Skip to main content

Batch to Streaming with Apache Kafka Blueprint

A blueprint to replace nightly batch ETL with Apache Kafka streaming pipelines using Kafka Connect/Debezium, schema registry contracts, and Streams/Flink processing, validated by a parallel run.

From
Batch
To
Streaming
Difficulty
Advanced
Duration
16 weeks
Team Size
medium

Overview

Batch ETL runs on a schedule, so downstream data is always hours stale and a failed batch delays everything. Apache Kafka is a distributed, durable log that moves events continuously, enabling real-time pipelines, event-driven services, and stream processing. This blueprint converts scheduled batch jobs into streaming pipelines.

Phases

Assessment. Identify batch jobs that benefit from freshness (fraud, inventory, analytics) versus those fine as batch. Map sources, sinks, and current volumes. Decide processing semantics needed: at-least-once versus exactly-once.

Topic design. Model events as topics with partition keys chosen for ordering and parallelism. Define schemas in Avro or JSON Schema and register them in a schema registry to enforce compatibility as events evolve. Set retention and compaction policies.

Pipeline build. Use Kafka Connect for source/sink connectors (databases via Debezium CDC, object stores, warehouses). Build transformations with Kafka Streams or Apache Flink. Apply data contracts so producers and consumers agree on shape.

Parallel run. Run streaming alongside batch and reconcile outputs to prove correctness before retiring batch.

Cutover. Switch downstream consumers to the streaming outputs, then decommission batch jobs.

Key Risks and Mitigations

  • Data consistency: Use exactly-once semantics in Kafka Streams/Flink and idempotent sinks; reconcile against batch during parallel run.
  • Ordering guarantees: Kafka orders within a partition only. Choose partition keys carefully so related events stay ordered.
  • Skills gap: Streaming requires new operational skills (consumer lag, rebalancing). Train teams and add lag monitoring before cutover.

Recommended Tooling

Apache Kafka with a schema registry; Kafka Connect and Debezium for CDC sources; Kafka Streams or Apache Flink for processing; consumer-lag and throughput dashboards in Prometheus/Grafana.

Success Metrics

Lower end-to-end latency (seconds versus hours), higher sustained throughput, and improved data freshness for downstream consumers.

Prerequisites

A Kafka cluster, a schema registry, defined data contracts, and a parallel-run reconciliation plan against existing batch outputs.

Vibgrate CLI

See a real scan run

A replay of the actual CLI running against our test repositories — live progress, real findings, a genuine DriftScore. Nothing executes in your browser.

Replay
demo@vibgrate — bash
npx @vibgrate/cli scan
 
╭──────────────────────────────────────────╮
Vibgrate Drift Report
╰──────────────────────────────────────────╯
 
── node-turborepo (node) .
Runtime: >=18.0.0 (6 majors behind)
Frameworks:
Turbo: 1.13.4 → 2.10.12 (1 behind)
TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)
Dependencies:
1 current 1 1-behind 3 2+ behind 1 unknown
 
── @repo/admin (node) apps/admin
Frameworks:
TanStack Query: 5.102.5 → 5.102.5 (current)
React: 18.3.1 → 19.2.8 (1 behind)
React DOM: 18.3.1 → 19.2.8 (1 behind)
TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)
Vite: 5.4.21 → 8.2.2 (3 behind)
Dependencies:
3 current 9 1-behind 3 2+ behind 4 unknown
 
── @repo/api (node) apps/api
Frameworks:
Express: 4.22.2 → 5.2.1 (1 behind)
TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)
Vitest: 1.6.1 → 4.1.11 (3 behind)
Dependencies:
7 current 5 1-behind 3 2+ behind 4 unknown
 
── @repo/web (node) apps/web
Frameworks:
Next.js: 14.2.35 → 16.3.3 (2 behind)
React: 18.3.1 → 19.2.8 (1 behind)
React DOM: 18.3.1 → 19.2.8 (1 behind)
TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)
Dependencies:
2 current 6 1-behind 3 2+ behind 5 unknown
 
── @repo/config (node) packages/config
Frameworks:
TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)
Dependencies:
2 current 2 1-behind 5 2+ behind 0 unknown
 
── @repo/database (node) packages/database
Frameworks:
Prisma: 5.22.0 → 7.10.0 (2 behind)
TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)
Dependencies:
1 current 0 1-behind 3 2+ behind 1 unknown
 
── @repo/types (node) packages/types
Frameworks:
TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)
Dependencies:
0 current 0 1-behind 1 2+ behind 1 unknown
 
── @repo/ui (node) packages/ui
Frameworks:
React: 18.3.1 → 19.2.8 (1 behind)
TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)
React: 18.3.1 → 19.2.8 (1 behind)
Dependencies:
1 current 4 1-behind 1 2+ behind 1 unknown
 
── @repo/utils (node) packages/utils
Frameworks:
TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)
Vitest: 1.6.1 → 4.1.11 (3 behind)
Dependencies:
0 current 1 1-behind 2 2+ behind 1 unknown
 
Tech Stack
Frontend: React, React DOM
Meta-frameworks: Next.js
Bundlers: tsx, Turbo, Vite
CSS / UI: Autoprefixer, PostCSS, Tailwind CSS
Backend: Express
ORM / Database: Prisma, Prisma Client
Testing: Vitest
Lint & Format: ESLint, ESLint Prettier, ESLint React, Prettier, typescript-eslint
 
Services & Integrations
Auth: JWT 9.0.3
Databases: Prisma 5.22.0
 
TypeScript
v5.3.3 · strict ✔ · MIXED · target: ES2022
 
Build & Deploy
Package Managers: pnpm
Monorepo: npm-workspaces, pnpm-workspaces, turbo
 
Product Purpose Signals
Frameworks: react, nextjs
Evidence: 177
Top Signals:
- [heading] Dashboard (apps/admin/src/pages/Dashboard.tsx)
- [title] Revenue Overview (apps/admin/src/pages/Dashboard.tsx)
- [copy] workspace:* (packages/ui/package.json)
- [copy] ./dist (packages/ui/tsconfig.json)
- [copy] ./src/index.ts (packages/ui/package.json)
- [copy] @repo/config/tsconfig-base.json (packages/ui/tsconfig.json)
- [copy] @repo/ui (packages/ui/package.json)
- [copy] #3b82f6 (apps/admin/src/pages/Dashboard.tsx)
Unknowns:
- No pricing or billing evidence found.
- No integrations/connectors evidence found.
- No route structure evidence found.
 
Security Posture
Lockfile ✖ · .env ✔ · node_modules ✔
 
Platform
Native modules: turbo
 
Code Quality
Files: 36 · Functions: 183 · Avg complexity: 2.62 · Avg length: 21.13 lines
Max nesting: 2 · Circular deps: 0 · Dead code: 0%
God files: apps/admin/src/pages/Products (448 lines)
 
Database Schema
postgresql · 8 models · 1 enum
Models: Address, CartItem, Category, Order, OrderItem (+3 more)
 
Findings (16 errors, 11 warnings)
Node.js runtime ">=18.0.0" reached end-of-life on 2025-04-30 (latest: 24.0.0).
vibgrate/runtime-eol in .
TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in .
60% of dependencies are 2+ major versions behind in node-turborepo.
vibgrate/dependency-rot in .
@types/node is 6 major versions behind (spec: ^20.11.0, latest: 26.3.0).
vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in .
TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in apps/admin
Vite is 3 major versions behind (current: 5.4.21, latest: 8.2.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in apps/admin
vite is 3 major versions behind (spec: ^5.0.12, latest: 8.2.2).
vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in apps/admin
TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in apps/api
Vitest is 3 major versions behind (current: 1.6.1, latest: 4.1.11).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in apps/api
@types/node is 6 major versions behind (spec: ^20.11.0, latest: 26.3.0).
vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in apps/api
vitest is 3 major versions behind (spec: ^1.2.1, latest: 4.1.11).
vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in apps/api
Next.js is 2 major versions behind (current: 14.2.35, latest: 16.3.3).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in apps/web
TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in apps/web
@types/node is 6 major versions behind (spec: ^20.11.0, latest: 26.3.0).
vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in apps/web
TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/config
56% of dependencies are 2+ major versions behind in @repo/config.
vibgrate/dependency-rot in packages/config
eslint-plugin-react-hooks is 3 major versions behind (spec: ^4.6.0, latest: 7.1.1).
vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in packages/config
Prisma is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.22.0, latest: 7.10.0).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/database
TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/database
75% of dependencies are 2+ major versions behind in @repo/database.
vibgrate/dependency-rot in packages/database
TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/types
100% of dependencies are 2+ major versions behind in @repo/types.
vibgrate/dependency-rot in packages/types
TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/ui
TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/utils
Vitest is 3 major versions behind (current: 1.6.1, latest: 4.1.11).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/utils
67% of dependencies are 2+ major versions behind in @repo/utils.
vibgrate/dependency-rot in packages/utils
vitest is 3 major versions behind (spec: ^1.2.1, latest: 4.1.11).
vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in packages/utils
 
╭──────────────────────────────────────────╮
Top Priority Actions
╰──────────────────────────────────────────╯
 
1. Upgrade EOL runtime in node-turborepo
End-of-life runtimes no longer receive security patches and block ecosystem upgrades.
./.
>=18.0.0 → 24.0.0 (6 majors behind)
Impact: −10 drift points (runtime & EOL)
 
2. Fix security posture: no lockfile found
Without a lockfile, installs are non-deterministic. Run the install command to generate one and commit it.
./
Missing: package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, or yarn.lock
 
3. Upgrade Vite 5.4.21 → 8.2.2 in @repo/admin (+2 more)
3 major versions behind. Major framework drift increases breaking change risk and blocks access to security fixes and performance improvements.
./apps/admin
Vite: 5.4.21 → 8.2.2 (3 majors behind)
./apps/api
Vitest: 1.6.1 → 4.1.11 (3 majors behind)
./packages/utils
Vitest: 1.6.1 → 4.1.11 (3 majors behind)
Impact: −5–15 drift points
 
4. Reduce dependency rot in @repo/types (100% severely outdated)
1 of 1 dependencies are 2+ majors behind. Run `npm outdated` and prioritise packages with known CVEs or breaking API changes.
./packages/types
typescript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 majors behind)
Impact: −5–10 drift points
 
5. Reduce dependency rot in @repo/database (75% severely outdated)
3 of 4 dependencies are 2+ majors behind. Run `npm outdated` and prioritise packages with known CVEs or breaking API changes.
./packages/database
@prisma/client: 5.22.0 → 7.10.0 (2 majors behind)
prisma: 5.22.0 → 7.10.0 (2 majors behind)
typescript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 majors behind)
Impact: −5–10 drift points
 
╭──────────────────────────────────────────╮
Architecture Layers
╰──────────────────────────────────────────╯
 
Archetype: nextjs (80% confidence)
Files classified: 24 (11 unclassified)
Folders classified: 8
apps/admin/src presentation 100% 4 files
apps/admin/src/pages presentation 100% 2 files
apps/api/src/middleware middleware 100% 2 files
apps/api/src/routes routing 100% 2 files
apps/web/src/app presentation 100% 4 files
apps/web/src/app/products presentation 100% 2 files
apps/web/src/app/products/[id] presentation 100% 1 file
packages/ui/src presentation 100% 6 files
Unclassified source (sample): 11
 
presentation 15 files drift ████████████████████ 100 risk high
routing 4 files drift ████████████████████ 100 risk high
middleware 2 files drift ███████▍░░░░░░░░░░░░ 37 risk moderate
config 2 files drift ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 0 risk none
shared 1 file drift ████████████████████ 100 risk high
 
╭──────────────────────────────────────────╮
DriftScore Summary
╰──────────────────────────────────────────╯
 
DriftScore: 66/100
Risk Level: HIGH
Projects: 9
Classified: 8 nano · 1 micro · 0 small · 0 standard
Billable: 0.42 · 9 detected → 0.42 billable projects (micro-project pricing)
0.1 micro · 0.32 nano
These fractions add up across repositories, then round down to whole billable projects.
 
Score Breakdown
Runtime: ████████████████████ 100
Frameworks: █████████▏░░░░░░░░░░ 46
Dependencies: ██████▏░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 31
EOL Risk: ████████████████████ 100
 
Scanned at 2026-08-26T09:08:28.481Z · 7.1s · 286 files scanned · 56 workspace files · 27 dirs
Press Run to start.