Why CDC Still Matters (and How Apache Kafka® Made It Cool Again)

Video Description

Blog post: https://cnfl.io/4iE7ZyW | R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Learn what it means to CDC. Tim Berglund is on the scene, 3D printer in hand, to illustrate why Change Data Capture deserves more respect. And while he’s not Aretha Franklin, he does make a compelling case for why CDC is one of the most important tools for building modern streaming data pipelines (with the help of some Clone Wars references, of course). Backed up by a squad of 3D-printed Captain Rex databases, Tim explains how CDC has been quietly copying critical data changes for decades—replicating database mutations across systems like a legion of clones. And just like Rex in The Clone Wars, CDC has outlived its “original mission,” proving its staying power in a new era. With the rise of Apache Kafka® and event-driven architectures, CDC got a second wind—this time as a key enabler of streaming pipelines. Tim breaks down how CDC now helps teams bridge legacy databases with modern, distributed systems, powering everything from real-time apps to scalable data products. Bottom line: CDC is the Captain Rex of your modern data stack—battle-tested, resilient, and essential to making streaming architectures actually work. RELATED RESOURCES ► CDC and Data Streaming Blog: https://cnfl.io/4iJihhq ► Succeeding With CDC Blog: https://cnfl.io/426BBy2 ► Try Confluent Cloud for Free: https://cnfl.io/4c3f1L9 Discount code: CONFLUENTDEV1 CHAPTERS 00:00 – CDC’s Lack of Respect (and a 3D Printer) 00:13 – Early Days: Why CDC Was a Big Deal 00:47 – CDC’s Role in Replication and Disaster Recovery 01:14 – How CDC Faded Into the Background 01:37 – Kafka + CDC: A Match Made for Streaming 02:15 – Real-Time Change Data in Kafka Topics 02:37 – Decoupling Systems with CDC 03:00 – Scaling Smarter: Fan Out Patterns 03:25 – Adding Apache Flink for Stream Processing 03:49 – Confluent Cloud CDC Connectors 04:06 – Try Confluent Cloud for Free – 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. #CDC #apachekafka #kafka #confluent