Getting Started: How cosmos works

docs/getting_started/how-cosmos-works.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+.. _how-cosmos-works:
+
+How Cosmos works
+=================
+
+Cosmos is an open-source Python package developed by Astronomer under the Apache License 2.0. The
+package includes classes that automatically turn dbt Core and dbt Fusion projects into `Apache Airflow® <https://airflow.apache.org/>`_
+workflows.
+
+When using Cosmos you can write your data transformations using dbt and then use Airflow’s
+advanced orchestration capabilities to integrate your dbt projects into your end to end workflows, scheduled to
+run automatically.
+
+Overview
+~~~~~~~~~
+
+Cosmos creates an interface between a dbt project and Airflow, allowing you to translate your dbt project into a Dag. Then, your Cosmos configuration provides the necessary configurations to Airflow so that it can schedule and initiate running your dbt code when you want.
+
+You have a number of configuration options, but fundamentally, Cosmos provides the following two functions:
+
+- **Parse your dbt project**: Cosmos parses your dbt project, and translates it into an Airflow Dag. This process uses the `ProjectConfig <../reference/configs/project-config.html>`_ and `RenderConfig <../guides/translate_dbt/render-config.html>`_ to customize specific behavior, allowing you to optimize how your dbt project is represented as a Dag.
+
+- **Execute the dbt commands**: Cosmos then executes the Dag, using the execution options in your `ExecutionConfig <../reference/configs/execution-config.html>`_ and `ProjectConfig <../reference/configs/project-config.html>`_ to run dbt commands with the appropriate dbt adapter, finally resulting in your dbt SQL running in your data warehouse. Cosmos uses a connection defined in the `ProfileConfig <../profiles/index.html>`_ to execute your SQL in your data warehouse.
+
+.. image:: ../_static/how_cosmos_works.png
+   :alt: Diagram showing that Cosmos parses dbt projects, with options defined by the ProfileConfig and RenderConfig. Then, Cosmos executes the resulting Dag, with options defined by ExecutionConfig and ProjectConfig.
+
+Quickstart
+~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Even though Cosmos is highly extensible, and you have many advanced customization options, you can run a demo with the `Astro CLI <astro-cli-quickstart.html>`_ in just a few minutes. This demo introduces you to the key elements required for Cosmos to parse dbt projects and run Dags.
+
+Bring your own project
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+If you have existing resources for Airflow or dbt, and want to start exploring how to get started with a project more similar to your use case, check out the **Get started with Cosmos** guides. These resources provide more general recommendations for how to create a new project.
+
+- :ref:`open-source`
+- :ref:`astro`
+- :ref:`mwaa`
+- :ref:`gcc`

docs/getting_started/index.rst

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
    :hidden:
    :caption: Cosmos Fundamentals
 
+   How Cosmos works <how-cosmos-works>
    Similar dbt and Airflow concepts <dbt-airflow-concepts>
 
 .. toctree::