📊 Setup Apache Superset — Self-Hosted Business Intelligence Platform
Deploy Apache Superset on Ubuntu with Docker — the open-source data exploration and BI visualisation platform trusted by Airbnb, Twitter, and Lyft. Connect to 50+ databases and build interactive dashboards from SQL queries without writing code.
📦 Resources & Setup Scripts
Grab the automated bash script from GitHub to follow along with the video.
Quick Install:
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mhmdali94/Docker/main/analytics/superset/superset-ubuntu.sh
chmod +x superset-ubuntu.sh
sudo bash superset-ubuntu.shTutorial Steps
1 Download the Script
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mhmdali94/Docker/main/analytics/superset/superset-ubuntu.sh2 Make it Executable
chmod +x superset-ubuntu.sh3 Run the Installer
The script deploys Superset with PostgreSQL (metadata), Redis (cache and async results), and Celery workers. Default admin: admin/admin — change immediately. First startup takes 90–120 seconds.
sudo bash superset-ubuntu.sh4 Access the Web UI
Open your browser and navigate to the Superset web interface:
http://<your-server-ip>:8088Ports Used
| Port | Purpose |
|---|---|
| 8088 | Apache Superset Web UI & API |
Overview
Apache Superset is an open-source business intelligence and data visualisation platform originally built at Airbnb and now an Apache Software Foundation top-level project. It allows data teams to explore databases, write SQL, and build interactive dashboards with 50+ chart types.
Why Use It
Superset is the leading open-source alternative to Tableau and Looker. It provides a semantic layer, full SQL Lab access, and row-level security — all without per-seat fees.
When You Need It
Who Should Use It
Real Use Cases
Main Features
How to Use After Installation
Security Best Practices
Ports and Firewall Notes
Superset serves on port 8088. Use Nginx with HTTPS. PostgreSQL (5432) and Redis (6379) are internal only. Celery workers have no external ports.
Backup and Maintenance
Common Mistakes
Troubleshooting
Alternatives
Metabase is simpler for non-technical users. Redash focuses on SQL queries and dashboards. Grafana is better for time-series metrics. Lightdash is dbt-native BI. For enterprise budgets: Tableau, Power BI, and Looker.
When Not to Use It
If your audience is non-technical users, Metabase is more approachable. For pure time-series monitoring, Grafana is better. Superset has significant resource requirements (multiple containers) which may be overkill for simple use cases.
PrismaTechWork Professional Help
PrismaTechWork provides end-to-end infrastructure services — from initial deployment and security hardening to ongoing monitoring, automated backups, and dedicated support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What databases can Apache Superset connect to?
50+ databases including PostgreSQL, MySQL, BigQuery, Redshift, Snowflake, ClickHouse, DuckDB, Presto, Trino, and more via SQLAlchemy.
What are the default login credentials?
Default: admin/admin. Change the password immediately and change the SECRET_KEY before production use.
How is Superset different from Metabase?
Superset has full SQL Lab access and 50+ chart types. Metabase has a simpler question-based query builder for non-technical users.
Can I embed Superset charts in other applications?
Yes. Use iframe embedding with guest token authentication. Configure EMBEDDED_SUPERSET and use the guest token API.
How do I schedule dashboard email reports?
Go to Dashboards → your dashboard → Set up an email report. Celery Beat must be running for scheduled reports to execute.