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Data Sources

Workflows load data from external systems through connections. Each connection type wraps a client library and provides a consistent interface for Ecoscope Desktop / Ecoscope Web.

Cross-references: connections reference, io tasks reference


How connections work

A connection is a typed wrapper around an API client. In spec.yaml, you use a set_*_connection task to create the connection, then pass it to data-loading tasks via ${{ workflow.<id>.return }}:

- name: Data Source
  id: er_client_name
  task: set_er_connection

- name: Get Events
  id: get_events_data
  task: get_events
  partial:
    client: ${{ workflow.er_client_name.return }}
    time_range: ${{ workflow.time_range.return }}
    ...

Ecoscope Desktop / Ecoscope Web renders a data-source picker for set_er_connection because the task's parameter type is a connection protocol.

At runtime, connection credentials are resolved from environment variables that Ecoscope Desktop / Ecoscope Web sets based on the user's configured data sources.


EarthRanger

Connection task: set_er_connection

For available data-loading tasks and their parameters, see the io tasks reference.


SMART

Connection task: set_smart_connection

For available data-loading tasks and their parameters, see the io tasks reference.


Earth Engine

Connection task: set_gee_connection

For available data-loading tasks and their parameters, see the io tasks reference.


Next steps