Let’s focus on the free training resources offered by Databricks to get you kickstarted:

Where to Find Databricks Free Training

Databricks offers two primary avenues for its free training resources:

1. Databricks Documentation (https://docs.databricks.com/en/getting-started/free-training.html)
   • This is your central hub of self-guided learning.
   • Includes short courses covering:
     • Databricks basics
     • Data loading and visualization
     • ETL pipelines
     • Basic lakehouse design
2. Microsoft Learn (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databricks/getting-started/free-training)
   • If you’re within the Azure ecosystem, you’ll find free Databricks training modules focusing on:
     • Azure Databricks workspace setup
     • Basic data exploration

What You’ll Learn

Databricks free training typically covers:

• Core Concepts: Understand Databricks’ architecture, workspaces, clusters, and notebooks.
• Data Manipulation: Learn to load, explore, and transform data using SQL, Python, and/or Scala.
• Visualization: Create basic visualizations (tables, charts) to gain insights from your data.
• ETL Processes: Build simple extract-transform-load (ETL) pipelines to get data ready for analytics.
• Lakehouse Fundamentals: Grasp the basics of combining the flexibility of data lakes with the reliability of data warehouses.

Pros and Cons of Free Training

Pros:

• Zero Cost: Perfect for starting your Databricks journey without financial commitment.
• Flexibility: Learn at your own pace and convenience.
• Foundation: Gain a solid understanding of the platform’s fundamentals.

Cons:

• Less Structured: Requires more self-discipline compared to paid courses.
• Limited Scope: Free training may not cover advanced topics in depth.
• No Certification: You won’t receive an official Databricks certification.

Is It Right for You?

Free Databricks training is ideal if you:

• Are a beginner exploring the platform.
• Want to learn the basics at your own pace.
• Are comfortable with self-directed learning.
• Are on a tight budget.