

#89 SQLBits Unfiltered: dbt in Fabric, MLOps in Action & Copilot in Question
Sep 25, 2025
Sam Debruyn, a Microsoft MVP and data architect, discusses how dbt enhances workflows in Microsoft Fabric, emphasizing modularity and SQL optimization. Dorian Van den Heede, an MLOps engineer at Data Roots, shares insights from his demo on leveraging historical data for predictive modeling with Azure ML. They tackle the evolving role of AI tools like Copilot in engineering, highlighting the balance between productivity and deep learning skills. Engaging stories and practical advice make this conversation a must-listen for data professionals!
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Teach dbt By Showing Not Telling
- Show dbt with live examples to make its benefits obvious to teams.
- Use simple demos to highlight testing, documentation and modular SQL to win trust.
DBT Ecosystem Split: Core Vs Cloud
- dbt core is the open-source SQL templating engine and CLI used in most projects.
- dbt Labs builds commercial tooling (dbt Cloud) to add operational features teams need.
Compiled SQL Cuts Warehouse Cost
- New tools like Fusion (Rust-based) compile and interpret SQL for smarter execution planning.
- They can reduce warehouse compute by parsing dependencies and executing minimal data slices.