Unlock the Power of Databases: From Theory to Practice

Are you ready to dive into the fascinating world of data storage and database technologies? Join us for a deep-dive into the most popular and powerful database solutions, where we’ll explore what makes each one unique and how to choose the best fit for your needs.

In this meetup, we'll break down the essential components of modern data infrastructure, including:

• Data Intake: Getting data where it needs to be, fast.
• Hot, Warm, and Cold Storage: Storing data in the right place for the right purpose.
• Online Analytical Processing (OLAP): Leveraging cutting-edge tools to query cold data efficiently.
• Data Visualization: And why you should think twice before using PowerBI or Tableau.

From managing massive datasets at CERN with HDFS to serving up dashboards through web portals, the challenges and patterns of data handling are surprisingly universal. We’ll explore the key query patterns that define our field and see how they motivate the architecture of different database technologies.

This session will guide you through the unique use cases each database/storage engine is designed to solve, and how they achieve their goals. You'll walk away equipped with actionable insights to help you choose the right database solution for your team, and know exactly when it’s time to switch things up.

We’ll cover the ins and outs of:

• PostgreSQL: The versatile, open-source powerhouse.
• MySQL: The web's most popular choice.
• Cassandra: Mastering distributed data.
• Snowflake: Unlocking the cloud data warehouse.
• Neo4j: The leader in graph databases.
• MongoDB: Yes, really – and here's why!
• Redis: Because even caches are data storage, too.
• Hadoop/HDFS: Handling big data the smart way.
• Spark: Supercharging data processing.

By the end of this session, you'll be ready to navigate the complex landscape of data storage technologies with confidence and clarity. Whether you’re a seasoned data engineer or a curious newcomer, this meetup will give you the tools and insights to make smarter, data-driven decisions.

Come curious, leave empowered!