Part 1 Getting started

In the ever-evolving world of data processing and system integration, Apache Kafka stands as a foundational technology. But how do we get started with Kafka? What does it take for us to unlock Kafka’s full potential in our applications and workflows?

In this first part of the book, we’ll guide you through the essential building blocks to get up and running with Kafka. Starting with an introduction to Kafka, we’ll explore its core concepts and components, as well as its role within modern enterprise ecosystems. We’ll discover what Kafka is, where it fits, and the power it brings to data-driven architectures.

In chapter 1, we lay the groundwork by explaining Kafka’s architecture, including how its components—producers, consumers, topics, and brokers—work together to facilitate scalable, fault-tolerant messaging. In chapter 2, we dive into Kafka’s core operations by creating topics, producing and consuming messages, and using command-line tools. By the end, we’ll have hands-on experience with a basic Kafka setup, preparing us for more advanced topics ahead.