The data analytics landscape has seen a remarkable transformation with the emergence of open-source platforms. Among these, Apache Iceberg and Starburst stand out as pivotal players, empowering enterprises with advanced data warehousing and analytics solutions. On Episode 86 of Great Things with Great Tech I spoke to CEO and co-founder Justin Borgman about the evolution of Starburst and Apache Iceberg, tracing their journey from inception to their current status as leaders in the data analytics industry.
From Traditional Data Warehouses to Modern Data Lakes
Apache Iceberg’s roots can be traced back to Netflix, where it was developed to tackle the challenges of managing large-scale data. Combined with Starburst, this technology revolutionizes data warehousing, moving away from traditional, costly data warehouses to more flexible and scalable data lakes.
Netflix: The Genesis of Apache Iceberg
Netflix foresaw the need for a robust data management solution and created Iceberg to handle their extensive data efficiently. This open table format quickly gained traction due to its capability to manage petabytes of data seamlessly.
Founding of Starburst and Expansion
In 2017, the creators of Trino (formerly Presto) at Facebook established Starburst to provide a commercial offering around the open-source Trino project. Starburst expanded its reach by integrating with Apache Iceberg, enabling high-performance queries across diverse data sources without moving data.
Adoption of Open-Source: Embracing Flexibility
A significant milestone for Starburst was its embrace of open-source development, which allowed for a broader community of contributors and users. This decision marked a shift towards openness and collaboration in the data analytics space.
Transformation and Maturation: A Leading Data Analytics Platform
Under the open-source model, Starburst and Iceberg experienced rapid innovation, attracting a diverse pool of engineers and developers. This collaborative approach led to substantial feature enhancements and performance improvements, cementing their market positions.
Starburst evolved into a comprehensive data analytics platform, seamlessly integrating with various data sources and formats. This flexibility allows enterprises to leverage their existing investments while benefiting from advanced data analytics capabilities.
Moreover, Starburst’s integration with Apache Iceberg empowers users to manage large-scale data environments effectively, expanding its versatility and meeting the evolving needs of modern data-driven enterprises.
Conclusion: The Impact of Starburst and Apache Iceberg on Data Analytics
The journey of Starburst and Apache Iceberg from their origins to their current industry position has been marked by continuous innovation, collaboration, and adoption. Their commitment to open-source principles, comprehensive feature sets, and support for diverse data sources have made them preferred choices for businesses seeking scalable, cost-effective, and flexible data analytics solutions. Their unwavering dedication to innovation and community engagement continues to drive the platforms’ development, solidifying their positions as cornerstones of the data analytics ecosystem.
Dive deeper into the fascinating advancements in data management in the Latest GTwGT episode: Apache Iceberg as the New S3 and Data Analytics with Starburst.
