KQL 101

Welcome to my comprehensive guide on Kusto Query Language (KQL) - the powerful query language that transformed how I approach observability and log analysis in Azure environments.

🎯 What You'll Learn

This series is based on my hands-on experience building observability solutions with Azure Log Analytics, creating production dashboards, and optimizing queries for real-time insights. Through practical examples from my projects, you'll master:

• KQL Fundamentals: Understanding the language, syntax, and query patterns

• Azure Log Analytics: Querying workspace data and understanding log schemas

• Advanced Operators: Joining, aggregating, and transforming data efficiently

• Observability Dashboards: Building actionable workbooks and alert queries

• Performance Optimization: Writing efficient queries that scale

• Production Patterns: Real-world query techniques from my SRE work

📚 Series Structure

Part 1: Introduction to KQL and Azure Log Analytics

My journey into KQL, understanding Azure Log Analytics workspace, and why KQL became essential for my observability work.

Part 2: KQL Syntax Fundamentals

Core syntax, data types, operators, and building your first queries with confidence.

Part 3: Advanced Query Operators and Functions

Mastering where, project, extend, summarize, join, and powerful functions that transform data.

Part 4: Querying Azure Log Analytics Workspace

Working with Kusto tables, understanding log schemas, and querying real Azure resources.

Part 5: Building Observability Dashboards with KQL

Creating Azure Workbooks, visualizing data, and building dashboards that provide actionable insights.

Part 6: KQL Best Practices and Performance Optimization

Query optimization techniques, avoiding common pitfalls, and writing production-ready queries.

Part 7: Real-World KQL Patterns and Production Use Cases

Advanced patterns from my production systems: anomaly detection, performance monitoring, security queries, and more.

🛠️ What You'll Build

Throughout this series, you'll learn to:

• Query and analyze Azure resource logs

• Build custom observability dashboards

• Create alert queries for proactive monitoring

• Implement performance tracking queries

• Design security and compliance queries

• Optimize query performance for production workloads

💡 My Approach

This series reflects my personal learning journey and real-world experience with KQL in production environments. I'll share:

• Practical examples from actual projects

• Common mistakes I made and how to avoid them

• Performance optimization lessons learned

• Production-ready query patterns

• Dashboard design principles that work

🚀 Prerequisites

• Basic understanding of Azure services

• Access to an Azure subscription (free tier works)

• Familiarity with log analysis concepts

• Basic understanding of query languages (SQL knowledge helps)

📖 Let's Begin

Ready to master KQL and transform your Azure observability capabilities? Start with Part 1: Introduction to KQL and Azure Log Analytics!