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Data Engineering Quick-Start Cheat Sheet

Start Smart. Stay Focused.

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🔹 Your First 5 Core Skills

1. SQL Fundamentals
   • Learn SELECT, WHERE, GROUP BY, and JOIN
   • Practice with real data (e.g. on W3Schools SQL or LeetCode SQL)
2. Python Basics
   • Focus on loops, functions, list/dict operations, and reading files
   • Use pandas to load and manipulate datasets
3. ETL Concepts
   • Know the flow: Extract → Transform → Load
   • Learn tools like Apache NiFi or Airflow later—but understand the idea first
4. Git & Docker
   • Git: Learn to commit, push, and pull code using GitHub
   • Docker: Understand how to “containerize” apps so they run the same anywhere

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🔸 Beginner-Friendly Next Steps

• 📘 Books:
  • "Fundamentals of Data Engineering" by Joe Reis & Matt Housley
  • "Data Science for Business" for high-level understanding

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💬 Final Advice

Focus on one skill at a time

Don’t rush—real progress is about consistency, not speed.