22-25 April 2026 
Navigating Microsoft Fabric: A Practical Guide to Tool Selection
Proposed session for SQLBits 2026TL; DR
Learn which tools in Fabric to use and when. No coding knowledge required.
This session will cover:
- Delta, Parquet, and Onelake
- SQL vs. Spark:
- Notebooks vs. Dataflows vs. Pipelines
- Warehouses vs. Lakehouses:
Session Details
Microsoft Fabric is a lake-centric data analytics platform. All data items, like warehouses and lakehouses, store their data automatically in OneLake in Delta format. But which tools should you use, and when?
This session will cover:
- The underlying storage: Delta, Parquet, and columnar storage explained simply
- SQL vs. Spark: when to use each
- Notebooks vs. Dataflows vs. Pipelines: choosing the right approach
- Warehouses vs. Lakehouses: understanding the tradeoffs
This session requires no prior coding knowledge and covers terminology at an introductory level so you won’t get left behind. Ideal for data engineers, analysts, and IT staff looking to optimize storage and performance within Fabric.
This session will cover:
- The underlying storage: Delta, Parquet, and columnar storage explained simply
- SQL vs. Spark: when to use each
- Notebooks vs. Dataflows vs. Pipelines: choosing the right approach
- Warehouses vs. Lakehouses: understanding the tradeoffs
This session requires no prior coding knowledge and covers terminology at an introductory level so you won’t get left behind. Ideal for data engineers, analysts, and IT staff looking to optimize storage and performance within Fabric.
3 things you'll get out of this session
Understand storage - Delta, Parquet, and Onelake
Lear which ingestion and transformation tool to use and when
Understand architecture decisions in Fabric
Speakers
Reid Havens's other proposed sessions for 2026
Building a Data Platform that Delivers ROI, Value, and AI Readiness - 2026
Lights, Camera, Data!: Building Your Brand through YouTube and Speaking - 2026
Power BI Feature Overload: Balancing Flexibility with Maintainability - 2026
Power BI Features I Regret Using (So You Don’t Have To) - 2026
Power BI Settings That Are Secretly Ruining Your Reports - 2026
Scoped for Success: Why Composite Models are a Report's Best Friend - 2026
Semantic Models Comes First: Managing Models for Growth and Self-Service - 2026
Speaker Hacks for Nervous Nerds (From a Nerd Who Talks a Lot) - 2026
F is for Fabric - 2026
Reid Havens's previous sessions
Thriving with ADHD in Tech: Unleashing the Data Analyst Superpowers Within
Learn how to leverage ADHD as a distinct advantage in the tech domain, specifically as a data analyst. This session dives deep into the inherent strengths of ADHD individuals, offering actionable strategies to amplify productivity and navigate challenges. Topics include optimizing the ADHD attributes of creativity and hyperfocus for data tasks, crafting an ADHD-conducive workspace, mastering time management, enhancing team communication, and emphasizing mindfulness for career longevity. By the conclusion, attendees will have a comprehensive toolkit to harness their unique ADHD attributes and flourish in the tech landscape.
Supercharge Power BI Tooltips
Discover secrets of tooltip design in Power BI. Learn how to upgrade your tooltips with DAX, add dynamic charts to report page tooltips, and add design elements to information/help tooltips.
Beyond Buttons: More Than Meets The Eye
In this presentation you'll see many unique and creative ways to implement both both bookmarks and buttons to supercharge the filter and navigation experience for your users.
