Schema Reference

The metadata you author in ADL conforms to the open-source Data Solution Automation Metadata Schema — a .NET model that defines the canonical shape of data connections, data objects, data items, mappings, classifications, and the relationships between them.

The schema lives at github.com/data-solution-automation-engine/data-warehouse-automation-metadata-schema. The source is the canonical reference — the C# types include inline XML documentation, and the repository’s README and code are the most up-to-date description of every field.

Key entry points

A short orientation if you’re new to the schema:

• DataObject — a table, view, or query in your data solution. Carries a list of Data Items and optional relationships.
• DataItem — a column or field on a Data Object. Includes data type, nullability, and classifications.
• DataConnection — where data lives (database, schema, warehouse).
• DataObjectMapping — how data flows from a source Data Object to a target Data Object, with the Data Item Mappings that transform individual columns.
• DataClassification — tags applied to objects and items (PII, sensitive, layer markers).

For the concepts behind these types — what they mean, how they fit together, and why ADL is built around them — see Metadata & Data Objects.

Why this isn’t a full API reference

The docssite used to mirror an auto-generated reference of every type and property. That was generated from the .NET source by a separate tool and tended to drift between regenerations. We’ve stepped back from that approach: the source is open, well-commented, and is the authoritative description. Pointing readers there avoids carrying a snapshot that goes stale silently.

If a future need calls for an in-site browsable reference, we’ll revisit — likely by parsing the XML doc comments directly into Starlight markdown without a third-party generator in the loop.