Brian Bønk shares his passion for Fabric Real-Time Analytics, the power of the Kusto engine, and why passion – not niche – should guide your data journey. A hands-on deep dive into how Microsoft Fabric handles streaming data, log analytics, and massive-scale queries with elegance and speed.

00:00 Welcome & Real-Time Analytics Introduction

02:04 What Is Kusto Query Language (KQL)?

04:37 Choosing Passion Over Niche in Tech Communities

09:00 The T‑Shaped Fabric Expert: Why Focus Matters

11:42 The 1% Better Every Day Mindset

15:50 Architecture of Fabric’s Real-Time Analytics Stack

19:47 Autoscaling, Cost & Free Real-Time Dashboards

23:53 Hybrid Models: Real-Time + Lakehouse Balance

25:04 When SQL Still Beats Kusto: Modeling & Cost Considerations

29:29 Hybrid Architecture with Lakehouse Shortcuts

30:40 The Value of Kusto’s Simplicity & Interoperability

31:19 Feature Wishlist: Materialized Views & Kusto Functions

33:09 Community Thoughts & Event Shout-Outs

34:11 Wrapping Up & Encouragement to Explore Real-Time Analytics

In this expert episode, Artur sits down with Brian Bønk – the guy behind some of the best real-time analytics demos in the community. With over two decades in data and a deep love for the Kusto engine, Brian explains how Microsoft Fabric handles streaming data, why Kusto is more than just fast, and what makes real-time dashboards so powerful (and free of license barriers!).

But this episode goes far beyond tooling. Brian reflects on what it takes to build focus in the ever-growing world of Fabric, why trying to cover everything is a trap, and how the “T-shaped” expert model helps build career sustainability. He also shares his philosophy: be 1% better every day – and why passion, not niche, is the true long-term strategy for growth in tech and community.

If you want to learn how real-time intelligence works in Fabric, when to use it (and when not to), and what features still need improvement – this episode is for you.

Artur König: https://www.linkedin.com/in/datakoenigartur/Brian Bønk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianbonk/Great Real-Time & Kusto Content: https://dcode.bi/