RisingWave, founded by YingJun Wu, is a stream processing system that has gained attention for its PostgreSQL compatibility and efficient resource utilization. Unlike traditional systems like Apache Flink, RisingWave leverages S3 as its primary storage, similar to Snowflake’s architecture. This approach not only reduces storage costs but also enables seamless elastic scaling. By Firebolt Team.
The conversation highlights a trend in the data engineering space—decoupling storage and compute, inspired by Snowflake, and leveraging open formats like Iceberg to reduce vendor lock-in and enhance flexibility. RisingWave is positioned to capitalize on this trend, providing a potentially powerful and cost-effective solution for stream processing workloads.
Use Cases and Benefits:
- Streamlined Data Processing: Organizations can process high-volume data streams with lower resource requirements.
- Easy Integration: PostgreSQL compatibility simplifies adoption for developers and reduces the learning curve.
- Vendor Lock-in Mitigation: By utilizing Apache Iceberg for data storage, RisingWave helps organizations avoid vendor lock-in.
Limitations and Future Directions:
- Data Ingestion: RisingWave’s reliance on S3 may introduce latency in certain scenarios.
- Evolving Ecosystem: As the landscape around Apache Iceberg and stream processing continues to evolve, RisingWave’s adaptability will be crucial.
For teams using Snowflake or similar systems, RisingWave offers a way to redundant data copies and lower costs by processing data in real time and storing it in Iceberg. Its single-binary deployment (similar to DuckDB) reduces operational overhead, making it ideal for startups or companies needing rapid testing. However, the shift to Iceberg-based pipelines may require rethinking how data is structured, queried, and maintained. RisingWave’s focus on scalability and open formats aligns with modern trends but demands careful planning to avoid pitfalls like S3 performance bottlenecks. Overall, it represents a strategic move toward unified, flexible data infrastructure that balances innovation with practicality. Good read!
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