Snowflake opens up AI coding assistant to other data engineering systems

Data management platform vendor Snowflake is allowing users to utilise its Cortex Code artificial intelligence coding assistant in other data engineering systems, starting with dbt and Apache Airflow.

Cortex Code CLI provides context-aware AI assistance inside local development environments.

Dbt is a command line tool that claims to "enable data analysts and engineers to transform data in their warehouses more effectively", touting around 850 companies using it in production, while Apache Airflow is a platform created  to programmatically author, schedule and monitor workflows

With the latest release, developers can use the tool within dbt and Airflow workflows which, the company claims, will speed up development and reduce manual effort while still using enterprise controls for access and governance.

It added that the update also expands choice of large language models and adds administrative controls for managing usage and enforcing policies.

Snowflake product executive vice president Christian Kleinerman said the tool reflects that modern developers don’t operate in a single system, working across systems, teams and workflows.

“By extending Cortex Code CLI beyond Snowflake, we’re advancing our mission to provide developers with a context-aware agent that understands and works across their entire data ecosystem," he said.

"By making adoption seamless, we’re meeting developers where they are on their AI journey."

Snowflake stated that since the Cortex Code bot was launched in November last year, it has gained over 4,400 new users.

Snowflake also introduced a new standalone subscription option for Cortex Code CLI, which can be purchased through a monthly subscription, the first product offered independently of Snowflake compute and consumption.