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Install dbt OSS

(Applies to dbt v2.0 and later)

The open-source v2 foundation is licensed under Apache 2.0. Most users don't need this page — install dbt normally with the standard instructions. This page is for organizations that require the Apache 2.0 codebase specifically.

Use an isolated environment

Use uv tool to install dbt-oss in its own isolated environment. Avoid installing dbt-oss in the same environment as dbt or dbt-core because they all use the same entry point. If you already have dbt installed, refer to Run dbt-oss alongside other dbt installs.

Install​

Before installing dbt OSS, make sure you have uv installed on your machine.

Install dbt-oss with uv tool:

uv tool install dbt-oss

Confirm the installed version begins with 2.:

dbt --version

For adapter install details, refer to the dbt repository.

Run dbt-oss alongside other dbt installs​

If you have dbt installed and want to run dbt-oss alongside it, use uvx with a shell alias to avoid conflicts. Using uvx ensures dbt OSS runs in its own isolated environment without interfering with your existing dbt installation.

Add the following to your shell profile. This example uses dbto, but you can choose a different name:

# ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc
alias dbto='uvx --from dbt-oss dbt'

Reload your shell profile:

source ~/.zshrc   # or source ~/.bashrc

You can then use dbto <command> (or your chosen alias) instead of dbt <command> for dbt OSS invocations.

What's included​

  • The open-source, Rust-based dbt runtime.
  • The dbt project language and DAG semantics.
  • The standard dbt command set (run, build, test, compile, parse, and more).

What's not included​

The standard dbt install gives you dbt v2, which adds the following on top of the open source layer:

  • SQL comprehension and static analysis
  • LSP features (autocomplete, hover info, inline errors)
  • dbt lint and error diagnostics
  • dbt VS Code extension integration

For the full picture of what you get with dbt, refer to v2 availability.

Contributing​

To contribute, refer to the dbt repository and its CONTRIBUTING guide, or ask in the dbt Community.

License​

dbt OSS is licensed under Apache 2.0. Refer to the LICENSE file in the repository. Refer to dbt licensing for more info.

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