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Nikola Ilic

@datamozart.bsky.social

I'm making music from the data🎢 #PowerBI addict, Microsoft Data Platform MVP, O'Reilly Instructor, Pluralsight Author, blogger, speaker, learner...Father of 2, Barca and Messi fan⚽

1,208 Followers  |  252 Following  |  561 Posts  |  Joined: 17.07.2023  |  1.7611

Latest posts by datamozart.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Data Modeling for Analytics Engineers: The Complete Primer The best data models make it hard to ask bad questions and easy to answer good ones.

NEW SUBSTACK ARTICLE!

The best data models make it hard to ask bad questions and easy to answer good ones.

Your data model isn't about tech specs. It's about thinking like a business. Consider it the blueprint for your entire analytics house.

datamozart.substack.com/p/data-model...

15.02.2026 18:19 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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SQL Saturday Atlanta 2026 - AI & BI (#1127)

Super excited to join the amazing speaker lineup at #SQLSaturday Atlanta 2026!

If you are attending #FabCon and/or live close to Atlanta, check the agenda and join us for a FREE day of learning and networking. The event takes place straight after the #FabCon!

sqlsaturday.com/2026-03-21-s...

14.02.2026 08:36 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Why every Analytics Engineer needs to understand data architecture - Data Mozart Get the data architecture right, and everything else becomes easier. Data architecture is the blueprint that determines where your data lives, how it moves between systems, what happens to it during t...

NEW BLOG POST!

In this article, which is adapted from the "Analytics Engineering with #MicrosoftFabric and #powerBI" book, I provide a crash course on the architectures that shape your daily decisions – from relational databases to event-driven systems.

data-mozart.com/why-every-an...

12.02.2026 13:01 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

In 2 days of 5-hours each, you'll learn everything you need to know to get the PL-300 certificate, and learn how to use Power BI in your day-to-day work. Oh, yes, there are also hands-on labs to get your hands dirty with Power BI.

11.02.2026 10:09 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Bootcamp PL-300 Learn in-demand skills and become a certified Power BI Data Analyst

#PowerBI is still THE tool for data analysis!

If you want to learn Power BI and/or get ready for the PL-300 (Power BI Data Analyst) exam, join me next week at the Power BI PL-300 Bootcamp at @oreilly.bsky.social.

www.oreilly.com/live-events/...

11.02.2026 10:09 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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The agenda is hereπŸ‘‡πŸ‘‡

"What should I do now?"

Registration closes on Sunday, so grab your seat today: pbig.nl/events/gebru...

06.02.2026 10:15 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Pluralsight Skills Player

NEW COURSE ALERT!

I'm thrilled to announce that my 22nd course at @pluralsight.bsky.social has just been released!

Design Lakehouse Architectures with Open Table Formats - using formats such as Delta Lake, Apache Iceberg, and Apache Hudi.

app.pluralsight.com/ilx/video-co...

04.02.2026 18:00 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Beyond the Lakehouse: First Thoughts on Fabric IQ - Data Mozart Fabric IQ represents a fundamental shift in how Microsoft Fabric operates. While the rest of the platform has been laser-focused on where your data lives (lakehouses, warehouses, eventhouses), Fabric ...

NEW BLOG POST!

Fabric IQ represents a fundamental shift in how #MicrosoftFabric operates. While the rest of the platform has been laser-focused on where your data lives (lakehouses, warehouses, eventhouses), Fabric IQ is obsessed with what your data means.

data-mozart.com/beyond-the-l...

03.02.2026 08:28 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Analytics Engineering with Microsoft Fabric and Power BI While Microsoft Power BI has dominated the business intelligence market for years and is a go-to tool for creating visually appealing, interactive reports and dashboards, it's now... - Selection from ...

You asked - and here it is!
The early release of the "Analytics Engineering with #MicrosoftFabric and #PowerBI", which @shbwatson.bsky.social and I write for @oreilly.bsky.social, just got a huge bumper - we've added 8 new chapters to the early release!

learning.oreilly.com/library/view...

02.02.2026 19:13 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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All ready and set for Day 1 of the #MicrosoftFabric Analytics Engineer Bootcamp at @oreilly.bsky.social!

If you want to get ready for the DP-600 exam, jump in and let's get it done!

learning.oreilly.com/live-events/...

02.02.2026 11:32 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Some of the topics we will cover:

1️⃣Self-service data preparation with DFGen2

2️⃣Transitioning from low-code solutions to Fabric notebooks for complex data transformation

3️⃣Real-time analytics with Real-Time Intelligence

4️⃣The definitive guide to new Direct Lake storage mode

02.02.2026 07:42 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Are you a seasoned #PowerBI professional considering expanding your skill set?
Join Augustin Dokoza Bukvic and me at Power BI Gebruikersgroep on March 5th in the Netherlands for a full-day workshop and level up your Power BI game with #MicrosoftFabric.

02.02.2026 07:42 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Understanding the Role of an Analytics Engineer Every business is a data business now - they just don’t know it yet…

Every business is a data business now - they just don’t know it yet…

In this article, I'm breaking down the role of an analytics engineer and how it differs from those of data engineers and data analysts.

datamozart.substack.com/p/understand...

29.01.2026 18:43 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Fabric Connection with Notebook - Microsoft Fabric Learn about how you can use a Fabric Connection to access external data sources directly in notebooks.

Hey, my dear #MicrosoftFabric friends, now this is cool...

We can create a connection to various external data sources directly from the notebook!

More details here: learn.microsoft.com/en-us/fabric...

28.01.2026 18:16 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Watch the session 50 Shades of Direct Lake by @datamozart.bsky.social
Event Date: 31st January 2026
Register Now: bit.ly/DT2026-Regis...
Agenda: bit.ly/DT2026-Agenda
#MicrosoftFabric #AI #DataCommunity

28.01.2026 16:30 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

3️⃣ Designing a semantic layer with Fabric IQ and ontology

4️⃣ Use MCP to manage various Fabric workloads

Huge thanks to Michelle Smith from O'Reilly for the opportunity.

27.01.2026 13:26 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

On March 27th, I'll be running the brand new live online class at @oreilly.bsky.social: Architecting Intelligence: Fabric IQ, Data Agents, and MCP.

Some of the topics we will cover in 3 hours:

1️⃣ Copilot in Microsoft Fabric

2️⃣ Integrating Data agents into workflows

27.01.2026 13:26 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

And, I can assure you that there is no better way to learn something than teaching others. So, I've been heavily working on creating the content that should help everyone master the basics of AI workloads in #MicrosoftFabric.

27.01.2026 13:26 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Architecting Intelligence: Fabric IQ, Data Agents, and MCP Build, govern, and automate your data platform

Stepping outside the comfort zone is a prerequisite for growth, right?

With that in mind, I'll be jumping into something that, until recently, has been an uncharted territory for me - AI and all these fancy new tools that "everyone" is using nowadays.

learning.oreilly.com/live-events/...

27.01.2026 13:26 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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FabriQuiz #2 YouTube video by Data Mozart

T-8 hours until we are live for another FabriQuiz episode!

Join for some fun and learning, but also a chance to show off your kmowledge and win the prize.

www.youtube.com/live/1q5i_Av...

#MicrosoftFabric

25.01.2026 09:17 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Beyond the Lakehouse: First Thoughts on Fabric IQ Announced at Microsoft Ignite 2025, Fabric IQ represents a fundamental shift in how Microsoft Fabric operates

NEW SUBSTACK ARTICLE!

I dive into Fabric IQ, as a new layer of the stack to see how it changes the game for modern data analytics. In this article, I break down why this represents a fundamental shift in how we build data estates.

open.substack.com/pub/datamoza...

#MicrosoftFabric

24.01.2026 10:33 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Microsoft Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate Bootcamp (DP-600) Learn in-demand skills and become a certified Fabric Analytics Engineer

Are you dreaming of becoming a certified #MicrosoftFabric Analytics Engineer?

Join me on Feb 2nd/3rd for Fabric Analytics Engineer Bootcamp at @oreilly.bsky.social! We are dissecting each and every skill tested in the exam.

learning.oreilly.com/live-events/...

22.01.2026 15:28 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Deep Breaths Efe Omowale GIF ALT: Deep Breaths Efe Omowale GIF

Thanks mate!

18.01.2026 09:51 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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For the 4th consecutive year, @sessionize.com recognized me as one of the top 3% active speakers!

Feeling honored and privileged to be accompanied by many amazing data professionals, and looking forward to continuing to share my experience with #MicrosoftFabric and #PowerBI.

17.01.2026 13:48 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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From β€˜Dataslows’ to Dataflows: The Gen2 Performance Revolution in Microsoft Fabric | Towards Data Science Dataflows were (rightly?) considered "the slowest and least performant option" for ingesting data into Power BI/Microsoft Fabric. However, things are changing rapidly and the latest Dataflow…

See the numbers behind the new Dataflows Gen2 enhancements. @datamozart.bsky.social's new article benchmarks Dataflow Gen1 against the latest Gen2 optimizations.

14.01.2026 01:34 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The biggest #MicrosoftFabric event is getting closer!

1️⃣Transition from Data Analyst to Data Engineer: Upgrading Skills from DF G2 to Notebooks. (with my friend @powerbidude.bsky.social)

2️⃣The Ultimate "NO ETL" Showdown: Shortcuts vs Mirroring vs Copy Job

#FABCONSQLCON26

13.01.2026 08:13 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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O’Reilly Launches Verifiable Skills for Targeted Competency-Based Learning

Feeling very humbled and honored being part of the Verifiable Skills project and developing #PowerBI content for this brand new solutionπŸ‘‡πŸ‘‡

Huge thanks to Michelle Smith and Amelia Blevins from @oreilly.bsky.social for the opportunity.

www.oreilly.com/pub/pr/3477

12.01.2026 17:27 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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We are excited to announce a session 50 Shades of Direct Lake by @datamozart.bsky.social
Event Date: 31st January 2026
Register Now: bit.ly/DT2026-Regis...
Agenda: bit.ly/DT2026-Agenda
#MicrosoftFabric #AI #DataCommunity

10.01.2026 15:46 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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FabriQuiz #1 YouTube video by Data Mozart

You think you know #MicrosoftFabric?

Then join tomorrow live at 7 PM CET/1 PM EST for the inaugural episode of FabriQuiz - a fun and engaging way to learn, while having a chance to win some cool prizes!

OneLake. One Quiz. One Winner.

youtube.com/live/CdLmguA...

10.01.2026 13:36 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Masterclass: Level Up your Power BI game with Microsoft Fabric

β€œWhat should I do now?”

That’s the most common question we’ve been hearing from #PowerBI professionals since #MicrosoftFabric was introduced as an β€œend-to-end analytics platform".

Join us at Power BI Gebruikersdagen 2026 in less than two months!

online.fliphtml5.com/PBIGevent/th...

09.01.2026 14:19 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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