https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/Recent content in Articles on Ahead of the AIHugoen-USTue, 08 Sep 2026 15:55:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/survival-or-creative-build-your-first-ai-agent-on-oracle/Tue, 08 Sep 2026 15:55:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/survival-or-creative-build-your-first-ai-agent-on-oracle/Anyone who has played Minecraft knows the first decision in the game isn’t about where to build. It’s about which mode to play.https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/pawn-rook-queen-how-to-field-the-right-model-for-each-agent/Fri, 21 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/pawn-rook-queen-how-to-field-the-right-model-for-each-agent/Every chess player learns a table early on and carries it for life: a pawn is worth 1, knight and bishop are worth 3, a rook is worth 5, the queen is worth 9. 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Like a living, pulsing galaxy, every month brings new “constellations” of features, integrations, and acquisitions that light the way for data professionals and…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/vip-security-in-fabric-your-workspace-now-runs-like-an-international-airport/Mon, 12 May 2025 16:15:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/vip-security-in-fabric-your-workspace-now-runs-like-an-international-airport/Picture a large, modern airport with VIP lounges, strict protocols and exclusive tunnels for boarding and arrivals. Now picture that this airport is your Microsoft Fabric workspace.https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/scrooge-mcduck-changing-his-mind-real-estate-tokenization-databricks/Sat, 10 May 2025 22:19:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/scrooge-mcduck-changing-his-mind-real-estate-tokenization-databricks/For decades, Scrooge McDuck was the ultimate symbol of concentrated wealth. 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In our data universe, we could say that…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/holy-upgrade-batman-robin-f2-sku-now-has-copilot-in-fabric/Thu, 01 May 2025 21:38:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/holy-upgrade-batman-robin-f2-sku-now-has-copilot-in-fabric/Hey there, data community! You know that feeling of being in Gotham City… I mean, in our Data City? It’s vibrant, full of opportunities, but also packed with challenges: we’ve got the villains of…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/planning-perfect-barbecue-microsoft-fabric-sku-estimator/Thu, 24 Apr 2025 14:15:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/planning-perfect-barbecue-microsoft-fabric-sku-estimator/I was thinking about how to explain the Microsoft Fabric SKU Estimator in a simple way, and the age-old art of the Brazilian churrasco came to mind. Yes, because anyone who has ever hosted a barbecue knows there is a very…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/to-infinity-and-beyond-data-explaining-microsoft-fabric-to-a-child/Tue, 22 Apr 2025 13:48:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/to-infinity-and-beyond-data-explaining-microsoft-fabric-to-a-child/The other day, while thinking about a new article to share here on LinkedIn, I caught myself reflecting on how hard it is to explain what we do with data and technology to a child, or even to an older relative…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/how-to-migrate-from-sas-to-microsoft-fabric-2-layer-banoffee-recipe/Sat, 19 Apr 2025 16:13:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/how-to-migrate-from-sas-to-microsoft-fabric-2-layer-banoffee-recipe/Migrating an established platform like SAS can look like a complex challenge. But, just like making an irresistible Banoffee, if we follow the steps calmly and methodically, the result will be delicious! Inspired…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/streaming-in-microsoft-fabric-the-production-line-of-the-future/Thu, 13 Feb 2025 18:06:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/streaming-in-microsoft-fabric-the-production-line-of-the-future/Picture a modern production line where products are manufactured in real time, without interruption. Now swap the products for data, and you’ll have an idea of what data streaming is. Welcome to the factory…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/dbt-the-personal-trainer-that-turns-your-data-into-elite-athletes/Mon, 10 Feb 2025 12:46:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/dbt-the-personal-trainer-that-turns-your-data-into-elite-athletes/Imagine your data is like a couch potato who decided to get in shape. DBT (Data Build Tool) is the personal trainer who takes that data, builds the right workout plan (SQL transformations) and takes it to a new…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/azure-databricks-delta-sharing-and-the-data-buffet/Thu, 06 Feb 2025 15:11:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/azure-databricks-delta-sharing-and-the-data-buffet/Imagine a world where sharing data between companies is as simple as opening a delivery app and ordering your favorite meal. Instead of complicated processes, slow transfers, and worries…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/egyptian-gods-and-ai-build-an-llm-on-azure-databricks-rag-fine-tuning-mosaicml/Fri, 31 Jan 2025 14:29:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/egyptian-gods-and-ai-build-an-llm-on-azure-databricks-rag-fine-tuning-mosaicml/If the ancient Egyptians could build an artificial intelligence, they would probably call on their gods to make the system wiser, faster and more efficient. Just as Ra lit up the world, Thoth recorded…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/azure-databricks-dqx-the-doctor-strange-of-your-data-pipeline/Mon, 20 Jan 2025 13:45:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/azure-databricks-dqx-the-doctor-strange-of-your-data-pipeline/These days, data-driven decision-making is at the heart of every company. However, the effectiveness of those decisions depends directly on the quality of the data used. Inconsistent, incomplete, or…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/like-a-well-organized-beehive-exploring-azure-databricks-clusters/Wed, 15 Jan 2025 13:45:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/like-a-well-organized-beehive-exploring-azure-databricks-clusters/Databricks is a robust platform for processing and analyzing large volumes of data, supporting workloads that range from data engineering to data science and business analytics. One of the…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/azure-databricks-and-watsonx-data-in-the-heroes-arena/Mon, 13 Jan 2025 13:30:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/azure-databricks-and-watsonx-data-in-the-heroes-arena/In recent years, the need for robust platforms to analyze large volumes of data has become clear for companies looking to become more data-driven. Two of the most talked-about solutions…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/modernize-cobol-processes-azure-databricks-pave-recipe-jcl-vsam/Fri, 10 Jan 2025 19:12:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/modernize-cobol-processes-azure-databricks-pave-recipe-jcl-vsam/After writing my previous article on migrating from SAS to Databricks as a cake recipe, I enjoyed the experience so much that I decided to repeat the idea, but this time with COBOL! Since COBOL is a language…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/how-to-migrate-from-sas-to-azure-databricks-a-foolproof-two-step-recipe/Thu, 09 Jan 2025 13:17:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/how-to-migrate-from-sas-to-azure-databricks-a-foolproof-two-step-recipe/Migrating a well-established platform like SAS to Databricks can be challenging, but when we follow a well-structured recipe, everything becomes simpler and more efficient. In this recipe, we’ll split the process into…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/turn-your-pipelines-into-superheroes-5-villains-azure-databricks/Thu, 09 Jan 2025 00:13:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/turn-your-pipelines-into-superheroes-5-villains-azure-databricks/How about comparing the mistakes that sabotage your data pipelines to the villains who keep getting in the way of the superheroes’ mission? Picture your pipeline as the hero of the story, tasked with carrying the data to its final destination…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/the-lost-world-rescuing-lost-art-of-dimensional-modeling-practical-guide/Thu, 12 Dec 2024 18:38:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/the-lost-world-rescuing-lost-art-of-dimensional-modeling-practical-guide/With the rise of cloud data storage, working with data has become far more accessible, in terms of both time and cost. Tools such as Databricks and Microsoft Fabric have helped break down those…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/rub-the-lamp-and-get-insights-a-guide-to-ai-bi-genie-on-azure-databricks/Mon, 21 Oct 2024 15:47:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/rub-the-lamp-and-get-insights-a-guide-to-ai-bi-genie-on-azure-databricks/Imagine being able to talk to your data as if you were chatting with a coworker or, better yet, as if you were dealing with the genie of a magic lamp. That’s exactly what AI/BI Genie makes possible!…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/from-zero-to-bronze-build-a-notebook-without-coding-databricks-assistant/Wed, 09 Oct 2024 21:31:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/from-zero-to-bronze-build-a-notebook-without-coding-databricks-assistant/In the data world, building a bronze layer, which organizes raw data into an accessible structure for later transformations, has traditionally involved a lot of coding. Recently, however, I explored a…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/may-the-analytical-force-be-with-you-exploring-databricks-star-wars-style/Mon, 23 Sep 2024 15:56:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/may-the-analytical-force-be-with-you-exploring-databricks-star-wars-style/In recent years, Databricks has established itself as a powerful platform, much like the Force that guides the Jedi on their missions, helping companies accelerate their data and analytics projects. Just as the union between the…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/clash-of-the-titans-databricks-vs-snowflake-in-the-mortal-data-battle/Tue, 30 Jul 2024 15:00:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/clash-of-the-titans-databricks-vs-snowflake-in-the-mortal-data-battle/Databricks and Snowflake are two big names in cloud data solutions. Both platforms have been key to helping companies generate value from their internal and external data assets. Each platform…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/data-analytics-on-scorched-earth-the-decline-of-azure-synapse/Fri, 26 Jul 2024 22:23:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/data-analytics-on-scorched-earth-the-decline-of-azure-synapse/Azure Synapse is Microsoft’s Data Warehouse solution on the Azure cloud. However, it has been facing internal competition from Databricks for some time and, since last year, from Microsoft Fabric as well.https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/demystifying-databricks-unity-catalog-simplifying-data-governance-and-auditing/Thu, 18 Jul 2024 14:32:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/demystifying-databricks-unity-catalog-simplifying-data-governance-and-auditing/Databricks Unity Catalog makes it easier for your team to understand its data. It automatically generates information about how data is used, based on cluster consumption logs. This reflects how…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/microsoft-fabric-pause-resume-scale-capacity-with-data-factory-pipeline/Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:30:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/microsoft-fabric-pause-resume-scale-capacity-with-data-factory-pipeline/There are several ways to pause, resume, or scale a Microsoft Fabric Capacity. Note that this applies only to F-SKUs in Azure, since Premium Capacity (P-SKU) can only be scaled.https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/exploring-new-horizons-transform-your-organization-data-mesh-fabric/Fri, 12 Jul 2024 13:16:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/exploring-new-horizons-transform-your-organization-data-mesh-fabric/Microsoft Fabric is the complete solution for all of your company’s analytics needs, unifying the whole process in a single platform. From ingesting data into the data lake to delivering information to…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/connected-future-unity-catalog-and-microsoft-fabric-working-together/Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:28:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/connected-future-unity-catalog-and-microsoft-fabric-working-together/This article reflects my personal experiences and points of view, not the official position of Microsoft or Databricks. In addition, although this post describes potential scenarios, it does not necessarily reflect the…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/integrating-azure-databricks-and-microsoft-fabric-part-4-v-order/Mon, 08 Jul 2024 16:55:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/integrating-azure-databricks-and-microsoft-fabric-part-4-v-order/We’ve reached the end of the “Integrating Azure Databricks and Microsoft Fabric” series. Throughout this journey, we explored how these two powerful tools can be combined to optimize data analytics processes…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/integrating-azure-databricks-and-microsoft-fabric-part-iii-onelake-gold-layer/Fri, 05 Jul 2024 17:26:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/integrating-azure-databricks-and-microsoft-fabric-part-iii-onelake-gold-layer/Disclaimer: this article reflects my personal experiences and views, not an official position of Microsoft Fabric or Databricks.https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/integrating-azure-databricks-and-microsoft-fabric-part-2-reporting-layer/Thu, 04 Jul 2024 14:18:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/integrating-azure-databricks-and-microsoft-fabric-part-2-reporting-layer/Disclaimer: this article reflects my personal experiences and views, not an official position of Microsoft Fabric or Databricks.https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/integrating-azure-databricks-and-microsoft-fabric-a-meeting-of-giants-part-1/Tue, 02 Jul 2024 20:17:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/integrating-azure-databricks-and-microsoft-fabric-a-meeting-of-giants-part-1/Disclaimer: this article reflects my personal experiences and views, not an official position of Microsoft Fabric or Databricks.https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/advanced-sql-queries-you-should-know/Tue, 02 Jul 2024 14:15:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/advanced-sql-queries-you-should-know/Today’s article is about a subject I love and that never goes out of style. SQL!!https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/how-to-calculate-real-cost-azure-databricks-sql-warehouse-instances/Sat, 29 Jun 2024 22:21:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/how-to-calculate-real-cost-azure-databricks-sql-warehouse-instances/Shall we learn how to calculate the cost of SQL Warehouse instances in Microsoft Azure Databricks the easy way? Then follow along with this article.https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/databricks-sql-and-dimensional-modeling-optimizing-your-data-warehouse/Thu, 23 May 2024 14:06:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/databricks-sql-and-dimensional-modeling-optimizing-your-data-warehouse/In the dynamic landscape of information storage, the methodologies used to structure data play a crucial role in uncovering valuable insights for informed decision-making. Since the…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/best-practices-for-using-data-fabric-workspaces-with-git/Mon, 20 May 2024 16:55:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/best-practices-for-using-data-fabric-workspaces-with-git/Effective management of data pipelines is key to ensuring continuous development, testing, and deployment processes. Integrating Git with Microsoft Fabric workspaces offers a…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/databricks-lakehouse-federation-exploring-practical-examples/Thu, 25 Apr 2024 14:23:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/databricks-lakehouse-federation-exploring-practical-examples/Following up on the previous article, “Databricks Lakehouse Federation: An Alternative to Zero ETL?”, let’s explore some practical examples of combining data from different sources.https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/databricks-lakehouse-federation-an-alternative-to-zero-etl/Wed, 24 Apr 2024 20:48:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/databricks-lakehouse-federation-an-alternative-to-zero-etl/Released in December 2023, the Lakehouse Federation feature is currently in Public Preview, but it has enormous potential. In today’s article, I’ll explore some interesting perspectives, such as the ability to…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/continuous-integration-and-delivery-cicd-in-azure-data-factory/Thu, 12 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/continuous-integration-and-delivery-cicd-in-azure-data-factory/CI is the practice of automatically testing every code change, while CD deploys those changes to staging or production systems. In Azure Data Factory, CI/CD involves moving pipelines between…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/databricks-best-practices-managing-bronze-silver-gold-medallion/Thu, 05 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/databricks-best-practices-managing-bronze-silver-gold-medallion/Many of the clients I work with implement a Medallion architecture to logically organize their data in a Lakehouse. As data flows, it moves through several stages or layers. The best-known design…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/azure-data-factory-and-azure-databricks-best-practices/Fri, 29 Sep 2023 13:00:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/azure-data-factory-and-azure-databricks-best-practices/Hello everyone, this week we’ll go over some best practices for a data ingestion pipeline:https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/hands-on-with-microsoft-fabric-a-beginners-guide-part-1/Fri, 22 Sep 2023 13:00:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/hands-on-with-microsoft-fabric-a-beginners-guide-part-1/Traditional large-scale data analytics solutions rely on data warehouses and SQL queries to store and retrieve data. However, the rise of big data, characterized by large #volumes …https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/key-differences-between-azure-synapse-and-databricks/Thu, 21 Sep 2023 15:31:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/key-differences-between-azure-synapse-and-databricks/Hi everyone, in this article I’ll talk a bit about these data platforms.https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/databricks-tip-track-data-source-by-file-input-file-name/Thu, 22 Jun 2023 13:24:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/databricks-tip-track-data-source-by-file-input-file-name/Wouldn’t it be a dream to have a column in your Bronze table (or Landing, whatever you prefer to call it) telling you which file each record came from?https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/azure-synapse-analytics-vs-microsoft-fabric-another-migration-project/Tue, 30 May 2023 17:44:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/azure-synapse-analytics-vs-microsoft-fabric-another-migration-project/In May 2023, Microsoft announced Microsoft Fabric. This new solution extends the integration promise made in Azure Synapse Analytics to cover every analytics workload, and it can be used…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/how-to-optimize-sql-queries-a-pocket-guide-to-data-tuning/Fri, 26 Jun 2020 16:17:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/how-to-optimize-sql-queries-a-pocket-guide-to-data-tuning/Time goes by, new data ingestion techniques, languages and tools come along, but one thing is a universal truth. SQL never goes out of style!https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/how-to-use-dynamic-sql-in-bigquery-with-execute-immediate/Thu, 18 Jun 2020 20:13:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/how-to-use-dynamic-sql-in-bigquery-with-execute-immediate/This week (June 2020) a GCP update came out that lets you use the EXECUTE IMMEDIATE command in BigQuery. For more information, see the documentation.https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/big-data-architecture-choose-the-right-plumbing-for-your-pipelines/Mon, 15 Jun 2020 16:40:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/big-data-architecture-choose-the-right-plumbing-for-your-pipelines/Last week, I wrote an article about data pipelines (check it out here) covering the main characteristics of a robust and optimized build, ideally using a…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/data-pipelines-is-your-company-plumbing-clean-water-or-sewage/Fri, 12 Jun 2020 20:21:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/data-pipelines-is-your-company-plumbing-clean-water-or-sewage/Pipeline is an English term that can be translated into Portuguese as “tubagem” or “canalização” (piping or plumbing). In our language, the concept is used to refer to a computing architecture. These virtual pipes are created…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/big-data-on-premise-vs-cloud-computing-market-view-study-guide/Thu, 09 Apr 2020 14:48:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/big-data-on-premise-vs-cloud-computing-market-view-study-guide/For some years now, companies all over the world have been tapping into the immense value Big Data can add to their business. Implementing Big Data ecosystems is a reality in both the global and the Brazilian market. With ever…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/databricks-the-swiss-army-knife-of-your-big-data-platform/Tue, 23 Apr 2019 16:07:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/databricks-the-swiss-army-knife-of-your-big-data-platform/Imagine a team made up of a SQL developer, a Python professional and a Scala contributor. They all work together to ingest data into your Datalake, your Datawarehouse or simply…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/afraid-of-bees-tips-and-tricks-for-apache-hive/Wed, 27 Sep 2017 17:10:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/afraid-of-bees-tips-and-tricks-for-apache-hive/Increasingly popular and widely used, Apache Hive is a data warehouse system for Hadoop. Hive enables data summarization, querying, and analysis. Hive queries are written in HiveQL, which is a language…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/taming-the-elephant-key-hadoop-commands-for-managing-hdfs/Thu, 24 Aug 2017 15:51:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/taming-the-elephant-key-hadoop-commands-for-managing-hdfs/In this article, I’ll walk through the main Hadoop operations for working with HDFS through shell commands. To try them out, you can run these commands on one of the VMs from Cloudera, Hortonworks, HDInsight, or…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/a-dw-on-hadoop-how-to-model-your-star-schema-for-hdfs/Fri, 07 Apr 2017 16:42:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/a-dw-on-hadoop-how-to-model-your-star-schema-for-hdfs/Over the years, data warehouses have been the main tool for company decision-making and analysis. These include conventional OLAP and ETL tools supplied by countless hardware and…https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/nosql-databases-what-do-you-mean-there-is-no-query/Fri, 17 Feb 2017 15:42:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/nosql-databases-what-do-you-mean-there-is-no-query/Continuing the series of articles on Big Data, let’s talk a bit about non-relational databases.https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-big-data-so-you-dont-embarrass-yourself/Tue, 14 Feb 2017 22:35:00 +0000https://julianamarialop.github.io/en/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-big-data-so-you-dont-embarrass-yourself/Picture this: a director at the company you work for starts asking the following questions: