Build an efficient, scalable, fault-tolerant, and highly-available data layer into your application using Cassandra About This BookLearn to install and use Cassandra from the ground upDesign rich schemas that capture the relationships between different data types using compound primary keysMaster the advanced features available in Cassandra 2.0 through a step-by-step tutorial that builds a real-world application's database layer.Who This Book Is ForIf you're an application developer familiar with SQL databases such as MySQL or Postgres, and you want to explore distributed databases such as Cassandra, this is the perfect guide for you. Even if you've never worked with a distributed database before, Cassandra's intuitive programming interface coupled with the step-by-step examples in this book will have you building highly scalable persistence layers for your applications in no time. In Detail Cassandra is a distributed database that stands out for its robust feature set and intuitive interface, while still providing the high availability and scalability of a distributed store.Starting from installing Cassandra and creating your first keyspace, to mastering the different table structures Cassandra offers and exploring the latest and most powerful features of the Cassandra Query Language, CQL3, this book explores each topic through the lens of a real-world example application. With plenty of examples, tips, and clear explanations, you'll master compound primary keys, collection columns, lightweight transactions, and many other advanced aspects of Cassandra.By the end of the book, you'll be fully equipped to build powerful, scalable Cassandra database layers for your applications.