The hottest Query Language Substack posts right now

Jon Block, a top-tier security analyst, used KQL - Kusto Query Language, to tackle cyber threats. This powerful query language helped him root out elusive cyber threats and protect digital landscapes.
Jon's journey into cybersecurity began with self-taught programming and a determined spirit after being a victim of a cyber attack. His dedication led him to become a renowned cybersecurity professional using KQL.
KQL's elegance and power allowed Jon to shine in the cybersecurity realm, offering protection to clients from all levels of society. His mastery of KQL made him a formidable force against cybercriminals.

A Database Management System (DBMS) is a tool to manage data, providing an abstraction to store and retrieve data without directly interacting with databases.
DBMS operates using a Query Language, offering guarantees for performance, but the specifics can vary between different systems.
Guarantees provided by a DBMS include serving different data storage purposes, using a client/server model, and incorporating components like transaction managers, lock managers, and storage engines.

The Union operator in KQL allows you to combine data from multiple tables to display all rows together, while the Join operator is used for more specific results by matching column values of two tables.
Union in KQL supports wildcard usage to merge multiple tables and can be used to combine tables from different data sources like Log Analytics Workspaces.
In Microsoft security tools like Microsoft Sentinel and Defender, the Join operator is commonly used for creating Analytics Rules for specific results, while Union is useful for advanced hunting tasks.

Order By and Sort By operators in KQL provide the ability to sort data columns in query results for more meaningful viewing.
Sorting with Order/Sort by multiple columns and directions is possible in KQL queries.
The Top operator in KQL can simplify retrieving top records and is useful for efficient queries.

Understanding the table schema in KQL is vital as it helps in finding data in an organized manner with the use of columns and types.
KQL column types are basic, time, and complex, and knowing them alters the query approach for specific columns.
The UI in KQL provides shortcuts for querying tables, expanding tables to view schema, using functions like stored procedures, and filtering data columns.

Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Understanding the workflow of a KQL query is crucial for developing your logic and ensuring query results capture the desired information.
Focus on comprehending the query line-by-line rather than becoming a pro at creating KQL queries on day 1. What matters most are the results of the query in enhancing security efforts.
Sharing KQL queries among colleagues and utilizing built-in capabilities in Azure can eliminate the need to create your own queries, emphasizing the importance of understanding the workflow.

Understanding the User Interface (UI) is crucial when starting with Kusto Query Language (KQL) as it provides a visual way to interact with the data.
Filtering, sorting, grouping, selecting columns, and setting time ranges are important functions within the UI for manipulating and viewing data effectively.
The UI also offers features like saving queries, sharing queries, formatting queries, exporting query results, creating alert rules, pinning visualizations, and utilizing keyboard shortcuts for efficient query development.