Joe Reis - Fundamentals of Data Engineering: Plan and Build Robust Data Systems

The world of data has been evolving for a while now. First there were designers. Then database administrators. Then CIOs. Then data architects. This book signals the next step in the evolution and maturity of the industry. It is a must read for anyone who takes their profession and career honestly.

Bill Inmon, creator of the data warehouse

Fundamentals of Data Engineering is a great introduction to the business of moving, processing, and handling data. It explains the taxonomy of data concepts, without focusing too heavily on individual tools or vendors, so the techniques and ideas should outlast any individual trend or product. Id highly recommend it for anyone wanting to get up to speed in data engineering or analytics, or for existing practitioners who want to fill in any gaps in their understanding.

Jordan Tigani, founder and CEO, MotherDuck, and founding engineer and cocreator of BigQuery

If you want to lead in your industry, you must build the capabilities required to provide exceptional customer and employee experiences. This is not just a technology problem. Its a people opportunity. And it will transform your business. Data engineers are at the center of this transformation. But today the discipline is misunderstood. This book will demystify data engineering and become your ultimate guide to succeeding with data.

Bruno Aziza, Head of Data Analytics, Google Cloud

What a book! Joe and Matt are giving you the answer to the question, What must I understand to do data engineering? Whether you are getting started as a data engineer or strengthening your skills, you are not looking for yet another technology handbook. You are seeking to learn more about the underlying principles and the core concepts of the role, its responsibilities, its technical and organizational environment, its missionthats exactly what Joe and Matt offer in this book.

Andy Petrella, founder of Kensu

This is the missing book in data engineering. A wonderfully thorough account of what it takes to be a good practicing data engineer, including thoughtful real-life considerations. Id recommend all future education of data professionals include Joe and Matts work.

Sarah Krasnik, data engineering leader

It is incredible to realize the breadth of knowledge a data engineer must have. But dont let it scare you. This book provides a great foundational overview of various architectures, approaches, methodologies, and patterns that anyone working with data needs to be aware of. But what is even more valuable is that this book is full of golden nuggets of wisdom, best-practice advice, and things to consider when making decisions related to data engineering. It is a must read for both experienced and new data engineers.

Veronika Durgin, data and analytics leader

I was honored and humbled to be asked by Joe and Matt to help technical review their masterpiece of data knowledge, Fundamentals of Data Engineering. Their ability to break down the key components that are critical to anyone wanting to move into a data engineering role is second to none. Their writing style makes the information easy to absorb, and they leave no stone unturned. It was an absolute pleasure to work with some of the best thought leaders in the data space. I cant wait to see what they do next.

Chris Tabb, cofounder of LEIT DATA

Fundamentals of Data Engineering is the first book to take an in-depth and holistic look into the requirements of todays data engineer. As youll see, the book dives into the critical areas of data engineering including skill sets, tools, and architectures used to manage, move, and curate data in todays complex technical environments.

More importantly, Joe and Matt convey their master of understanding data engineering and take the time to further dive into the more nuanced areas of data engineering and make it relatable to the reader. Whether youre a manager, experienced data engineer, or someone wanting to get into the space, this book provides practical insight into todays data engineering landscape.

Jon King, Principal Data Architect

Two things will remain relevant to data engineers in 2042: SQL and this book. Joe and Matt cut through the hype around tools to extract the slowly changing dimensions of our discipline. Whether youre starting your journey with data or adding stripes to your black belt, Fundamentals of Data Engineering lays the foundation for mastery.

Kevin Hu, CEO of Metaplane

In a field that is rapidly changing, with new technology solutions popping up constantly, Joe and Matt provide clear, timeless guidance, focusing on the core concepts and foundational knowledge required to excel as a data engineer. This book is jam packed with information that will empower you to ask the right questions, understand trade-offs, and make the best decisions when designing your data architecture and implementing solutions across the data engineering lifecycle. Whether youre just considering becoming a data engineer or have been in the field for years, I guarantee youll learn something from this book!

Julie Price, Senior Product Manager, SingleStore

Fundamentals of Data Engineering isnt just an instruction manualit teaches you how to think like a data engineer. Part history lesson, part theory, and part acquired knowledge from Joe and Matts decades of experience, the book has definitely earned its place on every data professionals bookshelf.

Scott Breitenother, founder and CEO, Brooklyn Data Co.

There is no other book that so comprehensively covers what it means to be a data engineer. Joe and Matt dive deep into responsibilities, impacts, architectural choices, and so much more. Despite talking about such complex topics, the book is easy to read and digest. A very powerful combination.

Danny Leybzon, MLOps Architect

I wish this book was around years ago when I started working with data engineers. The wide coverage of the field makes the involved roles clear and builds empathy with the many roles it takes to build a competent data discipline.

Tod Hansmann, VP Engineering

A must read and instant classic for anyone in the data engineering field. This book fills a gap in the current knowledge base, discussing fundamental topics not found in other books. You will gain understanding of foundational concepts and insight into historical context about data engineering that will set up anyone to succeed.

Matthew Sharp, Data and ML Engineer

Data engineering is the foundation of every analysis, machine learning model, and data product, so it is critical that it is done well. There are countless manuals, books, and references for each of the technologies used by data engineers, but very few (if any) resources that provide a holistic view of what it means to work as a data engineer. This book fills a critical need in the industry and does it well, laying the foundation for new and working data engineers to be successful and effective in their roles. This is the book that Ill be recommending to anyone who wants to work with data at any level.

Tobias Macey, host of The Data Engineering Podcast