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. Duck

DB 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 DB

As 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 Duck

DB — no database to install and nothing to load first

\- Duck

DB'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