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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Distributed Computing with Spark SQL by University of California, Davis

4.5
stars
659 ratings

About the Course

This course is all about big data. It’s for students with SQL experience that want to take the next step on their data journey by learning distributed computing using Apache Spark. Students will gain a thorough understanding of this open-source standard for working with large datasets. Students will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of data analysis using SQL on Spark, setting the foundation for how to combine data with advanced analytics at scale and in production environments. The four modules build on one another and by the end of the course you will understand: the Spark architecture, queries within Spark, common ways to optimize Spark SQL, and how to build reliable data pipelines. The first module introduces Spark and the Databricks environment including how Spark distributes computation and Spark SQL. Module 2 covers the core concepts of Spark such as storage vs. compute, caching, partitions, and troubleshooting performance issues via the Spark UI. It also covers new features in Apache Spark 3.x such as Adaptive Query Execution. The third module focuses on Engineering Data Pipelines including connecting to databases, schemas and data types, file formats, and writing reliable data. The final module covers data lakes, data warehouses, and lakehouses. Students build production grade data pipelines by combining Spark with the open-source project Delta Lake. By the end of this course, students will hone their SQL and distributed computing skills to become more adept at advanced analysis and to set the stage for transitioning to more advanced analytics as Data Scientists....

Top reviews

GT

Jun 9, 2020

I highly recommend this course for anyone in the BI and Data space interested in learning Spark. The course gives an easy to understand to the framework and applicable hands on examples.

KS

May 13, 2020

Amazing course that really cuts through the fundamentals of using distributed computing power to analyze and manipulate data. Well organised structure on fundamentals

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101 - 125 of 162 Reviews for Distributed Computing with Spark SQL

By Muhammad I I B J

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Jun 25, 2021

AWESOME

By ANDRES F C

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May 25, 2020

great

By Ashly C T G

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Nov 16, 2023

good

By Gohan C R

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May 2, 2023

good

By Elias A C L

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May 15, 2022

GOOD

By Julio R Y

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Nov 16, 2021

done

By Julio C R F

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Nov 4, 2021

good

By Bryan G G C

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Oct 24, 2021

good

By Erick R M A

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Nov 28, 2021

..

By Brissa

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Nov 20, 2023

.

By PIERO D F R

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May 30, 2022

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By Fabian E P C

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Sep 12, 2022

This is the worst specialization I have taken so far on Coursera, and I have taken several, either from universities or private companies.

The first course is fine for someone who already has SQL knowledge and just needs a refresher, but it is still a course with zero depth in the use of SQL in data science. It is just slides, better explanations of SQL can be found on YouTube.

The second course shows an interesting use of SQL, which is not normally covered. But the structure, assessments, assignments and final project are very open and ambiguous. The explanations are superfluous and you can tell that the course was made in a hurry, with no attention to details and with deficiencies in teaching.

Perhaps the third course is the best, as they present a useful technology and platform.

The final project is a total disappointment, as it is not focused on SQL and its use in Data Science activities, the videos are largely a recycling of those seen in previous courses, so that SQL, which is what the specialization is about, you do not learn something new or have the opportunity to apply it as it really applies in Data Science. Better SQL projects are found on YouTube, but these do not give a certificate endorsed by an educational institution such as the University of California, Davis. Sad that the readings in week four are links to other courses, they did not bother to create material or even reference it in a better way.

Zero material is shared.

After this experience I think I will not take any other course or specialization of this University, as well as not recommend it, I finished it just to receive the certificate, but I think it is not worth spending time on it.

By Justin M

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Mar 15, 2021

I liked how the instructors delivered material; their videos were informative and easy to follow, and they did a good job. The assignments were fine, especially the quizzes. I got a good sense of why distributed computing is useful and how to do it in spark.

I will say that the course material might be too complex for the time allotted. I think the instructors did a good job, but some of the topics were pretty advanced and likely required some knowledge that was beyond the scope of the course. Some of the assignments reflected this. In some of them, I was writing most of the code and could follow what was happening pretty easily. By the last assignment, though, I was pulling code from custom packages that the profs had written and doing regressions using equations that they wrote out for me. I think that was necessary-- going through all of this would have been too time-intensive for this course-- but if I had to write a ML model by myself, I doubt I could do it.

BUT, I definitely understand the models on a conceptual level. In this sense, the course was very successful. While I likely couldn't reproduce a lot of the code, I understand the computer science behind a lot of it. So overall, I think the course was very strong.

By Joanna M

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Jun 21, 2021

Overall a lot of knowledge and an interesting course. I was disappointed that the last part focused more on Machine Learning instead of on databases, data lakes etc. as I feel this would be more relevant to the specialization.

I did not like the assignment as they were not demanding enough. Majority of the code was written for us, it did not require us to analyze the code more to actually understand what we are doing and learn it.

By Dalton E

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Dec 13, 2022

I honestly liked this course. It was a very nice introduction into Spark and wasn't too difficult to grasp. The only minus was the logging-in issues I had with databricks. They deleted my data a few times, so you can see where that would be a bit frustrating. Other than that, awesome course and the end peer-review was actually not difficult unlike the past two courses. Thanks!

By Kota M

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Apr 29, 2020

Very great introduction to the Spark SQL and databricks environment worked perfectly as a hands-on.

It would be great if the course covers the Spark ML applications. We used sklearn in the course and utilized a trained model by using the user-defined function. I wonder how it compares with the case where we use Sp ark ML for the training as well.

By Carolyn O

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Feb 7, 2021

The course was a struggle. I didn't take calculus or trigonometry. So, the square root means was a bit over my head. It was nice that the machine learning queries were already in the assignments. However, it would have been helpful to explain them better. Then I would be able to understand why they are written a specific way and how to read them.

By Hitesh G

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May 10, 2020

Positives - Just having SQL knowledge got me to learn how the large data can be processed using SPARKSQL. I had a great time getting hands-on experience for spark SQL notebook.

Negative- I just wish the videos are too paced as there was a lot of information to cover in all the videos.

By Laura M D V

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Aug 4, 2020

It was very helpful to me.

I would improve the assignments' design. Sometimes it felt like something was missing and not very clear, at least not as it is in the real world. And I loved Brooke's way of teaching.

By Sumita P

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Mar 31, 2022

Everything was taught in a way it was easy to understand for a Layman. Practise workbook in Databricks gave lot of hands on experience. Got to learn about new concepts in easy to understand way.

By Colleen G

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May 31, 2022

This course was more of an introduction to the DataBricks platform but did introduce important concepts of Spark. I would have liked a somewhat longer course that goes into more detail.

By Linlin L

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Dec 14, 2020

This course provides hands-on experience in using Databricks's Spark. I learned a lot. I recommend people with some SQL experience to take this course for efficient programming skills!

By Matthew W

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Apr 30, 2021

It was a quick and challenging overview, but I thought it was well presented as a basic introduction to Apache Spark

By Caitlyn T

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Aug 29, 2022

Great course, but I think it would be beneficial to spread the course out and include more practice exercises.

By Ashok k

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Feb 13, 2021

Good course. Maybe little more details on how Spark works, Spark architecture would make the story complete