To unlock the magic of Looker, data experts at each organization describe their data in a lightweight modeling language called *LookML*. LookML tells Looker how to query data so everyone in the organization can create Looks and dashboards without needing to understand the behind-the-scenes details. This page outlines the documentation on preparing to write LookML.

## Development basics

The following documentation pages help you understand the basics of developing in Looker:

- [How a project works in Looker](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/how-project-works) --- Understand the basic concepts and structure of a project in Looker.
- [Development Mode and Production Mode](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/dev-mode-prod-mode.md.txt) --- Understand the differences between Development Mode and Production Mode.
- [LookML project files](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/lookml-project-files.md.txt) --- Get an overview of the types of files that may exist in a project in Looker.
- [Understanding model and view files](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/model-and-view-files) --- Build model and view files.
- [Understanding other project files](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/other-project-files) --- Add dashboard, document, data, project manifest, locale strings, explore, data test, and other files to your project.
- [Navigating projects with the object browser panel](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/object-browser.md.txt) --- Use the object browser in the IDE to view the objects and object hierarchies within your project.

## SQL in Looker

The following documentation pages help you understand how to use SQL with Looker:

- [How Looker generates SQL](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/how-looker-generates-sql.md.txt) --- Learn how Looker generates SQL from LookML.
- [SQL Runner basics](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/sql-runner-basics.md.txt) --- Learn about SQL Runner and how to use it.
- [Using SQL Runner to create queries and Explores](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/sql-runner-create-queries-and-explores.md.txt) --- Use SQL Runner to issue and debug SQL queries.
- [Using SQL Runner to create derived tables](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/sql-runner-create-derived-tables.md.txt) --- Use SQL Runner to create and debug derived tables.
- [Managing database functions with SQL Runner](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/sql-runner-manage-db.md.txt) --- Issue SQL queries, create derived tables, and get database information with SQL Runner.

## LookML models and projects

The following documentation pages help you understand how to create and edit models and projects with Looker:

- [Generating a LookML model](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/generating-a-model.md.txt) --- Automatically generate a basic LookML model or project.
- [Creating a new LookML project](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/create-projects.md.txt) --- Create a LookML project and configure a model.
- [Accessing and editing project information](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/manage-projects.md.txt) --- Access and make changes to LookML projects.
- [Create a model using the visual modeling canvas](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/visual-modeling.md.txt) --- Build LookML models by using a visual drag-and-drop canvas interface.

## Git and version control

The following documentation pages help you understand how to set up and configure version control for Looker developers:

- [Setting up and testing a Git connection](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/setting-up-git-connection.md.txt) --- Connect to a Git repository and integrate it with Looker.
- [Configuring project version control settings](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/git-options.md.txt) --- Configure a project for use with Git and set options for using your Git repository with Looker.
- [Configuring the webhook deploy secret](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/webhook-deploy-secret.md.txt) --- Configure, change, or remove the deploy secret for a repository's webhook.
- [Using version control and deploying](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/version-control-and-deploying-changes.md.txt) --- Create and manage Git branches, commit, and deploy by using Git.
- [Git command reference](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/git-command-reference.md.txt) --- View a list of available Git commands and their descriptions.

## Setting up a database connection

The following documentation pages help you understand how to connect to a database that can be used for LookML modeling:

- [Enabling secure database access](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/enabling-secure-db-access.md.txt) --- Take the first step in connecting a database: Choose an option to secure data between Looker and your database.
- [Database configuration instructions](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/dialects.md.txt) --- View links for database-specific instructions for configuring your database to work with Looker.
- [Connecting Looker to your database](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/connecting-to-your-db.md.txt) --- Learn how to connect your database and Looker.

## Looker Marketplace

[Using the Looker Marketplace](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/marketplace.md.txt) --- Use the Looker Marketplace to install, deploy, and manage prebuilt Looker applications, models, Looker-managed databases for popular data sources, and visualization types.