Not Every Notebook Needs Spark: SQL-First Analytics with Pure Python

Already know SQL? Python notebooks in Microsoft Fabric let you bring those skills directly — no Spark, no relearning. DuckDB comes pre-installed, so you query Lakehouse data with familiar SQL syntax from day one. Learn when Python notebooks outperform Spark, follow a decision tree to pick the right tool, and leave with ready-to-run notebooks. Perfect for DBAs optimizing costs and SQL developers stepping into Fabric. No Python background needed — SQL isn't a legacy skill. It's your on-ramp.

- Querying Parquet files in a Lakehouse directly with DuckDB — no database to install and nothing to load first
- DuckDB's SQL shortcuts, like GROUP BY ALL, EXCLUDE / REPLACE, and QUALIFY, that take the scaffolding out of everyday queries
- Exploring about 16 million 2025 flights on a single node to find coverage, skew, and seasonality before building anything
- Reaching data where it already lives: Lakehouse files, Lakehouse Delta tables, and public Azure Blob storage
- A decision tree for choosing between T-SQL, Spark, and a Pure Python notebook

**Agenda**
6:00 PM to 6:15 PM Food, Networking, Announcements
6:15 PM - 7:45 PM Session
7:45 PM- 8 PM Q&A