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Learning Paths

A tutorial teaches one skill. A learning path builds a mental model. Nine paths cover the full journey across both architectures. For schema-driven: Foundations takes you from cluster setup through transactions, then Schema Design, Data Pipelines, Caching, and a capstone Real-Time Application branch from there. Operations covers deployment, security, and monitoring. The API Deep Dive adds advanced SQL and query optimization. For cache-centric: Foundations gets you running, and Beyond Key-Value shows where the distributed platform goes further than standalone caching. Start at the beginning or jump to the path you need.

Self-PacedProgressive DifficultyProgress Tracked
Recommended Starting Point

Cache-Centric Foundations

From a bare laptop to a working cache-aside implementation backed by real benchmark data. You start a single-node Docker cluster, learn the cache API, connect Java clients, then add a MariaDB database and see the cache offload read pressure under sustained production-like workload. The path closes with transactions and a grounded mental model of how entries are distributed across the cluster. This path covers the transition from Single System to Specialized Persistence in the Data Architecture Maturity Model.

Beginner~5.25 hours6 items
Start the Foundations Path
Platform

Cache-Centric Foundations

Beginner

From a bare laptop to a working cache-aside implementation backed by real benchmark data. You start a single-node Docker cluster, learn the cache API, connect Java clients, then add a MariaDB database and see the cache offload read pressure under sustained production-like workload. The path closes with transactions and a grounded mental model of how entries are distributed across the cluster. This path covers the transition from Single System to Specialized Persistence in the Data Architecture Maturity Model.

6 items~5.25 hours total
Your Progress
Start with Start a Local Cache Development Cluster →
Path curriculum — 6 items

Complete items in order. Each step builds on the last.

Start with Start a Local Cache Development Cluster

Beyond Key-Value: When Caching Isn't Enough

Intermediate

For developers whose caching layer has created new challenges. Each module maps to an architectural transition from Specialized Persistence through Managed Consistency in the Data Architecture Maturity Model. Covers SQL-on-cache queries, cross-key ACID transactions, colocated compute, cache-store consistency patterns, distributed data structures, and real-time event processing.

6 items~6 hours total
Your Progress
Start with From Key-Value to SQL: The JOIN Problem →
Prerequisite: Complete the Cache-Centric Foundations path first, or ensure you are comfortable with the concepts it covers.
Path curriculum — 6 items

Complete items in order. Each step builds on the last.

Start with From Key-Value to SQL: The JOIN Problem

Design for Data Locality

Advanced

Affinity and data locality are the defining design concerns on Apache Ignite 2 and GridGain 8. This path teaches the subject as a design discipline for senior developers building real systems. You design keys for colocation, verify colocation at runtime, write affinity-aware compute that scales, and learn when to deliberately break colocation for reference data.

6 items~5 hours total
Your Progress
Start with Design Keys for Colocation →
Prerequisite: Complete the Cache-Centric Foundations path first, or ensure you are comfortable with the concepts it covers.
Path curriculum — 6 items

Complete items in order. Each step builds on the last.

Start with Design Keys for Colocation

Explore individual content

Browse all tutorials and guides without following a structured path. Guides are task-focused; tutorials are learning-focused. Both use the same 3-node Docker cluster and the Music Store dataset.

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