Apache Cassandra, more commonly just referred to as "Cassandra," is a NoSQL, open-source database developed to handle massive amounts of data. Companies can download and use the software for free. Some of the organizations using Cassandra include CERN, Reddit, and The Weather Channel.
Cassandra's Features
Cassandra has a wealth of features that make it suitable for enterprise users that need to manage large amounts of data. Some of the solution's most attractive features include:
- Elastic scalability lets you add more hardware as required.
- Data distribution which makes it easy to add information to several data centers.
- Flexibility that lets the solution work with all data formats, including structured and unstructured formats.
- Durable, decentralized architecture that does not have a single point of failure, making it possible for continuous use without any disruptions.
Cassandra has a strong community of users willing to report bugs, provide support, and help each other succeed. Even users without much technical experience can find the information they need by reviewing community chats.
Benefits of Choosing Cassandra
Organizations use Cassandra because of the solution's proven performance. Users praise Cassandra for the following benefits.
Cassandra is Free
It's hard to beat a free database management solution that works exceptionally well.
Cassandra Has Terrific Performance
Cassandra can process queries and deliver results in less than a second. Its speed relies on proper data modeling, but that's true of any database management tool.
Continuous Availability from Always-Online Architecture
Cassandra doesn't have any master nodes. It's a distributed database without a centralized architecture. That means you can rely on it to work continuously. Unlike other solutions, it will not fail when you need it most.
Cassandra Has Flexible Language Drivers
The availability of flexible language drivers means that practically any application can run on Cassandra. With the right driver, Cassandra will support Python, Go, Java, Ruby, C++, and other languages.
Cassandra Integrates with Xplenty ETL
Cassandra database integrates easily with Xplenty ETL, giving you the ability to move and reformat data within visual pipelines that require little to no coding.
Disadvantages of Using Cassandra
Cassandra has a lot of benefits that attract users. All database solutions, however, have disadvantages that will bother some people. The following list includes some of the most pressing disadvantages of using Cassandra.
NoSQL Will Bother Some Coders
Most database managers and users have experience with relational databases that rely on SQL. Cassandra doesn't follow this trend, though. The NoSQL database can bother some people with years of experience using SQL-based databases.
Flexible language drivers help mitigate this problem, but it will still seem odd to those who want to understand how Cassandra functions.
Potential Latency Issues
Cassandra usually works at lightning-fast speeds. If you make too many queries, though, you may experience latency issues as the data transaction slows.
Thousands of organizations choose Apache Cassandra because they want a reliable way to manage large amounts of data. The solution has its disadvantages, but it stands out as one of the most popular options available.