The Library · Insights
Deep dives across data, automation & AI
1261 in-depth articles — from Excel foundations to production machine learning. Filter by topic or difficulty to find exactly what you need.
Microsoft FabricExpert
Real-Time Analytics in Microsoft Fabric: Eventstreams, Eventhouses, and KQL Querysets
Learn how to build a complete real-time analytics pipeline in Microsoft Fabric using Eventstreams for ingestion, Eventhouses for ultra-fast time-series storage, and KQL Querysets for millisecond-latency queries. This expert-level lesson covers architecture internals, KQL query patterns, materialized views, and Power BI integration.
32 min read
PythonExpert
Automating Excel Reports with pandas and openpyxl: Formatted Workbooks Without Manual Work
Stop spending Monday mornings manually formatting spreadsheets. Learn how to build fully formatted, multi-sheet Excel workbooks from pandas DataFrames using openpyxl — with conditional formatting, embedded charts, and reusable code you can schedule to run itself.
23 min read
Power AutomateExpert
Managing Machines and Machine Groups for Scalable Unattended Automation in Power Automate
Running a single RPA bot on one VM is a proof of concept. Running an automation fleet that handles enterprise workloads, survives machine failures, and scales with your business is an engineering discipline. This lesson teaches you the architecture, configuration, and operational patterns behind Power Automate machine groups — so your unattended bots run reliably at scale, not just on demo day.
29 min read
Power AppsExpert
Adding Custom Pages to Model-Driven Apps: Canvas Power in a Model-Driven Shell
Custom Pages let you embed fully expressive canvas app experiences inside model-driven apps — dashboards, bulk editors, and operational hubs that standard forms and views simply can't deliver. This lesson covers the architecture, authoring, context-passing, security, and performance patterns you need to build Custom Pages that work in production.
31 min read
Microsoft FabricExpert
Using OneLake Shortcuts to Query Data in ADLS Gen2 and Amazon S3 Without Copying It
OneLake Shortcuts let you query data in ADLS Gen2 and Amazon S3 directly from Microsoft Fabric — no copying, no pipelines, no duplication. This deep-dive lesson covers the internal architecture, credential configuration, Spark and T-SQL querying patterns, performance optimization, and the security model you must understand before deploying shortcuts in production.
29 min read
PythonExpert
Reading from SQL Databases into pandas with SQLAlchemy
Stop exporting CSVs manually. Learn how to build a direct, production-grade bridge from any SQL database into a pandas DataFrame using SQLAlchemy — with safe parameterization, connection pooling, chunked reads for large datasets, and secure credential management.
24 min read
Power AutomatePractitioner
Attended vs Unattended RPA: Choosing a Run Mode and Configuring Machines in Power Automate
The choice between attended and unattended RPA determines your entire deployment architecture — not just a setting you pick at the end. Learn how to evaluate your process, register and configure machines, set up machine groups for scale, and avoid the session management pitfalls that break unattended bots in production.
25 min read
Power AppsPractitioner
Customizing the Model-Driven Command Bar with Power Fx
Stop making users leave the record to trigger their most-needed actions. Learn how to add custom buttons, write dynamic visibility rules, and call Power Automate flows directly from the model-driven app command bar using Power Fx — no JavaScript required.
21 min read
Microsoft FabricPractitioner
Building a Fabric Data Warehouse with T-SQL: Tables, Views, and Cross-Database Queries
Learn how to design and build a production-ready dimensional model in Microsoft Fabric Warehouse using T-SQL. This lesson covers DDL for fact and dimension tables, view design patterns, and cross-database queries that join warehouse and lakehouse data without moving it.
21 min read
PythonPractitioner
Visualizing Data with matplotlib and seaborn: Charts That Explain Your Analysis
Learn to build bar charts, line charts, scatter plots, heatmaps, and multi-panel dashboards with matplotlib and seaborn. Covers the Figure/Axes model, seaborn's statistical charts, professional styling, and annotation — all with realistic sales data you can run immediately.
17 min read
Power AutomatePractitioner
Triggering Desktop Flows from Cloud Flows: Passing Inputs and Returning Outputs
Learn how to build production-grade RPA integrations by passing dynamic inputs from cloud flows into Power Automate Desktop and returning structured outputs back. Covers attended and unattended modes, DataTable outputs, error patterns, and real-world architecture.
25 min read
Power AppsPractitioner
Formula Columns and Rollup Columns in Dataverse: Calculated Data Without Code
Learn how to embed business logic directly into your Dataverse data model using formula columns and rollup columns. Build margin calculations, pipeline aggregates, and deal status signals — no code, no flows required.
22 min read