Data Integration With Apache Kafka®: Avoid the DIY Code Trap With a Powerful Connector Ecosystem

More Info: https://cnfl.io/4l5EsQm | You know that feeling when you think writing your own integration code will be quick and easy…and then suddenly you’re drowning in edge cases, infrastructure headaches, and weird character encodings? Yeah, in the words of Admiral Akbar, “It’s a trap!” That’s why Kafka Connect exists—it’s the standard way to move data in and out of Apache Kafka® without getting lost in a never-ending maze of integration work. Instead of hand-rolling scripts for every database, cloud storage bucket, or proprietary system, you can use prebuilt connectors that handle all the heavy lifting for you. Of course, not all connectors are created or maintained equally. That’s where Confluent’s connector ecosystem comes in. With 120+ pre-vetted connectors, you can skip the trial-and-error and just get your data flowing. And if you ever run into a truly one-of-a-kind format (looking at you, weird CSV variant), you can build your own custom connector—without dealing with all the infrastructure complexity. So if you’d rather spend your time building something cool instead of debugging integration code, we think you’ll appreciate this. RELATED RESOURCES ► More on Confluent Connectors: https://cnfl.io/4l5EsQm ► Confluent Cloud Connectors Blog: https://cnfl.io/3QMj98B ► Kafka Connect Documentation: https://cnfl.io/4hSSd22 ► Confluent Developer: https://cnfl.io/42hsFH4 ► Try Confluent Cloud for Free: https://cnfl.io/4c3f1L9 Discount code: CONFLUENTDEV1 CHAPTERS 00:00 - Two Kinds of Code (and One You Don’t Want to Write) 00:27 - Why Writing Integration Code is a Trap 01:07 - What Kafka Connect Actually Does 01:22 - Prebuilt Connectors in Kafka Connect 01:37 - Confluent’s Ecosystem of 120+ Pre-Vetted Connectors 02:14 - But What If You Need a Custom Connector? 02:55 - Running Custom Connectors in Confluent Cloud 03:18 - Where to Learn More – CONNECT Subscribe, if you dare: https://www.youtube.com/@ConfluentDeveloper?sub_confirmation=1 Community Slack: https://confluentcommunity.slack.com X: https://x.com/confluentinc Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/confluent GitHub: https://github.com/confluentinc Site: https://developer.confluent.io ABOUT CONFLUENT DEVELOPER Confluent Developer provides comprehensive resources for developers looking to learn about Apache Kafka®, Apache Flink®, Confluent Cloud, Confluent Platform, and any other technology related to the broader Data Streaming Platform. Content on Confluent Developer includes courses, getting started guides, topical deep-dives, patterns, tutorials, and listings of community events. Learn more at https://developer.confluent.io. #dataintegration #kafkaconnect #apachekafka #kafka #confluent