• Overview
  • The motivation for non-relational data stores
  • Why relational databases don't support modern applications well
  • Cassandra at a high-level
  • Use cases
  • Features Strengths (Scalability, robustness, linear performance with scale-out), etc.
  • High Level Structure
• Acquiring and Installing Cassandra
• Configuring and Installation Structure
• LABS:
  • Configure, Start/Stop Cassandra
  • StockWatcher Demo

Session 2: Overview of Architecture and Data Model

• Basic Cassandra Architecture
  • Cluster Structure - Nodes, Virtual Nodes, Ring Topology
  • Consistent Hashing, Tokens, Partitioners, and Data Distribution
  • Data Replication, the Replication Factor, Keyspaces
  • Consistency, the CAP theorem, Eventual Consistency
• The C* Data Model
  • Data Model and CQL 3 Introduction
  • Using CQL and cqlsh
  • Single primary key tables and how to define them using CQL
  • Inserting Data (INSERT), Data Distribution in the Ring, Upsert
  • Querying for Data (SELECT)
  • CQL Data Types
  • Working with Primary Keys
• LABS:
  • Spin up the Lab Cluster
  • Create Simple Tables
  • Insert/Query Tables
  • Use copy to Populate a Table

Session 3: The Cassandra Data Model

• Compound Primary Keys
  • CQL table definition
  • The partition key and clustering columns
  • CQL Mapping vs. Internal Storage View
• Other Capabilities
• Expiring Columns / Time To Live (TTL)
• Batches
• Clustering order, ORDER BY, and CLUSTERING ORDER BY
• Filtering results and ALLOW FILTERING
• Composite Partition Keys
  • Motivation and uses
  • CQL Definition
  • Effect on Partitioning and Internal Storage View
• Indexes and Secondary Indexes
  • Partition Key Indexes, token()
  • Non-primary Key (Secondary) Indexes
  • Guidelines and Querying
• Understand and Use Counters
  • Motivation and Uses
  • Structure, Characteristics, CQL, Usage
  • Limitations
• Understand and use collections
  • Motivation and uses
  • CQL definition (set, list, and map)
  • Inserting, Updating, Deleting with a Collection
  • Limitations and Internal Storage View
• LABS:
  • Introduce Compound Primary Keys
  • Refine Compound Primary Key
  • Work with Composite Partition Keys
  • Secondary Indexes
  • Counters
  • Using Collections

Session 4: Data Consistency

• Data Consistency in Cassandra
  • Tunable Consistency
  • CAP Theorem
  • Coordinators and Client Requests
  • Consistency Levels in C* - ONE, QUORUM, ALL
  • Configuring Immediate Consistency
  • CL ONE is Your Friend
  • Other CL Levels
• Compare and Set (CAS) / Lightweight Transactions
  • Motivation and Need
  • Overview of CAS
  • Using CAS - IF NOT EXISTS, IF condition
  • Paxos - How CAS works
  • Overhead and caveats
• Static Columns
  • Overview
  • Declaring Tables and Using Static Columns
  • Guidelines and Uses
• Repair Mechanisms
  • Read Repair
  • Hinted Handoff
• LABS:
  • Data Consistency
  • CAS

Session 5: How Things Work

• Write Failures
  • Unavailability, Node Failure
  • Requirements for Writing
• Key and Row Caches
  • Cache Overview
  • Guidelines
• Multi-Data Center Support
  • Overview
  • Replication Factor Configuration
  • Consistency Levels - LOCAL/EACH QUORUM
• Deletes
  • CQL
  • Tombstones
  • Issues and Guidelines
• LABS:
  • Deletes

Session 6: The Java Driver

• Introduction
  • Overview and Architecture
  • Features
• API Introduction
  • Cluster and Cluster.Builder
  • Creating the Cluster
  • Contact Points
  • Getting a Session
  • Working with Sessions
• Querying
  • PreparedStatement, Statement, BoundStatement
  • Using PreparedStatements, Binding Values
  • Executing the Query
  • Processing Query Results
  • CQL to Java Type Mapping
  • Working with UUIDs
  • Setting Consistency Level
• QueryBuilder and Dynamic Queries
  • Dynamic Queries
  • Bind Variables and SimpleStatement
  • QueryBuilder - Fluent API for Queries
  • Building SELECT, Select Type, Select.where(), Chaining WHERE Clauses
  • Building DELETE, Delete Type, Delete.where()
  • Building INSERT, Insert Type, Insert.insertInto(), Insert.value()
  • Building Update, Update Type, Insert.with(), Insert.value()
  • Building Regular Batches and Prepared Statement Batches (BatchStatemnt)
  • Other Queries
• Asynchronous Querying
  • Normal vs Asynchronous Querying
  • Interface java.util.concurrent.Future
  • ResultSetFuture
  • Querying Asynchronously and Processing Future Results
  • Listeners for Processing
• Driver Policies
  • Overview
  • Load Balancing Policies - RoundRobinPolicy, DCAwareRoundRobinPolicy
  • Retry Policies - DefaultRetryPolicy, DowngradingConsistencyRetryPolicy, LatencyAwarePolicy
  • The Policies Class
• LABS:
  • Introducing StockWatcher (the Lab Domain)
  • Connect to a Cluster
  • Execute Queries
  • Use QueryBuilder for Select
  • Use QueryBuilder More Extensively
  • Use executeAsync() and ResultSetFuture
  • Use Driver Policies
  • StockWatcher Deep Dive - Examining a Full-fledged Application