Jeffrey Carpenter

We’re excited to share a new learning experience for both new and experienced Cassandra users now available at <a href="https://datastax.com/dev">datastax.com/dev</a>. As you can read about on the <a href="https://www.datastax.com/blog/2020/07/learning-without-fear-datastaxcomdev">DataStax Blog</a>, the “DataStax for Developers” site features embedded hands-on learning scenarios where you apply concepts as you learn them by interacting with a live Cassandra cluster.&nbsp;

The scenarios under the <a href="http://datastax.com/try-it-out">Try it Out</a> section will get you writing CQL and coding in Java, Python or node.js in minutes, and we show you how to get your own free database using <a href="https://www.datastax.com/products/datastax-astra">DataStax Astra</a> where you can continue learning, experimenting and building your own apps.&nbsp;

The site also includes an initial set of “skills” pages with additional scenarios to help you learn how to <a href="https://www.datastax.com/dev/modeling">create data models</a>, integrate <a href="https://www.datastax.com/dev/kafka">Cassandra and Kafka</a>, and deploy <a href="https://www.datastax.com/dev/kubernetes">Cassandra on Kubernetes</a>. We’ll continue to deliver additional skills pages on Cassandra fundamentals and integrations with other technologies frequently used in modern, cloud-native application development.&nbsp;

We want to make you as successful as possible with this technology, so we’re very interested in your feedback, especially if you’re brand new to Cassandra. Please reach out with your questions, comments, and suggestions via email at <a href="mailto:developer@datastax.com">developer@datastax.com</a>, or on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/datastaxdevs?lang=en">@datastaxdevs</a>.

<h4>Upcoming Events&nbsp;</h4>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cassandra-workshop-series-your-path-to-becoming-a-cassandra-expert-tickets-110114461318?aff=DevNews">Cassandra Workshop series</a> - We’ve just finished the second week of this 8-week series, but there’s still time to register and catch up! Join us to build, test and deploy an application into production and prepare to take a free developer or administrator certification exam.</li>
</ul>

Community Highlights from <a href="https://cassandra.link/">Cassandra.Link</a>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://cassandra.link/post/dial-c-for-operator-creating-a-cassandra-cluster-with-cass-operator">Dial C* for Operator - Creating a Cassandra Cluster with Cass Operator</a> - Excellent hands-on walk through of the Cassandra Operator for Kubernetes. (<a href="https://github.com/datastax/cass-operator">Cass Operator</a>)</li>
	<li><a href="https://cassandra.link/post/partition-key-vs-composite-key-vs-clustering-columns-in-cassandra">Partition Key vs Composite Key vs Clustering Columns in Cassandra</a> - Excellent explanation of how these key types are and how they help you find data.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://cassandra.link/post/cassandra-data-modeling-principles-for-spark-sql-joins">Cassandra Data Modeling Principles for Spark Joins</a> (Part 2/2) - Cassandra + Spark = Magic. Read up on how to make it faster. Also <a href="https://cassandra.link/post/optimizing-spark-sql-join-statements-for-high-performance">Optimizing Spark SQL Join Statements for High Performance</a> (Part 1/2)</li>
</ul>

<h4>Notable Software Releases</h4>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://github.com/datastax/cassandra-quarkus">Cassandra Quarkus 1.0.0-alpha1</a> - <a href="https://quarkus.io/">Quarkus</a> is a Kubernetes Native Java stack that provides fast-startup, low resource utilization, and reactive programming. With the <a href="https://quarkus.io/blog/quarkus-cassandra-extension-released/">new Quarkus extension for Apache Cassandra</a>® released in Quarkus 1.6, all it takes is a few lines of code to connect to Cassandra and access your data.</li>
	<li><a href="https://downloads.datastax.com/#desktop">DataStax Desktop v2.1</a> - Desktop is a great way to spin up stacks containing Cassandra / DSE clusters and demos on your local Docker instance. This latest release uses Cassandra 4.0 alpha 4 and the latest drivers and features a new Graph stack, check the <a href="https://github.com/riptano/datastax-desktop/releases/tag/v2.1.0">release notes</a> for more.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h4>Example of the Week</h4>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://github.com/DataStax-Examples/kafka-connector-sink-avro">Ingest Avro from Apache Kafka™ to DataStax Enterprise</a> 
	Contributed by <a href="https://github.com/csplinter">@csplinter</a>, <a href="https://github.com/tomekl007">@tomekl007</a></li>
	<li>This example shows how to ingest Avro records from Kafka to a table in DataStax Enterprise using the <a href="https://docs.datastax.com/en/kafka/doc/index.html">DataStax Apache Kafka Connector</a>.</li>
	<li>Check out the walkthrough of this example: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyR_zfBDBjY&amp;feature=youtu.be">YouTube Video</a></li>
	<li>Become a contributor! Try this example, add your own flair, and submit a PR. Or submit your own example through the <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfroX8PJ42u-XdlZR3WZfeFLGEQjirnQyTvp9oqokX_X4DTmQ/viewform">DataStax Examples Submission Form</a> or <a href="mailto:examples@datastax.com">examples@datastax.com</a></li>
</ul>

<h4>Documentation to Bookmark</h4>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://docs.datastax.com/en/cass-operator/doc/cass-operator/cassOperatorCreateK8sCluster.html">Creating a Kubernetes cluster</a> - This new docs page walks you through creating a Kubernetes cluster to prepare you for deploying the <a href="https://downloads.datastax.com/#dse-kub-op">DataStax Enterprise Kubernetes Operator</a>.</li>
</ul>

What topics would you like to hear more about? Working on something interesting? We’d love your feedback: <a href="mailto:developer@datastax.com">developer@datastax.com</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/datastaxdevs?lang=en">@DataStaxDevs</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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