Exciting Enhancements in Azure Synapse Analytics
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Chapter 1: Introduction to New Features
Microsoft is continuously advancing its Azure Synapse Cloud Data Warehouse, even amidst fierce competition from SaaS solutions like Google BigQuery and Snowflake, as well as its own offerings like Azure Databricks. Below are some of the latest and most noteworthy updates.
Section 1.1: Enhanced Query Result Limits
A significant enhancement has been made that will delight Data Analysts working with extensive datasets.
Update 1: Increased Result Size Limit
The maximum size for query result sets in serverless SQL pools has been raised from 200 GB to 400 GB. This limit applies to concurrent queries and offers a larger storage capacity, which is especially beneficial in fields like IoT and social media, where large data volumes are commonplace.
Section 1.2: Improved User Interface
For those accustomed to Google services, navigating Azure and Azure Synapse can sometimes feel overwhelming due to their technical nature. However, the revamped design of the Web Explorer aims to simplify this experience.
The new Web Explorer features the following sections:
- Getting Started: A sample catalog that includes queries and dashboards for popular Synapse Data Explorer applications.
- Recommended: A selection of learning modules designed to help users become proficient in using Synapse Web Explorer and KQL.
- Documentation: Comprehensive resources, both basic and advanced, covering Synapse Web Explorer.
Chapter 2: New Functionalities for Data Engineers
Update 3: General Availability of the Map Data Tool
The Map Data Tool is now fully available, providing a user-friendly process for creating ETL mappings and data flows between source data and Synapse without the need for coding. While coding skills are beneficial for Data Engineers, the drag-and-drop functionality of this tool simplifies pipeline creation, making it accessible for those transitioning into data roles, such as analysts.
The first video, "Azure Synapse Analytics [Full Course] ☁️ - YouTube," provides a comprehensive overview of the platform, showcasing its features and functionalities.
In the second video, "Azure Synapse Analytics and Power BI: The Essential Features (with Andy Cutler)," viewers will learn about the key features of Azure Synapse and how it integrates with Power BI.
Summary
For further updates and details, I recommend checking the official Microsoft page listed in the sources. These three updates are particularly compelling, making Azure Synapse a more attractive and user-friendly option for Data Engineers and Data Scientists. If you are involved with Azure Synapse, you may find the following comparisons useful:
- Google BigQuery vs. Microsoft Azure Synapse
- Best Practices when working with Azure Synapse
Sources and Further Reading
[1] Microsoft, What's new in Azure Synapse Analytics? (2022)