17Aug 2016 by Grant Fritchey 1 Comment

Updates to Azure Data Platform Learning Resources

Azure
I'm acting as the curator to a list of Azure Data Platform Learning Resources. It's speakers and teachers, blogs, articles and more, all focused around the Azure Data Platform. I have it hosted on GitHub so that anyone can contribute. There have been several updates recently that you may want to take a look at. If you're looking for where and how to get started in the Azure Data Platform, this is a great resource to get you going. If you're teaching the Azure Data Platform, anything from PowerBI to DocumentDB to Azure SQL Data Warehouse and all the stuff in between, please add your information so that this list is up to date.
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05Jul 2016 by Grant Fritchey 11 Comments

Carpenters vs. DBAs

Professional Development
Let's get the caveat out of the way up front, I work for a tool vendor. If you look around at the tools landscape for the Microsoft Data Platform, it's really interesting. There are a few tools vendors, primarily clustered around monitoring tools, and then there are a bunch of point tools for helping with various aspects of operations against the Data Platform (mostly SQL Server). Some of these are free tools. Some are pay only. Some are a mix. There are variables in the quality of these tools, and I'm sure not going to comment on that. Instead, I find one thing really interesting. Let's step back a bit. My neighbors have both worked as carpenters (well, one carpenter, and one general contractor who also does carpentry). They both…
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01Jun 2016 by Grant Fritchey 1 Comment

Independent Azure Data Platform Instructors

Azure
The Azure Data Platform is taking off. I'm seeing more and more interest on the forums, at conferences and in my personal interactions. I've been teaching the data platform for six years. Almost as soon as it was available, I started working with it, putting up blog posts and setting up sessions. I've had stuff in production on the platform for almost that long too. I'm an advocate and, I hope, an independent voice on the topic. By independent in this case, I mean non-Microsoft. Don't get me wrong, most of the people I learn from work for Microsoft. They are excellent instructors and more knowledgeable on the topic than I'll ever be. I'm not questioning the ability of Microsoft people to deliver the very best Data Platform content. I…
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29Mar 2016 by Grant Fritchey 2 Comments

Do You Teach Azure Data Platform?

Azure, Professional Development
I offer instruction on the Azure Data Platform, and have for about six years, since shortly after it came out. I started using Azure SQL Database (although it had a different name then) Day 1. I know a few other people who don't work for Microsoft, but have been actively pursuing Azure SQL Database, SQL Server on Azure VMs, and pretty much all the Microsoft Data Platform. I'm not counting the BI people who have dived into PowerBI and related tech. The BI people, who are generally pretty smart, jumped on Azure with both feet. I'm talking about the data platform aspect of Azure. The people that I know who regularly teach classes are (in no particular order, sheesh, you people): Karen Lopez(b|t) Denny Cherry(b|t) Jes Borland (b|t) Thomas LaRock (b|t) Joe D'Antoni…
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