DB-Engines.com: A very helpful database technology comparison site
February 28, 2018 Comments Off on DB-Engines.com: A very helpful database technology comparison site
I’ve been working with all sorts of databases for a really long time, and I’ve never seen the industry as dynamic and diverse as it is right now. Unfortunately, if you’re evaluating databases – relational, NoSQL, or otherwise – it can be very difficult to obtain a high-level, vendor-neutral view of your options.
Lately I’ve been spending a fair amount of time on the DB-Engines website in support of some research initiatives that I’m carrying out. DB-Engines provides a wealth of really useful information, including:
- Database rankings
- A compendium of database solutions
- A glossary of key terms
- Side-by-side product comparisons
If you’re interested in learning more about which database technology is best for you and your organization, it’s definitely worth dropping by.
Hands-on training for an evolving graph database world
September 30, 2017 Comments Off on Hands-on training for an evolving graph database world
The recent acquisition of OrientDB by Callidus Cloud has the potential to transform the graph and multi model database landscape – more on that soon. For now, I’m happy to announce that WiseClouds will continue to provide training and consulting services for modeling, designing, developing, and administering these next-generation applications.
If you’d like to advance your career by gaining expertise in the latest information management technologies, I invite you to join our next hands-on Live Global Class which will be held from October 25 through 27. As an added benefit, all students will be eligible to earn their OrientDB database modeling and design certification. To learn more, click here.
On-demand graph database design and modeling training/certification now available
July 31, 2017 Comments Off on On-demand graph database design and modeling training/certification now available
Until fairly recently, the impressive benefits provided by graph databases have been restricted to the most sophisticated – and deep pocketed – technology organizations such as Facebook and LinkedIn. But with the rise of flexible, powerful, and affordable offerings such as OrientDB, it’s now possible for every enterprise to realize the advantages of graph databases.
I’m happy to announce that WiseClouds is partnering with OrientDB to produce a series of training courses and companion certification exams. These classes are available in a variety of formats, including video-on-demand, multi-day live courses presented over the Web for private enterprises as well events open to the public, and onsite deliveries.
If you’re interested in learning how to take advantage of everything that a graph database has to offer, I encourage you to check out the OrientDB Multi-Model Database: Modeling, Design & Interaction class. A subscription through the end of 2017 is available for a limited time at $49, which also includes the official OrientDB certification exam. It provides 2 ½ hours of valuable content, including:
- RDBMS Challenges
- Introduction to NoSQL & Supporting Technologies
- Graph Databases Overview
- OrientDB Capabilities & Multi-Model Architecture
- Modeling a Graph Database
- Taking Advantage of Inheritance and Polymorphism
- Interacting with your Graph Database via APIs
- Writing Powerful Queries using Standard SQL
To help you get up to speed quickly, all the lessons are bolstered with easy-to-understand illustrations and multifaceted examples.
Helpful article on Apache Spark with use cases
March 4, 2017 Comments Off on Helpful article on Apache Spark with use cases
I recently wrote Spark for Dummies in partnership with IBM. For those curious about this highly interesting and innovative technology – and the numerous scenarios where it can add value – there are increasing numbers of helpful online resources. A good example of what I mean is a recent article by Radek Ostrowski from Toptal. He provides a concise Spark overview, along with some sample use cases.
I’ll continue to cross reference online resources like this as I run across them. If you’d like to read more about all things Big Data, be sure to check out some of my other related postings.
Spark for Dummies is now available
January 1, 2017 Comments Off on Spark for Dummies is now available
A few years ago, I wrote Hadoop for Dummies, which presented an executive-level overview of Hadoop, its capabilities, and its amazing potential. Since then, the Big Data world has continued its relentless march forward, with Apache Spark serving as one of the most exciting and well-adopted new technologies. I’m happy to announce that I’ve just written a companion book dedicated to Spark. Here are the major topics that I cover in this book:
- Spark’s history
- How it works
- Why it’s such an important Big Data breakthrough
- Real world use cases
- How Spark, MapReduce, and Hadoop can work together
- How you can deploy it in your enterprise
- Best practices
You can download a copy here.
This book – which was sponsored by IBM – is a great example of the kinds of high quality technical marketing content developed at Think88. These include white papers, case studies, evaluation guides, technical presentations, and market research.
Presenting a Webinar on Delivering Data Security with Hadoop and the IoT
July 18, 2016 Comments Off on Presenting a Webinar on Delivering Data Security with Hadoop and the IoT
On August 9, I’ll be teaming with Reiner Kappenberger from Hewlett Packard Enterprise to explore some of the most pressing security implications of Hadoop and the Internet of Things (IoT). Hosted by the IT GRC Forum, here’s what we’ll be covering:
The Internet of Things (IoT) is here to stay, and Gartner predicts there will be over 26 billion connected devices by 2020. This is driving an explosion of data which offers tremendous opportunity for organizations to gain business value, and Hadoop has emerged as the key component to make sense of the data and realize the maximum value. On the flip side the surge of new devices has increased potential for hackers to wreak havoc, and Hadoop has been described as the biggest cybercrime bait ever created.
Data security is a fundamental enabler of the IoT, and if it is not prioritized the business opportunity will be undermined, so protecting company data is more urgent than ever before. The risks are huge and Hadoop comes with few safeguards, leaving it to organizations to add an enterprise security layer. Securing multiple points of vulnerability is a major challenge, although when armed with good information and a few best practices, enterprise security leaders can ensure attackers will glean nothing from their attempts to breach Hadoop. In this webinar we will discuss some steps to identify what needs protecting and apply the right techniques to protect it before you put Hadoop into production.
If you’d like to join us, register here.
Free data-driven API testing eBook is now available
December 29, 2015 Comments Off on Free data-driven API testing eBook is now available
I recently had the pleasure of co-hosting a data-driven API testing Webinar with Paul Bruce from SmartBear. I’ve compiled the recommendations we made during this event into a free eBook which you can now download. A special thanks to Kim Salmon from SmartBear for her help in getting the book developed and published!
Das Auto, der Algorithmus, und der Smog
September 19, 2015 Comments Off on Das Auto, der Algorithmus, und der Smog
Looks like Volkswagen is going to have some ‘splainin’ to do: the company has been ordered to recall 482,000 diesel-powered vehicles (including Jetta, Golf, Passat, Beetle, and Audi A3) by the US Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Justice, and California Air Resources Board.
VW is being accused of implementing an algorithm that detects when the car is being smog-tested and then applying full emission controls so that the vehicle will pass. At other times (like during normal road operations), the emission controls were programmatically relaxed and the car belched out much higher levels of pollutants such as nitrogen oxide.
You can read the violation notice here. Wow.
And as algorithms become more prevalent in everyday devices (i.e. “the Internet of Things”), there should be all sorts of entertaining stories to come. Some will involve felonious behavior, while others will just be the natural outcome of poor design or shoddy quality control.
Not scared of algorithms? Perhaps you should be.
August 27, 2015 Comments Off on Not scared of algorithms? Perhaps you should be.
A while back, I wrote about a run-in I had with a rental car company, or to put it more accurately: a rental car company’s algorithm. It’s quite frightening to think about the implications of “lights-out” algorithms making important decisions that can affect all aspects of your life. And as someone who witnesses – first hand – the often abysmal job that enterprises do when testing their APIs (which frequently have algorithms running beneath the covers), I’m particularly concerned about what this will spell for the future.
If you’d like to learn more about these possible repercussions, check out the extremely well written article by Frank Pasquale on aeon.co.
Cyberspace is no longer an escape from the ‘real world’. It is now a force governing it via algorithms: recipe-like sets of instructions to solve problems. From Google search to OkCupid matchmaking, software orders and weights hundreds of variables into clean, simple interfaces, taking us from query to solution. Complex mathematics govern such answers, but it is hidden from plain view, thanks either to secrecy imposed by law, or to complexity outsiders cannot unravel.
If you’d like to read more of my posts about Big Data, click here.
Poshly – one of Fast Company’s 10 Most Innovative Big Data Companies – is growing
July 11, 2015 Comments Off on Poshly – one of Fast Company’s 10 Most Innovative Big Data Companies – is growing
I’ve long been a fan of practical usages of Big Data: applications that aggregate raw information – and lots of it – to address real-world business challenges. I’ve already written about Poshly (disclosure: I’m an investor), and I continue to be impressed with their progress.
Poshly is expanding their team by hiring a lead front-end engineer and deployment specialist, so if you – or someone you know – is interested in joining a winning team in a hot space, I encourage you to check out these opportunities.
rdschneider 
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