Designing Data-Intensive Applications
Martin Kleppmann's book on reliable, scalable and maintainable data systems
- #1 of 11 in best programming books
- Paid
Ranked 1 of 11 in best programming books
The strongest guide here to the trade-offs in data systems, covering replication, transactions and stream processing. It is paid and dense, so it suits engineers making design decisions rather than beginners.
Best for Designing reliable data systems
About Designing Data-Intensive Applications
The book covers how data systems store, replicate, partition and process data, and why the trade-offs matter. Chapters move from data models and storage engines to distributed systems, batch processing and stream processing. The focus is on concepts that stay useful as individual databases change.
The author's site lists the book as available in print and ebook formats. It suits software engineers and architects who choose databases, queues and data pipelines, and it does not teach one product in depth. The main trade-off is density: the text is long, and it takes time to work through its reasoning. The site offers no free full text.
Key features
- Replication and partitioning
- Transactions and consistency
- Batch and stream processing
- Storage engines
Strengths
- Clear explanation of distributed data trade-offs
- Focuses on concepts, not one database product
- Covers storage, replication and stream processing
Limits
- Dense, long reading
- No free online edition on the author's site
Where Designing Data-Intensive Applications ranks
How Designing Data-Intensive Applications compares
| Product | Score | Price | Formats | Level | Free to read online | Latest edition | Main focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 Designing Data-Intensive Applications | 94.0 | Paid | Intermediate | No | Not stated on the book site | Data systems design and trade-offs | |
#2 The Pragmatic Programmer, 20th Anniversary Edition | 92.5 | Paid | PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Print | Intermediate | No | 20th anniversary edition | Software craft and habits |
#3 Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs | 91.0 | Free | Read online | Advanced | Yes | Second edition | Abstraction and interpreters in Scheme |
#4 Crafting Interpreters | 90.5 | Free | Read online, PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Print | Intermediate | Yes | Not stated on the book site | Building programming language interpreters |
#5 Eloquent JavaScript, 4th Edition | 89.5 | Free | Read online, PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Print | Beginner | Yes | 4th edition, 2024 | Programming and JavaScript from first principles |
The full comparison table for best programming books has all 11 products.
Alternatives to Designing Data-Intensive Applications
All 10 alternatives- The Pragmatic Programmer, 20th Anniversary EditionPractical software craft advice from David Thomas and Andrew Hunt
- Structure and Interpretation of Computer ProgramsHas a free option.
- Crafting InterpretersHas a free option.
- Eloquent JavaScript, 4th EditionHas a free option.
Software Engineering at GoogleHas a free option.
Fluent PythonGuide to writing clear, idiomatic Python in its second edition
Compare Designing Data-Intensive Applications
- Designing Data-Intensive ApplicationsversusThe Pragmatic Programmer, 20th Anniversary Edition
- Designing Data-Intensive ApplicationsversusStructure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
- Designing Data-Intensive ApplicationsversusCrafting Interpreters
- Designing Data-Intensive ApplicationsversusEloquent JavaScript, 4th Edition
- Designing Data-Intensive ApplicationsversusSoftware Engineering at Google
- Designing Data-Intensive Applicationsversus
The Rust Programming Language
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Questions about Designing Data-Intensive Applications
- Is Designing Data-Intensive Applications free?
- Designing Data-Intensive Applications is a paid product (paid). Print and ebook editions from bookstores; no free full text.
- Which formats is Designing Data-Intensive Applications available in?
- Designing Data-Intensive Applications is offered as Print.
- What is Designing Data-Intensive Applications best for?
- Designing reliable data systems. In our ranking of programming books it is number 1 of 11 with a score of 94.0.
- What are the best alternatives to Designing Data-Intensive Applications?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are The Pragmatic Programmer, 20th Anniversary Edition, Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs, Crafting Interpreters, Eloquent JavaScript, 4th Edition.
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