Dune Analytics vs The Graph: Querying On-Chain Governance Data

SQL-based exploration: Write custom queries against raw, decoded event logs. This matters for ad-hoc analysis of novel governance events, like tracking delegate changes in Uniswap or analyzing proposal sentiment. You're not limited to pre-defined schemas.

Fork and build on 100,000+ public dashboards. This matters for rapid prototyping and benchmarking. Need a Compound proposal tracker? Find a similar one, fork it, and adapt. The shared knowledge base accelerates development significantly.

Indexed, subgraph-based queries. Data is processed and served via a decentralized network of Indexers. This matters for production applications that require guaranteed uptime and censorship resistance for features like live proposal status in a dApp frontend.

GraphQL API with defined schemas. Subgraphs define the exact data shape (e.g., Proposal, Vote, Delegate). This matters for building scalable dApps where frontend engineers need predictable, fast queries without writing complex join logic.

• Research and due diligence on DAO voter behavior.
• One-off reports and data journalism.
• Exploratory analysis where the data schema is unknown or evolving.
• Teams with strong SQL skills but less engineering bandwidth.

• Embedding live governance data directly into your protocol's UI.
• Mission-critical applications requiring decentralized infrastructure SLAs.
• Repeated, complex queries that benefit from pre-indexing (e.g., historical voting power).
• Projects with engineering resources to build and maintain a subgraph.

Direct SQL access to raw, decoded event logs. This allows for complex, multi-protocol joins (e.g., cross-referencing Aave voters with their Uniswap LP positions). Ideal for deep forensic analysis and custom dashboards tracking specific governance cohorts.

Massive public repository of 1M+ queries and dashboards. For governance, you can instantly fork and modify existing analyses for Compound, ENS, or Arbitrum DAO. Drastically reduces time-to-insight for common metrics like proposal turnout and voter sentiment.

Subgraph indexing provides a GraphQL API with sub-second latency for pre-defined entities like Proposal, Vote, and Delegate. Critical for applications needing live governance data feeds, such as governance frontends or snapshotting tools.

Network of Indexers ensures censorship-resistant, reliable data availability. Essential for protocols where governance data integrity is paramount and cannot rely on a single centralized query engine. Supports long-term data persistence guarantees.

Single-point dependency on Dune's hosted engine and Spark SQL. Queries on large datasets (e.g., full Ethereum history) can hit performance limits. Not suitable for embedding low-latency data directly into a production dApp interface.

Requires subgraph development in AssemblyScript. Creating and maintaining a custom subgraph for a new governance module (e.g., OpenZeppelin Governor) adds significant engineering cost compared to writing a SQL query. Slower initial iteration.

Real-time SQL queries: Query raw, indexed blockchain data directly with SQL. This matters for ad-hoc analysis and rapid prototyping of governance dashboards (e.g., tracking Uniswap proposal voting power in minutes). No subgraph deployment overhead.

Massive public repository: 500K+ saved queries and dashboards. This matters for benchmarking and due diligence, as you can instantly find and fork analyses for protocols like Aave or Compound without starting from scratch.

Censorship-resistant indexing: Data is served by a decentralized network of Indexers, not a single entity. This matters for mission-critical dApps requiring guaranteed uptime and data integrity for governance modules, even if Dune's service is unavailable.

GraphQL with custom logic: Subgraphs allow you to define, transform, and link entities (e.g., Proposal, Vote, Delegate). This matters for building production applications that need efficient, structured access to complex governance relationships across contracts.

Hidden abstraction costs: While free for public data, complex queries on large datasets (e.g., full historical Snapshot votes) can be slow. Vendor lock-in to Dune's schema and engine. Not ideal for low-latency, automated data feeds.

Subgraph deployment pipeline: Requires writing and maintaining a subgraph manifest (AssemblyScript). This matters for slower iteration cycles and adds engineering complexity compared to writing a one-off SQL query. Indexing lag can be 1-2 blocks.