DAX vs SQL Benchmark
The DAX vs SQL benchmark evaluates the complexity of defining metrics in Power BI DAX compared to SQL measures in Timbr’s semantic layer. DAX has long been the default for Power BI, but it requires specialized expertise and translates into SQL at runtime, creating performance overhead and debugging challenges. By contrast, SQL measures are written once in Timbr’s semantic model, executed directly in the database, and reused across tools. This makes them easier to maintain, portable, and more efficient while still fully compatible with Power BI.
Measuring Complexity in DAX vs SQL
Timbr’s semantic model allows Power BI metrics to be expressed directly in SQL instead of DAX. For this benchmark, we migrated representative DAX measures from the AdventureWorks semantic model in Power BI into SQL measures in Timbr. Complexity was evaluated using three dimensions: the number of lines required to define each measure, the presence of join dependencies, and the overall maintainability of the definitions. This side-by-side comparison highlights how SQL-based measures reduce complexity by up to 70%, simplify governance, and preserve full compatibility with existing Power BI dashboards.
Side-by-Side Metric Comparison
We compared representative Power BI DAX measures with equivalent SQL measures defined in Timbr. Complexity and performance were measured in terms of query length, join dependencies, and maintainability.
DAX Measure Example (Before)
Defining the same metric in Power BI requires multiple nested DAX functions and dependencies.
Equivalent SQL Measure in Timbr (After)
In Timbr’s semantic model, the same metric is expressed in SQL with fewer lines, simpler syntax, and direct execution in the database.
Query Complexity Comparison
| Metric Example | DAX in Power BI | SQL in Timbr |
|---|---|---|
| Internet Current Quarter Margin | 42 lines, nested dependencies | 13 lines, no joins |
| Internet Previous Quarter Margin | 36 lines, nested dependencies | 11 lines, no joins |
| Customer Lifetime Value | 57 lines, multiple joins | 15 lines, 1 join |
| Rolling 90-day Churn | 41 lines, multiple joins | 12 lines, 1 join |
Across representative metrics, SQL measures in Timbr reduced query definitions by up to 70%, eliminating unnecessary joins and simplifying dependencies while preserving full compatibility with Power BI dashboards.
