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Google Cloud Training

In this second installment of the Dataflow course series, we are going to be diving deeper on developing pipelines using the Beam SDK. We start with a review of Apache Beam concepts. Next, we discuss processing streaming data using windows, watermarks and triggers. We then cover options for sources and sinks in your pipelines, schemas to express your structured data, and how to do stateful transformations using State and Timer APIs. We move onto reviewing best practices that help maximize your pipeline performance. Towards the end of the course, we introduce SQL and Dataframes to represent your business logic in Beam and how to iteratively develop pipelines using Beam notebooks.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction
This module covers the course outline
Beam Concepts Review
Review main concepts of Apache Beam, and how to apply them to write your own data processing pipelines.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Suitable for learners with knowledge of Apache Beam
Designed for intermediate learners who want to advance their Dataflow skills
Should be taken after the introductory Dataflow course
Could be part of a comprehensive curriculum on Apache Beam

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Reviews summary

Deep dive into dataflow pipelines

According to students, this course provides a strong foundation and a deep dive into serverless data processing with Dataflow and Apache Beam. Learners particularly praise the clear explanations of complex topics like windows, watermarks, and triggers, along with State and Timers. The hands-on labs and practical examples are frequently highlighted as highly beneficial, helping to solidify understanding. While the course is generally perceived as highly valuable for data professionals, a few learners noted that it is best suited for those with prior foundational knowledge. There were some isolated remarks about specific content or examples potentially needing updates.
Integration of SQL, DataFrames, and notebooks is a plus.
"The Beam notebooks section was a nice addition; I found it very practical for iterative development."
"The integration of SQL and DataFrames is a powerful addition that I can use in my projects."
"I found the Dataflow SQL and DataFrames topics useful, though I wished for slightly more depth in some areas."
Comprehensive coverage of advanced Beam features.
"This was a solid continuation from the first Dataflow course; the content on sources and sinks, especially the various IOs, was very thorough."
"The State and Timers module was particularly eye-opening for me, simplifying what seemed like a very complex feature."
"I appreciated the comprehensive coverage of Beam concepts and learned how to apply them effectively."
Hands-on labs are very helpful for practical application.
"...the hands-on labs really helped solidify my understanding."
"I found the practical examples throughout the course very useful."
"The labs were well-structured and provided immediate feedback to me, which was great for learning."
Complex Dataflow concepts explained effectively.
"The explanations of windows, watermarks, and triggers were incredibly clear, and the hands-on labs really helped solidify my understanding."
"The instructor clarifies complex topics like State and Timers beautifully."
"I found the section on windowing and triggers a highlight, making difficult concepts accessible for me."
Some examples or APIs may be outdated, causing issues.
"This course needs significant updates. Some of the examples provided were not working as expected due to API changes, which was frustrating."
"I found myself troubleshooting non-working code examples due to outdated dependencies and API changes."
Course best suited for learners with prior Beam knowledge.
"Prerequisites are important; I wouldn't recommend this for absolute beginners."
"I came in with some Beam knowledge, but I felt I needed more foundational understanding to fully grasp everything..."
"I struggled with the pace at times. Some concepts were rushed for me, making it difficult to follow completely."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Serverless Data Processing with Dataflow: Develop Pipelines with these activities:
Follow tutorials on Apache Beam's official website
Enhance your understanding of Beam concepts by following tutorials on the official website, covering topics such as pipelines, transforms, and I/O.
Browse courses on Apache Beam
Show steps
  • Visit the Apache Beam website and explore the tutorials section
  • Select a tutorial relevant to your learning objectives
  • Follow the tutorial step-by-step and complete the exercises
Explore Beam examples on GitHub
Gain practical insights by exploring real-world examples of Beam pipelines on GitHub, showcasing various use cases and implementation techniques.
Browse courses on Apache Beam
Show steps
  • Visit the Apache Beam GitHub repository
  • Browse the examples directory and select a relevant example
  • Review the example code and understand its functionality
Explore different sources and sinks
Explore different sources and sinks to familiarize yourself with the various options available in Beam for reading and writing data.
Browse courses on Sources
Show steps
  • Create a pipeline with a Text IO source and a File IO sink
  • Try other sources and sinks such as BigQuery IO, PubSub IO, or Kafka IO
  • Experiment with different options and parameters for each source and sink
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create and solve sample pipelines
Practice creating and solving sample pipelines to reinforce your understanding of Beam concepts like windows, watermarks, and triggers.
Browse courses on Windows
Show steps
  • Create a pipeline skeleton
  • Add a source and sink
  • Configure windows, watermarks, and triggers
  • Run the pipeline and verify the results
Implement stateful transformations using State and Timer APIs
Implement stateful transformations using State and Timer APIs to enhance your pipelines with capabilities like aggregating, filtering, and joining data.
Browse courses on State
Show steps
  • Create a pipeline that uses a State API to maintain state between elements
  • Implement a Timer API to schedule events and perform actions at specific times or intervals
  • Explore advanced features of the State and Timer APIs
Optimize your pipelines for performance
Test, profile, and optimize your pipelines to improve their efficiency and performance in production environments.
Browse courses on Best Practices
Show steps
  • Identify performance bottlenecks in your pipeline
  • Implement best practices for data processing and resource management
  • Monitor and fine-tune your pipeline to ensure optimal performance
Participate in Beam Katas
Challenge yourself and improve your Beam skills by participating in Beam Katas, a series of coding exercises designed to test your understanding of Beam concepts.
Browse courses on Apache Beam
Show steps
  • Visit the Beam Katas website and register for an account
  • Select a Kata and attempt to solve it
  • Review your solution and learn from the feedback provided

Career center

Learners who complete Serverless Data Processing with Dataflow: Develop Pipelines will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Data Engineer
A Data Engineer builds and maintains data pipelines that process structured and unstructured data. As a Data Engineer, you would use a course like this one to gain a deeper understanding of Apache Beam concepts and how to apply them to write your own data processing pipelines. You would also learn about best practices for maximizing the performance of your pipelines.
Data Analyst
A Data Analyst cleans, analyzes, and interprets data to identify trends and patterns. As a Data Analyst, you might use a course like this one to gain a deeper understanding of how to process streaming data using windows, watermarks, and triggers. You would also learn about options for sources and sinks in your pipelines, schemas to express your structured data, and how to do stateful transformations using State and Timer APIs.
Data Scientist
A Data Scientist builds and applies mathematical and statistical models to data to extract insights and make predictions. As a Data Scientist, you might use a course like this one to gain a deeper understanding of how to process streaming data using windows, watermarks, and triggers. You would also learn about options for sources and sinks in your pipelines, schemas to express your structured data, and how to do stateful transformations using State and Timer APIs.
Software Engineer
A Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software applications. As a Software Engineer, you might use a course like this one to gain a deeper understanding of Apache Beam concepts and how to apply them to write your own data processing pipelines. You would also learn about best practices for maximizing the performance of your pipelines.
DevOps Engineer
A DevOps Engineer automates and manages the software development and deployment process. As a DevOps Engineer, you might use a course like this one to gain a deeper understanding of how to build and maintain data pipelines. You would also learn about best practices for maximizing the performance of your pipelines.
Cloud Architect
A Cloud Architect designs and manages cloud computing solutions. As a Cloud Architect, you might use a course like this one to gain a deeper understanding of how to build and maintain data pipelines in the cloud. You would also learn about best practices for maximizing the performance of your pipelines.
Data Integration Engineer
A Data Integration Engineer designs and builds data pipelines that integrate data from multiple sources. As a Data Integration Engineer, you would use a course like this one to gain a deeper understanding of Apache Beam concepts and how to apply them to write your own data processing pipelines. You would also learn about best practices for maximizing the performance of your pipelines.
Big Data Engineer
A Big Data Engineer designs and builds data pipelines that process large volumes of data. As a Big Data Engineer, you would use a course like this one to gain a deeper understanding of Apache Beam concepts and how to apply them to write your own data processing pipelines. You would also learn about best practices for maximizing the performance of your pipelines.
Machine Learning Engineer
A Machine Learning Engineer designs, develops, and deploys machine learning models. As a Machine Learning Engineer, you might use a course like this one to gain a deeper understanding of how to process streaming data using windows, watermarks, and triggers. You would also learn about options for sources and sinks in your pipelines, schemas to express your structured data, and how to do stateful transformations using State and Timer APIs.
Business Intelligence Analyst
A Business Intelligence Analyst analyzes data to identify trends and patterns that can help businesses make better decisions. As a Business Intelligence Analyst, you might use a course like this one to gain a deeper understanding of how to process streaming data using windows, watermarks, and triggers. You would also learn about options for sources and sinks in your pipelines, schemas to express your structured data, and how to do stateful transformations using State and Timer APIs.
Data Visualization Engineer
A Data Visualization Engineer designs and develops data visualizations that help people understand data. As a Data Visualization Engineer, you might use a course like this one to gain a deeper understanding of how to process streaming data using windows, watermarks, and triggers. You would also learn about options for sources and sinks in your pipelines, schemas to express your structured data, and how to do stateful transformations using State and Timer APIs.
Database Administrator
A Database Administrator manages and maintains databases. As a Database Administrator, you might use a course like this one to gain a deeper understanding of how to build and maintain data pipelines. You would also learn about best practices for maximizing the performance of your pipelines.
IT Manager
An IT Manager plans, organizes, and directs the implementation and maintenance of computer systems and networks. As an IT Manager, you might use a course like this one to gain a deeper understanding of how to build and maintain data pipelines. You would also learn about best practices for maximizing the performance of your pipelines.
Systems Administrator
A Systems Administrator manages and maintains computer systems and networks. As a Systems Administrator, you might use a course like this one to gain a deeper understanding of how to build and maintain data pipelines. You would also learn about best practices for maximizing the performance of your pipelines.
Network Administrator
A Network Administrator manages and maintains computer networks. As a Network Administrator, you might use a course like this one to gain a deeper understanding of how to build and maintain data pipelines. You would also learn about best practices for maximizing the performance of your pipelines.

Reading list

We've selected nine books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Serverless Data Processing with Dataflow: Develop Pipelines.
Provides a comprehensive guide to Apache Flink, a popular stream processing framework that can be used with Apache Beam.
Provides a comprehensive overview of data-intensive applications, covering topics such as data modeling, data storage, and data processing.
You will use Lambdas and Streams in Java code to create a pipeline. provides a good introduction to Java 8 Lambdas.
While not directly related to Dataflow, it provides valuable insights into stream processing, a key aspect covered in this course.
Provides a foundational understanding of Python libraries and tools, including Apache Beam, for data science.
Although it focuses on Spark and Hadoop, this book provides insights into the broader big data processing landscape, including Apache Beam.
Provides foundational knowledge in designing and architecting data-intensive applications, complementing the course's focus on data processing techniques.

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