Here’s a breakdown of how to find the best Databricks hands-on labs, along with resources to get you started:

Where to Find Databricks Hands-On Labs

• Databricks Labs Projects (https://www.databricks.com/learn/labs): The official source for Databricks-created labs on various topics:
  • DBX (Databricks CI/CD)
  • Tempo (time-series manipulation)
  • Mosaic (geospatial analytics)
  • Overwatch (performance optimization)
  • And more…
• CloudLabs AI (https://labs.databricks.com/): Offers test drive experiences, scheduled workshops, and a hands-on lab management platform.
• GitHub Repositories: Search GitHub for Databricks hands-on labs. Here’s an example:
  • Intro to Azure Databricks Hands-On Lab: (https://github.com/midomsft/DatabricksHOL)
• YouTube Tutorials: Many YouTube channels offer Databricks tutorials and labs:
  • Introduction to Databricks – Part 1 Create a Cluster [Hands-on Lab]: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_FuUMIII9Q)
• Databricks Webinars with Labs: Databricks often hosts webinars that include hands-on lab components. A good example is their Lakehouse Lab on AWS: (https://pages.databricks.com/2023-EMEA-VE-Virtual-AWS-Lakehouse-Lab.html?blaid=4763805)

Choosing the Right Lab

Consider these factors when selecting your Databricks lab:

• Skill Level:  Are you a beginner or have some Databricks experience? Choose labs designed for your experience level.
  • Topics: Focus on areas you want to learn: Data engineering
  • Data Science
  • Machine learning
  • SQL analytics
  • Geospatial analysis
  • Specific Databricks features (Delta Lake, MLflow, etc.)

Getting Started

1. Databricks Account:  You’ll need a Databricks account. You can sign up for a free community edition or trial to access the platform.
2. Lab Instructions: Thoroughly read the instructions for your chosen lab. They’ll guide you through setup, provide code examples, and explain concepts.
3. Explore and Experiment: Be bold and go beyond the lab instructions. Try tweaking code, exploring datasets, and asking yourself, “What if I try this?”