Open Source Insider

What to expect from DataStax Accelerate

Adrian Bridgwater
Adrian Bridgwater

The Computer Weekly Developer Network and Open Source Insider team are off the nation’s capitol (we said capitol, not capital… it’s Washington DC) to witness the goings on at DataStax Accelerate.

But before we get to the event, let’s sit back and remind ourselves who and what DataStax actually is.

In the past, we have called DataStax a data platform provider — the company would no doubt more expansively refer to itself as: a provider of a hybrid cloud database built on Apache Cassandra.

In more granular terms, DataStax technologies exist to provide an always-on active-everywhere distributed hybrid cloud database built on Apache Cassandra for real-time applications at scale.

According to the firm’s official descriptor, DataStax Enterprise helps developers exploit hybrid and multi-cloud environments via a seamless data layer that eliminates the issues that typically come with deploying applications across multiple on-premises datacentres and/or multiple public clouds.

So… all of that said then, DataStax often styles itself not as a database company, not as a programming company… but as a data developer company (not it’s official branding, just our interpretation)… and previous interviews with the company’s ‘solutions architect/vanguard’ Patrick Callaghan are linked here.

Pedal to the (bare) metal

Putting the pedal to the (bare) metal [cloud server] then… well, they did call it DataStax Accelerate after all… the event is held May 21-23 in Washington D.C. and will feature more than 60 speakers from the international brand customers including Conde Nast, DreamWorks, Facebook, Home Depot, Instagram, T-Mobile, Verizon, Walgreens and Yelp.

There will also be hands-on labs, an application bootcamp, free Apache Cassandra certifications and a drone race.

Yeah DataStax, Conde Nast customer stories are (probably) lovely… but you had us application bootcamp and drone race.

Keynotes will include addresses from DataStax CEO Billy Bosworth (Accelerating Development in a Cloud World) and DataStax co-founder and CTO Jonathan Ellis (Five Ways DataStax Is Building a Better Cassandra), plus also Apache Cassandra Project Chair Nate McCall (Apache Cassandra – The Road to 4.0).

“From the hands-on bootcamp to the first-ever DataStax Certifications on Apache Cassandra, Accelerate is the best opportunity for developers to learn from each other and from the engineers that build Apache Cassandra and DataStax,” said DataStax CMO Cate Lochead. “We have speaker line up that spans DBAs, architects and executives from global brands like Walgreens, Dreamworks, Netflix, T-Mobile and more. DataStax Accelerate is for anyone who is serious about endlessly scalable, game-changing applications in hybrid cloud.”

Stax Awards

As part of this event, the company will also host its inaugural Stax Awards (aka the Staxie), to recognise customers.

To qualify for the 2019 awards, companies must be active DataStax Enterprise, DataStax Distribution of Apache Cassandra and/or DataStax Managed Cloud customers.

The judging panel for the awards includes various journalists and analysts, including (ah hem)… myself.

“We’re thrilled to kick off the inaugural Stax Awards to recognise the business results and innovations that our customers are achieving with DataStax,” said Steve Rowland, EVP and president at DataStax. “We encourage all DataStax customers to enter what’s sure to be a fun and exciting competition for many years to come.”

Awards will be given in the following categories:

  • The Best Use of DataStax in a Hybrid/Multi-Cloud Environment Award recognizes companies that have deployed DataStax Enterprise across multiple cloud providers or in a hybrid cloud environment.
  • The Modern Applications Powered by DataStax Award showcases companies that are building transformative applications—apps that are always-on, contextual, real time, distributed and scalable – on top of DataStax.
  • The Promising Innovation Award highlights customers that are planning innovative projects that fundamentally transform the way their companies leverage data in a mission-critical way.

The event hashtag is #DataStaxAccelerate