ET1 Basic Training

ET1 Basic Training

ET1 helps you extract, transform, and load data in a single user-friendly canvas.

Data automation in a single canvas.

Welcome to basic training, where we show you the basics so that you’re dangerous. Don’t worry the engine under-the-hood keeps you safe!

If you’re familiar with music equipment, own a phone, or maybe a computer, you’re more than likely familiar with inputs and outputs with audio.

Your phone has a microphone. That’s an input.

Your phone has a speaker. That’s an output.

How those things work, pure magic, but it works and so should your data automation.

ET1 uses outputs, inputs, and a mixture of nodes to help people solve data problems.

Never loop or recycle data (audio analogy)

The DAG Streaming engine also means no ability to loop data/music infinitely, which means you never hurt your ears or your machine!

ET1 is a lot like an audio device and nodes help you change the audio.

Data flows through ET1 through, from output to input.

Nodes

Nodes are built to be an easy way to visually solve problems, and not become overwhelming.

ET1 is a lot like a guitar pedal, not overwhelming, limited options, should be able to figure it out by playing with tool.

-tyler garrett

🚀 Getting Started

  1. Drag a data source node (CSV, JSON, or Manual Table)
  2. Click the node to configure it
  3. Connect nodes by dragging from output to input circles
  4. Drag to output connect/create

🔍 Core Concepts

  • Nodes: Each node, tool, or box does one or more things to your data
  • Connections: Arrows show how data flows. From Output to input
    • Think of it like audio equipment, that is always ready
  • Preview: See results instantly under each node
    • Audio is always on, instantly able to preview

Cell level highlights..!

Hover your mouse over cells to see and understand your data automation tools better.

Highlight a cell, see it highlight across nodes, branches and the canvas.

How to start ET1.

ET1 starts with a CSV Input Node open and available to begin slicing your data.

Csv file looks like file.csv and opens in ET1.

CSV data usually looks like…

City, State Austin, Texas Texhoma, Texas Addison, Texas Allen, Texas Carrollton, Texas

Connecting the dots, creating connectors, drawing connections, the node menu

When highlighting on the right of a node with an output, you will find a circle.

This creates an arrow that can connect to the input of other nodes.

Node Quick Menu

Clicking the circle creates an arrow that points at a scrollable node menu, and automatically places the node directly to the right of your node.

The Quick Menu!

“Drag” the circle by clicking and dragging your mouse to create an arrow…

“Drop” the arrow by letting go of your mouse click into a blank canvas to create a scrollable node menu where you need a node to be placed.

Drag the circle and drop.. not that crazy right!

Save your favorite nodes in the 6 circles in the top. Drag and drop the node/tool into the circle to save your favorite nodes, to make for an easier development lifecycle.

🛠️ Essential Nodes

  1. Input/Output
  2. Basic Transformations
    • Filter: Show only what you need
    • Sort: Reorder your data
    • Column Renamer: Make headers friendly

🧪 Try This To Get Started Using ET1

  1. Add a CSV input node and load a file.
  2. Play with the data.
  3. See the results update instantly!

Questions? Please contact us.

Return to ET1 Overview to learn more.

About ET1, A Tool to Help Uncomplicate Data

About ET1, A Tool to Help Uncomplicate Data

It is undeniable that data can be overwhelming, and those who work with it daily are adept at navigating this complexity. ET1 is designed to assist individuals in managing this chaos, eliminating the constraints associated with outdated software that is over 20 years old.

ET1 is an easy-to-use tool. The intention is to create an ETL solution that empowers everyone to participate and isn’t intimidating.

Many ETL solutions are complex, not refined, and lack non-technical adoption.

Many ETL solutions require lengthy installations, frequent uneventful online searches, community forum posts full of “partners” desperate for clients, driver installs that fail, lengthy setups to gain <X> feature… Then your company must rely this dated technology (20 year old engines) to give them the competitive edge in 2025.

Most ETL software prioritize the database community, consequently hindering overall solution efficiency. Databases primarily focus on columns, data types, and tables, relegating row-level or cell-level data to a position of secondary importance. With our DAG engine, we’re able to treat each row as an important and essential asset to the data solution.

ET1 facilitates repeatable data cleaning within an intuitive environment. It serves as a visual data workbench, empowering users to explore, cleanse, and articulate data solutions with greater efficiency compared to costly “legacy solutions.”

Think of ET1 as a way to easily streamline data management in a user-friendly no-code environment that doesn’t require walls to climb. –Tyler

The vision

With 13 years of experience in drag-and-drop data engineering, data lakes, data warehouses, and dashboards, I have developed ET1 for users of all backgrounds. My intention is for ET1 to be intuitive and user-friendly, evoking the feeling of playing with guitar pedals to create music, rather than a complex, “engineer-only” interface that overwhelms even experienced users. I recognize that not everyone associates data cleaning with the ETL process – extract, transform, load – and I aim to make ET1 accessible and understandable for those unfamiliar with ETL terminology.

To illustrate, envision ET1 as a music platform facilitating the flow of data through inputs and outputs. Each node within ET1 functions similarly to a guitar pedal, each with its own inputs and outputs. These “pedals” are designed to be compact, require minimal configuration, and offer a streamlined, intuitive user experience.

What is ETL? Extract, Transform, Load.

Extract, Pull the data.

Transform, Filter, Sort, Join, Merge, Update, and essentially change the information.

Load, Send the data to a file, database, chart, report, or dashboard.

The Install, Setup, Operating Systems, Requirements?

No install and no setup and any operating system will work.

Unlike all ETL applications, ET1 opens instantly. There are no drivers. Lastly, no interesting implementation.

Do you have a web browser? How else did you get here. That’s the minimum requirement.

Also… With ET1 you can…

  • Start cleaning and filtering data before KNIME loads.
  • Begin your ETL journey before you understand the pricing of Alteryx.

Core Functionality

The core functionality of ET1 will change and mutate over a period of time.

  • Data Input: Supports CSV, JSON, and GitHub data sources
  • Data Transformation: Various transformation nodes (filters, joins, aggregations, etc.)
  • Data Output: Export to CSV, JSON, and Excel formats

What’s exciting is it’s easy for us to add new features because we are not a large platform!

ET1 Key Features

Here are a few features about ET1 that make the app exciting.

  1. Node-Based Interface:
    • Drag-and-drop nodes for different operations
    • Visual connections between nodes
    • Real-time data previews, flow data downstream
  2. Node Types:
    • Input: CSV, JSON, GitHub, Manual Table
    • Transform: Filter, Join, Union, Pivot, Sort, etc.
    • Output: CSV, JSON, Excel
  3. Advanced Features:
    • Branching and versioning of data flows
    • Node settings and configuration
    • Collapsible nodes for better organization
    • Context menus for node operations
  4. Data Processing:
    • Column operations (rename, filter, normalize)
    • String operations (concatenation, splitting)
    • Aggregations and calculations
    • Data types aren’t very interesting to solve
      • Data types are for databases
      • ET1 is not a database, it’s JavaScript
      • Data is stored in graphs
      • Data types are boring
  5. UI/UX:
    • Responsive design, everything just flows downstream
    • Interactive previews, makes it easy to see what changed
    • Not scary, eager to avoid the developer style tools
    • Highlight cells per data grid to visually inspect across canvas

Technical Specs

This application is not mobile friendly, mobility will not be a major focus, with that said, this will requires a computer.

There are no specific computer requirements needed, any machine should work, thanks for giving this an attempt.

The software requires no installation, and no setup.

We currently do not store any information about users, or your data. When we decide to add authorization, we will more than likely use Auth0, we are familiar with Auth0 due to our development with Canopys.

Thank you for learning about ET1.

Jump back to the ET1 Overview to continue learning about how ET1 will help your team save time and money when removing the chaos from your data.