Apache Kafka
Apache Kafka is a distributed event streaming platform that handles real-time data feeds with high throughput and low latency. It's used to build data pipelines that reliably move massive amounts of data between systems and applications in real time.
AI companies need Kafka to process continuous streams of training data, model inference results, and user interactions at scale. Platforms like Together AI use it to manage real-time data flows for their AI services, while Stripe relies on it for handling payment event streams.
🎓 Courses
Apache Kafka Series - Learn Apache Kafka for Beginners v3
by Stephane Maarek
This comprehensive course covers Kafka fundamentals with hands-on exercises, making it ideal for building a strong foundation.
Kafka Fundamentals
This Apache Kafka Fundamentals is a beginner-friendly but in-depth course for developers, data engineers, system administrators, and IT professionals
Apache Kafka and Spring Boot (Consumer, Producer)
This course is not for everyone, as you need basic experience with Maven, Spring Boot and Apache Kafka. This course focuses solely on practicality, th
Confluent Certified Administrator Apache Kafka Practice Test
The Confluent Certified Administrator for Apache Kafka (CCAAK) certification validates your ability to administer and operate <str
Creating and managing Kafka clusters
Learn the basic purpose and components of an Apache Kafka installation. This includes an introduction to Kafka topics, writing data with producers, an
📖 Books
Kafka: The Definitive Guide, 3rd Edition
Gwen Shapira, Todd Palino, Rajini Sivaram, Krit Petty · 2024
This is the latest, fully updated edition of the industry-standard reference, covering new features and best practices for modern Kafka deployments.
Mastering Apache Pulsar and Kafka: A Practical Guide to Event Streaming Architectures
Jowanza Joseph · 2024
This book provides a modern, comparative look at Kafka alongside Pulsar, offering practical insights for architects and engineers choosing and implementing event streaming systems.
Building Real-Time Analytics Systems (With Apache Kafka, Apache Pinot, and Apache Druid)
Mark Needham, Dunith Dhanushka · 2024
It focuses on the practical application of Kafka as the core streaming layer for building modern, end-to-end real-time analytics pipelines with complementary technologies.
🛠️ Tutorials & Guides
Apache Kafka Tutorial
Official Confluent tutorials with hands-on exercises covering basics to advanced Kafka operations.
Getting Started with Apache Kafka and Python
Practical tutorial showing how to integrate Kafka with Python applications common in AI workflows.
Learning resources last updated: April 13, 2026