Hey everyone! I'm a data engineer looking to improve my skills in Azure Data Engineering, particularly with Azure Data Factory. The catch is, the free tier only lets me run 5 activities a month, which isn't enough for serious practice. Since I'm still early in my career and can't afford a full Azure subscription, I'm trying to maximize free resources. I'm wondering if there are any tips, programs, or discounts that could help me use Azure Data Factory more effectively—like student programs, credits, or community grants. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks for your support!
2 Answers
I totally get your struggle! I'm in the same boat. Sometimes it makes you wonder if paying for it just to learn is really worth it. Maybe check out some online courses that sometimes offer free trials, so you can practice more without racking up costs.
Exactly! Microsoft should really consider giving students a free sandbox environment. It’d help a lot for those of us trying to learn!
I’d recommend starting with Python, Pandas, or PySpark first instead of diving straight into Data Factory. Those tools are fundamental for data engineering, and once you're comfortable with them, Data Factory will make a lot more sense.
I’ve got a good grip on Python and Pandas already, so I’m looking for something that's more advanced. Just need to level up!
Yeah, a lot of job postings require experience with Azure Data Factory. It feels like you need to spend to learn, which is frustrating.