Dagster is a Python-native data orchestrator for complex, modern data pipelines. It emphasizes local testability, a strong focus on asset-based dependencies, and an intuitive UI for monitoring. Unlike task-centric tools like Airflow, Dagster's core abstractions of 'ops', 'assets', and 'resources' facilitate code-native pipeline definitions that integrate better with your tech stack (e.g., dbt, ML libraries). This shift enables cleaner development, testability, and greater data platform reliability. While other tools force ETL to conform to workflow patterns, Dagster's model allows those data workflows to be developed organically from Python development habits.