GOTO - The Brightest Minds in Tech Fundamentals of Data Engineering • Matt Housley & Joe Reis
Dec 16, 2025
Matt Housley and Joe Reis, co-authors of *Fundamentals of Data Engineering*, dive into the transformative impact of AI on data engineering. They discuss the balance between leveraging AI tools and retaining core expertise, cautioning against over-reliance on AI due to potential pitfalls. The duo highlights the resurgence of classical techniques and the importance of data quality in storage choices. They warn that cutting junior roles can jeopardize long-term expertise development, emphasizing the necessity of foundational knowledge in this evolving field.
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Data Engineering Is A Discipline Not A Toolset
- Data engineering isn't defined by specific tools; it's a discipline about systems, lifecycle, and trade-offs.
- Matt Housley and Wesley Reisz argue focus should be on principles, not vendor-driven tool lists.
Curse Of Familiarity With New Tools
- New-generation tools create a 'curse of familiarity' that hides complexity and produces subtle errors.
- Matt Housley warns that easy tools make it simple to misuse storage and processing systems.
Verify AI-Generated Code And Queries
- Treat AI assistants as analysis tools, not authoritative coders.
- Verify outputs manually, especially SQL or system choices, before trusting them in production.
