Tool Limitations and Better Design Decisions in Metabase

Week 3 was different from the previous weeks. Instead of learning new features, this week helped me understand something more important how to think when a tool doesn’t behave the way we expect.

Most of my focus this week was around cascading filters in Metabase. The requirement sounded very simple and practical. When a user selects a client, the next filter (like labels or projects) should automatically update and show only the related options. From a user’s perspective, this felt like an obvious expectation.

I worked on this idea with my teammates and spent time analyzing different approaches. Initially, we assumed that since the data tables were related, the filters should naturally react to each other. But as we explored deeper, we discovered an important limitation Metabase does not support true dynamic or cascading dashboard filters by default. Dashboard filters do not automatically change based on another filter’s selection at the UI level.

At first, this was frustrating. We kept thinking that maybe we were missing something or not configuring it correctly. After multiple discussions, trials, and checking the tool’s behavior more carefully, we realized that this was not a mistake from our side. It was simply a limitation of the tool.

This understanding led to an important design decision. Instead of forcing an unstable workaround, we chose a more reliable approach. We decided to handle filtering logic at the query level, keep dropdowns static, and clearly document this behavior as a known limitation. The goal shifted from “making it look perfect” to “making it correct and stable.”

During this process, I also learned that some tools, like Power BI, support cascading filters within their own interface. However, this behavior cannot be transferred to Metabase, even with real-time data. This comparison helped me understand that every tool has its strengths and weaknesses, and no tool fits every requirement perfectly.

What’s Next

Going forward, I want to continue exploring smarter ways to design dashboards, handle complex requirements, and make better decisions when tools don’t support everything out of the box. I’m looking forward to learning more through real challenges and experiences in the coming weeks.