performance Tuning and Debugging
Performance is a major concern for QlikView developers, especially when dealing with large datasets. The afternoon may be spent tuning dashboards and reports to ensure they perform optimally.
Key tasks include:
- Reducing load times: By optimizing data models and load scripts, developers work to minimize the time it takes for QlikView applications to load data and refresh dashboards.
- Memory management: Ensuring that QlikView’s in-memory engine isn’t overloaded by optimizing how data is processed and stored.
- Debugging: Fixing bugs in scripts, resolving data issues, and ensuring that the visualizations display the correct information.
Developers often use tools like QlikView’s own performance monitoring features, as well as third-party solutions, to analyze and improve the performance of applications.
Late Afternoon: Testing, Documentation, and Support
Testing and Quality Assurance
Before any dashboard or application is deployed to end-users, it must go through rigorous testing. Developers are responsible for ensuring that all data visualizations, filters, and calculations work as expected.
Tasks during this stage include:
- Unit testing: Ensuring that each part of the dashboard functions as intended.
- Integration testing: Verifying that the application works well with other systems or data sources.
- User acceptance testing (UAT): Collaborating with end-users to ensure that the solution meets their requirements and expectations.
Writing Documentation and User Guides
Documentation is an essential but often overlooked part of a QlikView developer’s day. Developers create detailed documentation to explain how a QlikView application works, both for future developers and for end-users.
This documentation may include:
- Technical documentation: Descriptions of the data model, load scripts, and key metrics.
- User guides: Instructions for end-users on how to navigate the dashboards and get the most out of the application.
- Troubleshooting guides: Common issues and solutions related to the application.
Clear and comprehensive documentation ensures that the QlikView application remains maintainable over time and that end-users can use it effectively.
Supporting End-Users and Troubleshooting
As QlikView applications are deployed, users may encounter issues or have questions about how to use the dashboards. Developers provide support by troubleshooting any technical problems that arise and offering guidance on how to interpret the data.
Common support tasks include:
- Answering questions about data interpretation.
- Fixing broken links or incorrect data visualizations.
- Helping users customize their views or filters within the dashboard. Providing ongoing support is a critical aspect of maintaining a smooth user experience and ensuring that the application continues to deliver value.
Evening: Wrapping Up the Day
Review of the Day’s Progress
Towards the end of the day, a QlikView developer typically reviews the day’s progress. This involves checking off completed tasks in the project management system, reviewing any outstanding issues, and ensuring that deadlines are on track.
If there are any blockers or issues that couldn’t be resolved during the day, the developer will communicate with the team or relevant stakeholders to ensure that these are addressed promptly.
Planning for Tomorrow
Before logging off, developers often plan for the next day. This might involve setting new priorities, identifying tasks that need follow-up, and making note of any challenges that need to be addressed.
The ability to effectively plan and manage time is essential for staying on top of complex, multi-step projects that require constant iteration and refinement.
Tools of the Trade
QlikView developers rely on a variety of tools to perform their tasks efficiently. Some of the most commonly used tools include:
- QlikView: The primary tool for developing, testing, and deploying dashboards.
- SQL: For querying and extracting data from relational databases.
- Excel: Often used for quick data analysis or to integrate smaller datasets.
- Version control tools (e.g., Git): To manage changes to QlikView applications and scripts.
- Project management tools (e.g., Jira, Trello): To track progress and collaborate with teams.
- QlikView Extensions: For adding custom functionality or visualizations.
These tools help QlikView developers stay productive, manage data effectively, and deliver high-quality applications.
Common Challenges Faced by QlikView Developers
While a QlikView developer’s job is rewarding, it is not without its challenges. Some common issues they face include:
- Dealing with large datasets: Managing and optimizing large volumes of data for real-time querying can be complex.
- Performance optimization: Ensuring that QlikView applications are fast and responsive, even with multiple users and large data sources, requires careful attention to detail.
- Dynamic business requirements: Business needs are constantly evolving, meaning that dashboards and reports often need to be updated or redesigned.
- Troubleshooting complex data issues: Debugging issues in data models or load scripts can be time-consuming and requires strong problem-solving skills.
Successfully navigating these challenges requires a combination of technical expertise, communication skills, and patience.
Future Outlook for QlikView Developers
The future for QlikView developers remains strong, especially in industries where data-driven decision-making is critical. While Qlik Sense has emerged as a newer, more modern BI tool, many organizations continue to use QlikView for guided analytics and complex reporting needs.
For developers, the ability to transition between QlikView and other BI platforms like Qlik Sense, Tableau, or Power BI will open up new career opportunities as businesses increasingly seek professionals with multi-platform expertise.
Conclusion
A day in the life of a QlikView developer is a dynamic blend of technical development, problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity. From data extraction and dashboard design to performance tuning and user support, QlikView developers play a crucial role in transforming data into actionable insights that drive business success.
As businesses continue to rely on data for strategy and decision-making, the demand for skilled QlikView developers will only grow. For those with a passion for data and visualization, this role offers a rewarding career path filled with opportunities for growth and innovation.