beam
Apache Beam is a unified programming model for Batch and Streaming data processing.
Top Related Projects
An Open Source Machine Learning Framework for Everyone
Tensors and Dynamic neural networks in Python with strong GPU acceleration
Parallel computing with task scheduling
Apache Spark - A unified analytics engine for large-scale data processing
Apache Flink
Apache Airflow - A platform to programmatically author, schedule, and monitor workflows
Quick Overview
Apache Beam is an open-source, unified programming model for defining and executing data processing pipelines, including ETL, batch, and stream processing jobs. It provides a portable API layer for creating data processing workflows that can run on various distributed processing backends, such as Apache Flink, Apache Spark, and Google Cloud Dataflow.
Pros
- Unified programming model for batch and stream processing
- Portability across multiple execution engines
- Rich set of built-in transforms and I/O connectors
- Strong community support and active development
Cons
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Performance overhead compared to native execution engines
- Limited support for some advanced streaming features
- Complexity in debugging and monitoring pipelines
Code Examples
- Reading from a file and writing to another:
Pipeline p = Pipeline.create();
p.apply(TextIO.read().from("input.txt"))
.apply(TextIO.write().to("output.txt"));
p.run();
- Performing a word count:
PCollection<String> words = p.apply(TextIO.read().from("input.txt"))
.apply(FlatMapElements.into(TypeDescriptors.strings())
.via((String line) -> Arrays.asList(line.split("\\s+"))));
PCollection<KV<String, Long>> wordCounts = words.apply(Count.perElement());
- Windowing and triggering in streaming:
PCollection<KV<String, Integer>> windowed = input
.apply(Window.<KV<String, Integer>>into(FixedWindows.of(Duration.standardMinutes(5)))
.triggering(AfterWatermark.pastEndOfWindow()
.withEarlyFirings(AfterProcessingTime.pastFirstElementInPane()
.plusDelayOf(Duration.standardMinutes(1)))
.withLateFirings(AfterProcessingTime.pastFirstElementInPane()
.plusDelayOf(Duration.standardMinutes(5))))
.withAllowedLateness(Duration.standardMinutes(30))
.accumulatingFiredPanes());
Getting Started
To get started with Apache Beam, follow these steps:
- Add the Beam SDK to your project (Maven example):
<dependency>
<groupId>org.apache.beam</groupId>
<artifactId>beam-sdks-java-core</artifactId>
<version>2.41.0</version>
</dependency>
- Create a simple pipeline:
import org.apache.beam.sdk.Pipeline;
import org.apache.beam.sdk.io.TextIO;
import org.apache.beam.sdk.options.PipelineOptions;
import org.apache.beam.sdk.options.PipelineOptionsFactory;
public class SimpleWordCount {
public static void main(String[] args) {
PipelineOptions options = PipelineOptionsFactory.create();
Pipeline p = Pipeline.create(options);
p.apply(TextIO.read().from("input.txt"))
.apply(TextIO.write().to("output.txt"));
p.run();
}
}
- Run the pipeline using a local runner or a distributed execution engine of your choice.
Competitor Comparisons
An Open Source Machine Learning Framework for Everyone
Pros of TensorFlow
- More comprehensive machine learning ecosystem with tools for model development, training, and deployment
- Stronger support for deep learning and neural networks
- Larger community and more extensive documentation
Cons of TensorFlow
- Steeper learning curve, especially for beginners
- Can be overkill for simpler data processing tasks
- Less flexible for general-purpose data processing compared to Beam
Code Comparison
TensorFlow example (basic neural network):
import tensorflow as tf
model = tf.keras.Sequential([
tf.keras.layers.Dense(64, activation='relu', input_shape=(10,)),
tf.keras.layers.Dense(1, activation='sigmoid')
])
model.compile(optimizer='adam', loss='binary_crossentropy', metrics=['accuracy'])
Beam example (basic data processing pipeline):
import apache_beam as beam
with beam.Pipeline() as p:
lines = p | beam.io.ReadFromText('input.txt')
counts = (lines
| beam.FlatMap(lambda x: x.split())
| beam.Map(lambda x: (x, 1))
| beam.CombinePerKey(sum))
counts | beam.io.WriteToText('output.txt')
Both TensorFlow and Beam are powerful tools, but they serve different purposes. TensorFlow excels in machine learning tasks, particularly deep learning, while Beam is more suited for large-scale data processing and ETL operations. The choice between them depends on the specific requirements of your project.
Tensors and Dynamic neural networks in Python with strong GPU acceleration
Pros of PyTorch
- More user-friendly and intuitive API for deep learning tasks
- Dynamic computational graph allows for easier debugging and flexibility
- Stronger community support and ecosystem for AI/ML applications
Cons of PyTorch
- Less suitable for large-scale data processing and ETL workflows
- Limited support for distributed computing compared to Beam
- Narrower focus on deep learning, while Beam is more versatile for general data processing
Code Comparison
PyTorch example (neural network definition):
import torch.nn as nn
class SimpleNet(nn.Module):
def __init__(self):
super(SimpleNet, self).__init__()
self.fc1 = nn.Linear(784, 128)
self.fc2 = nn.Linear(128, 10)
Beam example (data processing pipeline):
import apache_beam as beam
with beam.Pipeline() as p:
lines = p | beam.io.ReadFromText('input.txt')
counts = (lines
| beam.FlatMap(lambda x: x.split())
| beam.Map(lambda x: (x, 1))
| beam.CombinePerKey(sum))
Parallel computing with task scheduling
Pros of Dask
- Lightweight and flexible, integrating seamlessly with existing Python ecosystems
- Excellent for scaling pandas and NumPy operations to larger-than-memory datasets
- Simpler learning curve for Python developers already familiar with pandas/NumPy
Cons of Dask
- Less robust for complex, multi-step data processing pipelines
- Limited support for streaming data compared to Beam
- Smaller ecosystem and fewer connectors for external systems
Code Comparison
Dask example:
import dask.dataframe as dd
df = dd.read_csv('large_file.csv')
result = df.groupby('column').mean().compute()
Beam example:
import apache_beam as beam
with beam.Pipeline() as p:
result = (p | beam.io.ReadFromText('large_file.csv')
| beam.Map(lambda x: x.split(','))
| beam.GroupByKey()
| beam.CombineValues(beam.combiners.MeanCombineFn()))
Both Dask and Beam offer powerful data processing capabilities, but they cater to different use cases. Dask excels in scaling familiar Python data structures, while Beam provides a more comprehensive framework for complex data processing pipelines across various languages and execution engines.
Apache Spark - A unified analytics engine for large-scale data processing
Pros of Spark
- More mature and widely adopted in industry
- Better performance for large-scale data processing
- Richer ecosystem with built-in libraries for ML, graph processing, etc.
Cons of Spark
- Steeper learning curve, especially for complex use cases
- Less flexibility in terms of execution engines and runtime environments
- Higher resource requirements for cluster setup and management
Code Comparison
Beam (Python):
with beam.Pipeline() as p:
lines = p | 'Read' >> beam.io.ReadFromText('input.txt')
counts = (lines
| 'Split' >> beam.FlatMap(lambda x: x.split())
| 'PairWithOne' >> beam.Map(lambda x: (x, 1))
| 'GroupAndSum' >> beam.CombinePerKey(sum))
counts | 'Write' >> beam.io.WriteToText('output.txt')
Spark (Python):
sc = SparkContext("local", "Word Count")
lines = sc.textFile("input.txt")
counts = lines.flatMap(lambda x: x.split()) \
.map(lambda x: (x, 1)) \
.reduceByKey(lambda a, b: a + b)
counts.saveAsTextFile("output.txt")
Both examples demonstrate a simple word count operation, showcasing the similar programming model but different syntax and execution approaches between Beam and Spark.
Apache Flink
Pros of Flink
- Native support for stateful stream processing
- Lower latency and higher throughput for streaming workloads
- More mature ecosystem for stream processing use cases
Cons of Flink
- Steeper learning curve, especially for complex streaming scenarios
- Less flexibility for batch processing compared to Beam
- Smaller community and fewer language APIs (primarily Java and Scala)
Code Comparison
Flink:
DataStream<String> stream = env.addSource(new FlinkKafkaConsumer<>("topic", new SimpleStringSchema(), properties));
stream.flatMap(new Splitter())
.keyBy("word")
.sum("count")
.print();
Beam:
PCollection<String> input = pipeline.apply(KafkaIO.<String, String>read()
.withBootstrapServers("localhost:9092")
.withTopic("topic")
.withKeyDeserializer(StringDeserializer.class)
.withValueDeserializer(StringDeserializer.class)
.withoutMetadata());
Both Flink and Beam are powerful data processing frameworks, but they have different strengths. Flink excels in stream processing with its native stateful processing capabilities, while Beam offers more flexibility across various processing paradigms. The code examples showcase how both frameworks can interact with Kafka, demonstrating their integration capabilities with popular data sources.
Apache Airflow - A platform to programmatically author, schedule, and monitor workflows
Pros of Airflow
- More user-friendly web UI for monitoring and managing workflows
- Extensive ecosystem of plugins and integrations
- Better suited for orchestrating complex, interdependent tasks
Cons of Airflow
- Steeper learning curve due to its complex architecture
- Less efficient for processing large-scale data compared to Beam
- More resource-intensive, especially for large DAGs
Code Comparison
Airflow DAG definition:
from airflow import DAG
from airflow.operators.python_operator import PythonOperator
from datetime import datetime
dag = DAG('example_dag', start_date=datetime(2023, 1, 1))
def task_function():
print("Executing task")
task = PythonOperator(
task_id='example_task',
python_callable=task_function,
dag=dag
)
Beam pipeline definition:
import apache_beam as beam
with beam.Pipeline() as pipeline:
(pipeline
| 'Create' >> beam.Create([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])
| 'Square' >> beam.Map(lambda x: x * x)
| 'Print' >> beam.Map(print))
Both Apache Beam and Airflow are powerful tools for data processing and workflow management, respectively. Beam excels in large-scale data processing and offers a unified programming model, while Airflow provides robust scheduling and orchestration capabilities for complex workflows. The choice between them depends on the specific requirements of your project.
Convert designs to code with AI
Introducing Visual Copilot: A new AI model to turn Figma designs to high quality code using your components.
Try Visual CopilotREADME
Apache Beam
Apache Beam is a unified model for defining both batch and streaming data-parallel processing pipelines, as well as a set of language-specific SDKs for constructing pipelines and Runners for executing them on distributed processing backends, including Apache Flink, Apache Spark, Google Cloud Dataflow, and Hazelcast Jet.
Status
Overview
Beam provides a general approach to expressing embarrassingly parallel data processing pipelines and supports three categories of users, each of which have relatively disparate backgrounds and needs.
- End Users: Writing pipelines with an existing SDK, running it on an existing runner. These users want to focus on writing their application logic and have everything else just work.
- SDK Writers: Developing a Beam SDK targeted at a specific user community (Java, Python, Scala, Go, R, graphical, etc). These users are language geeks and would prefer to be shielded from all the details of various runners and their implementations.
- Runner Writers: Have an execution environment for distributed processing and would like to support programs written against the Beam Model. Would prefer to be shielded from details of multiple SDKs.
The Beam Model
The model behind Beam evolved from several internal Google data processing projects, including MapReduce, FlumeJava, and Millwheel. This model was originally known as the âDataflow Modelâ.
To learn more about the Beam Model (though still under the original name of Dataflow), see the World Beyond Batch: Streaming 101 and Streaming 102 posts on OâReillyâs Radar site, and the VLDB 2015 paper.
The key concepts in the Beam programming model are:
PCollection
: represents a collection of data, which could be bounded or unbounded in size.PTransform
: represents a computation that transforms input PCollections into output PCollections.Pipeline
: manages a directed acyclic graph of PTransforms and PCollections that is ready for execution.PipelineRunner
: specifies where and how the pipeline should execute.
SDKs
Beam supports multiple language-specific SDKs for writing pipelines against the Beam Model.
Currently, this repository contains SDKs for Java, Python and Go.
Have ideas for new SDKs or DSLs? See the sdk-ideas label.
Runners
Beam supports executing programs on multiple distributed processing backends through PipelineRunners. Currently, the following PipelineRunners are available:
- The
DirectRunner
runs the pipeline on your local machine. - The
DataflowRunner
submits the pipeline to the Google Cloud Dataflow. - The
FlinkRunner
runs the pipeline on an Apache Flink cluster. The code has been donated from dataArtisans/flink-dataflow and is now part of Beam. - The
SparkRunner
runs the pipeline on an Apache Spark cluster. - The
JetRunner
runs the pipeline on a Hazelcast Jet cluster. The code has been donated from hazelcast/hazelcast-jet and is now part of Beam. - The
Twister2Runner
runs the pipeline on a Twister2 cluster. The code has been donated from DSC-SPIDAL/twister2 and is now part of Beam.
Have ideas for new Runners? See the runner-ideas label.
Instructions for building and testing Beam itself are in the contribution guide.
ð Learn More
Here are some resources actively maintained by the Beam community to help you get started:
Resource | Details |
---|---|
Apache Beam Website | Our website discussing the project, and it's specifics. |
Java Quickstart | A guide to getting started with the Java SDK. |
Python Quickstart | A guide to getting started with the Python SDK. |
Go Quickstart | A guide to getting started with the Go SDK. |
Tour of Beam | A comprehensive, interactive learning experience covering Beam concepts in depth. |
Beam Quest | A certification granted by Google Cloud, certifying proficiency in Beam. |
Community Metrics | Beam's Git Community Metrics. |
Contact Us
To get involved with Apache Beam:
- Subscribe to or e-mail the user@beam.apache.org list.
- Subscribe to or e-mail the dev@beam.apache.org list.
- Join ASF Slack on #beam channel
- Report an issue.
Top Related Projects
An Open Source Machine Learning Framework for Everyone
Tensors and Dynamic neural networks in Python with strong GPU acceleration
Parallel computing with task scheduling
Apache Spark - A unified analytics engine for large-scale data processing
Apache Flink
Apache Airflow - A platform to programmatically author, schedule, and monitor workflows
Convert designs to code with AI
Introducing Visual Copilot: A new AI model to turn Figma designs to high quality code using your components.
Try Visual Copilot