SQL has powered data work for decades, and for good reason — it remains one of the most efficient tools for querying, joining, and aggregating structured data. But modern data engineering demands more than querying tables. Files, messy inputs, repeatable pipelines, complex business logic, and automated deliverables have become the daily reality for data professionals. So where does SQL end and Python begin?
This session uses a side-by-side format — pairing a seasoned SQL expert against a new Python data engineer — to explore practical use cases where each tool shines within the Microsoft Fabric ecosystem. From Fabric notebooks running PySpark and pandas to SQL analytics endpoints and Lakehouses, attendees will see both approaches applied to real problems on the same platform. Rather than declaring a winner, the session builds a practical decision framework: SQL for set-based operations on clean, structured data; Python for automation, flexibility, and finished deliverables.
Attendees will leave with a clear mental model for choosing the right tool inside Microsoft Fabric, code examples they can apply immediately, and a newfound appreciation for what SQL and Python accomplish together that neither can do alone