A hands-on, project-based course for Data Engineers
Build modern data architectures with confidence.
The Simple Stack Playbook teaches you step-by-step how to design, build & maintain simple end-to-end data architectures with best practices.
Get Instant AccessDoes this sound like you?
You've watched countless tutorials on "modern" data, read every article but still struggle to put the pieces together. The problem isn't lack of information, but that there's too much.
It's frustrating and time-consuming to patch together random tutorials. You end up hopping around for hours, sitting through ads, only to feel like you've (barely) hacked something together.
Yes, there's value in the struggle, but it's also hard to learn best practices that way.
Most courses tend to focus on a specific tool, "big tech" architectures or entry level SQL.
There hasn't been a quality option for something in the middle. A training focused on putting it all together - breaking down the end-to-end process to build a data architecture at a small to midsize company (where most of us are).
Until now.
The Simple Stack Playbook packs years of on-the-job experience & thousands of hours of education into a single, hands-on course. Inside you'll find step-by-step training and resources showing you how to build a simple, modern data architecture from scratch.
By the end, you'll not only feel more prepared, but have your own playground stack to prove it.
What will you learn?
We'll cover key topics data engineers & team leaders need to understand such as:
- How to think strategically about designing an end-to-end architecture that's simple & easy to follow
- How to create a foundational data model (facts & dimensions) so you can build pipelines with a clear strategy
- How to properly set database roles & permissions so you stay in control of user access
- How to automate testing & deployments so you can spend more time on development
- Best practices & tips from 10 years as a developer, consultant & educator so you avoid common mistakes
In my experience, the best engineers are the ones that see the bigger picture of their work, not just the individual task.
And my goal with this course is to help you start approaching data like an architect, not just another developer.
Feedback From Other Students
David P.
This is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for and have already used my learning for a few work projects.
Shannon W.
Thank you for focusing on the importance of simplicity. The design concepts were explained so well and so clearly. The content was excellent and I have learned so much. I have reviewed the videos more than once and learned something each time.
Banxware G.
Clear and concise. I found it to be structured and well-explained. I like the .txt files that supports the explanation as this may help anyone working on the project later on in order to understand the setup steps that were taken.
Shawn J.
Straight to the point. Solid content. No fluff... exactly the way I like it and want to learn. Thank you!
Jade L
Very thorough setup session - easy to follow and with lots of good tips. Ready to roll!
Venkatesh N.
Good to know various options for implementing modern data platform. thanks :)
Filip B.
Thanks for providing this course material, I believe it will benefit tremendously to my development within the data engineering space along with everyone else taking this course... it's hard to find all this information centralized in one location without spending countless hours on YT, googling and trying to get all the different parts connected.
Trevor B.
Great detail. Very organized.
Cameron W.
It was well done. Everything works as expected. As an extra for myself, I think this can run on a Raspberry Pi, I will try coming back to it later for that after the rest is complete.
Course Structure
The Simple Stack Playbook is a project-based course teaching you a 5-step approach to design, build & scale modern data architectures.
Step 1: Design
Learn how to design a simple, yet modern end-to-end pipeline
The first step is to establish a clear understanding of common design patterns so you can feel confident picking a strategy or learning a tool.
Without a strategy, you may look busy but will feel completely overwhelmed.
But with one, you’ll have more clarity & your efforts will have more productive, compounding results.
Step 3: Build
Confidently build a data architecture from scratch with best practices
In this step, we'll implement a single foundational end-to-end data pipeline that touches all 5 core components and establish Production vs Development environments.
This sets the standards & conventions for which all future work on the architecture will follow.
By keeping the scope small, you’re able to pay close attention to each layer while also showcasing quick wins.
(Yes, we'll cover data modeling too)
Step 5: Maintain
Learn how to maintain & scale your architecture long-term
Lastly, we'll create assets that provide transparency into the design, organize important information & overall establish a culture of high quality development long-term.
The biggest cost in any architecture is maintenance, which compounds over time.
Being proactive will save countless hours later while enabling developers to have fun creating new features vs troubleshooting.
Who should enroll?
The truth is, this course isn't for everyone.
This is intended for two primary types of people:
- Experienced Engineers ready to contribute at a higher level & take the next career step by learning data strategy & architecture
- Data Team Leads who want to upgrade (or build) an internal data architecture with modern approaches without creating a mess
The goal is NOT to build a big-tech data stack or deep-dive into every possible tool.
Those may look cool, but are often completely unnecessary for 99% of companies.
Rather, the goal is to prepare you for success on common small to midsize data teams.
Get Instant AccessMore than just theory
The Simple Stack Playbook packs years of on-the-job experience & thousands of hours of education into a single, hands-on course.
It mimics the same approach I follow with consulting clients and includes personal tips, tricks & lessons I've learned along the way.
Below are testimonials from previous clients:
By the end you will:
As an individual engineer:
- Achieve a deeper understanding of data architecture without the usual costs ($1000+ trainings, wasted time searching & watching generic tutorials, etc.)
- Have a framework to learn without asking for permission
- Have a safe space to practice without worrying about mistakes
- Be more prepared for interviews, more challenging team projects & more
As a team leader:
- Implement a new architecture faster with clear guidelines & pre-created templates
- Avoid common mistakes that can compound by following a step-by-step approach
- Get consulting-level guidance & insights without paying tens of thousands to hire one
- Avoid unexpected future costs (tools, maintenance, time) by planning ahead
Money-Back Guarantee
If for any reason you complete the course and are unsatisfied with the results, you can request a refund & get 100% of your money back. No questions asked.
The Simple Stack Playbook
Level-up your skillset & start building like a modern engineer.
What's the difference between the Lite Version & Full Playbook?
How long is the course?
Are there any pre-requisites?
What tools will we be using?
Will we be using "big data" in the course?
Can I use the Playground Stack for a project?
Can I use the Playground Stack for my company?
Can't I just learn this on YouTube?
How will I access the course material?
What's the refund policy?
Michael Kahan
About the instructor
Like many others, I started my data career using drag-and-drop tools and traditional databases.
Then I joined a team using dbt, Snowflake and GitHub and felt overwhelmed with how to actually use it. It was all so different.
Fast-forward to today and I now help Fortune 100 companies to greenfield startups implement data architectures with modern workflows and cloud databases.
I'm both a Microsoft & dbt Certified Developer and have taught 3+ million aspiring engineers through my YouTube Channel (@KahanDataSolutions).
But this took years of practice, trial and error and learning on the job.
This course not only teaches you step-by-step how to implement a data architecture from scratch, but shares tips, tricks and lessons based on my real-life experience as a data consultant.
You'll fast-track your learning, avoid common mistakes, and feel confident contributing to any project.
I hope to see you in the course!
