SeattleDataGuy’s Newsletter

Backfills - The Necessary Evil of Data Engineering

Why backfills happen, why we hate them, and how to handle them without breaking trust

Feb 23 • SeattleDataGuy

62

4

6

Why Data Pipelines Exist

Beyond Moving Data From Point A To B

Feb 9 • SeattleDataGuy

66

4

9

January 2026

5 Key Predictions for the Data Industry in 2026

Hype Cycles, Rebrands, and the Messy Reality of Data

Jan 31 • SeattleDataGuy

65

11

4

The Analytical Skills No One Teaches You

Estimation, Baselines, Root Cause Analysis, and Metrics That Actually Matter

Jan 23 • SeattleDataGuy and Olga Berezovsky

122

3

16

What It Actually Takes to Build a Data Pipeline System

A breakdown of the components, tradeoffs, and realities of building your own data pipeline system

Jan 14 • SeattleDataGuy

62

3

8

Common Data Pipeline Patterns You’ll See in the Real World

A practical look at the many ways data pipelines show up inside real companies

Jan 5 • SeattleDataGuy

81

3

8

December 2025

Snowflake vs Databricks Is the Wrong Debate

Winning the Data Stack Role by Role

Dec 12, 2025 • SeattleDataGuy

52

2

4

How I Run System Design Interviews for Data Engineers

Why System Design Still Matters

Dec 9, 2025 • SeattleDataGuy and mehdio

108

3

10

Translating Data Buzzwords Into Real Requirements

Bridging the Communication Gap Between Data and the Business

Dec 2, 2025 • SeattleDataGuy

40

2

8

November 2025

Own the Spreadsheet, Own the World

Will We Ever Escape Excel

Nov 28, 2025 • SeattleDataGuy

30

7

3

What It Really Takes to Move From Senior to Staff Data Engineer

An Interview With A Staff Level Data Engineer At Apple

Nov 17, 2025 • SeattleDataGuy

40

4

7

5 Things in Data Engineering That Have Changed In The Last 10 Years

What Will Change Next?

Nov 7, 2025 • SeattleDataGuy

32

2

4