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Community Blog Apache Flink Tutorial: Master Real-time Data Processing

Apache Flink Tutorial: Master Real-time Data Processing

Ready to dive into real-time data processing? Learn Apache Flink basics & set up with Alibaba Cloud's Realtime Compute for Apache Flink.

Are you ready to dive into the world of real-time data processing? Look no further than Apache Flink, a powerful framework that enables seamless stream processing at scale. In this comprehensive tutorial, we'll walk you through the basics of Apache Flink and show you how to get started with Alibaba Cloud's Realtime Compute for Apache Flink, a fully managed service designed to simplify the deployment and management of Apache Flink applications.

Getting Started with Apache Flink

Apache Flink is a powerful open-source framework for stream processing and batch processing of big data. Here's how you can get started with Apache Flink using local installation:

1 .Prerequisites:

（1）Java Installation: Ensure that you have Java Development Kit (JDK) 8 or higher installed on your system. Apache Flink requires Java to run.
（2）Environment Setup: Download the latest version of Apache Flink from the official website or via Apache Flink's repository. Extract the downloaded archive to your desired location.

# Example command for downloading and extracting Apache Flink
wget -O flink.tgz https://nightlies.apache.org/flink/flink-1.14-SNAPSHOT-bin-scala_2.12.tgz
tar -xzf flink.tgz
cd flink-1.14-SNAPSHOT

2 .Start Apache Flink Cluster:

Navigate to the directory where Apache Flink is extracted and run the following command to start the Apache Flink cluster:

# Start the Flink cluster
./bin/start-cluster.sh

3 .Access Apache Flink Web Interface:

Once the cluster is started, you can access the Apache Flink web dashboard by opening your web browser and navigating to http://localhost:8081.

4 .Write and Submit Apache Flink Job:

（1）Write your Apache Flink application logic in Java or Scala using Apache Flink's DataStream API or DataSet API. Create a new Maven or Gradle project and add Apache Flink dependencies to your project.
（2）Compile your Apache Flink job into a JAR file using Maven or Gradle build tools.
（3）Submit your Flink job to the local cluster using the following command:

# Submit Apache Flink job
./bin/flink run <path_to_your_jar_file>

5 .Stop Apache Flink Cluster:

Once you're done experimenting with Apache Flink, you can stop the local cluster by running the following command:

# Stop the Apache Flink cluster
./bin/stop-cluster.sh

By following these steps and executing the provided commands, you can quickly set up and run Apache Flink locally on your machine for development and testing purposes. This local installation provides a convenient way to experiment with Apache Flink's features and build stream processing and batch processing applications without the need for a dedicated cluster environment.

However, if you're looking for an even easier way to experience Apache Flink without the hassle of manual installation and infrastructure management, Alibaba Cloud's Realtime Compute for Apache Flink offers a compelling solution. With Realtime Compute, you can seamlessly deploy and manage Apache Flink applications in a fully managed environment, eliminating the need for manual setup and maintenance. Let's explore how you can effortlessly experience the power of Apache Flink on Alibaba Cloud.

Activating Fully Managed Apache Flink on Alibaba Cloud

Now, let's dive into the detailed instructions for activating a fully managed Apache Flink instance on Alibaba Cloud. Follow these steps to get started:

  1. Navigate to Alibaba Cloud Console: Log in to your Alibaba Cloud account and navigate to the Alibaba Cloud Console dashboard.
  2. Access Realtime Compute for Apache Flink: In the Alibaba Cloud Console, search for "Realtime Compute for Apache Flink" or navigate to the "Analytics & Data Processing" category. Click on the service to access the Realtime Compute dashboard.
  3. Activate Realtime Compute: If you haven't activated Realtime Compute for Apache Flink yet, click on the "Activate Now" button to start the process. Follow the prompts to set up your account and subscribe to the service.
  4. Select Subscription Plan: Choose the appropriate subscription plan based on your usage requirements. Alibaba Cloud offers flexible billing options to suit various business needs.
  5. Configure Instance Settings: Once subscribed, you can configure the settings for your Apache Flink instance. Choose the region, instance type, and other parameters according to your preferences.
  6. Review and Confirm: Double-check your configuration settings to ensure everything is correct. Review the pricing details and click on the "Confirm Order" button to proceed.
  7. Wait for Activation: After confirming your order, Alibaba Cloud will provision your fully managed Apache Flink instance. This process may take a few minutes, so please be patient.
  8. Access Apache Flink Console: Once the instance is activated, you can access the Apache Flink console from the Alibaba Cloud Console dashboard. Here, you can deploy and manage your Flink applications with ease.

Getting Started for a Apache Flink SQL Deployment

If you prefer using SQL for your stream processing tasks, Alibaba Cloud's Realtime Compute for Apache Flink offers seamless support for Apache Flink SQL. Follow these steps to kickstart your Apache Flink SQL deployment:

Step 1: Create an SQL Draft

  1. Log in to the Realtime Compute for Apache Flink console.
  2. Navigate to the Fully Managed Flink tab, locate the workspace you wish to manage, and click Console in the Actions column.
  3. In the left-side navigation pane, select SQL Editor.
  4. At the top-left corner of the SQL Editor page, click New.
  5. On the SQL Scripts tab of the New Draft dialog box, select Blank Stream Draft.
  6. Apache Flink provides various code templates for data synchronization and different scenarios. Explore these by clicking on a template to understand its features and syntax better.

  7. Click Next and configure the draft parameters as needed:

    • Name: Assign a unique name to your draft, e.g., flink-test.
    • Location: Choose or create a folder for your draft.
    • Engine Version: Select the Apache Flink version suitable for your needs (e.g., vvr-6.0.7-flink-1.15).
  8. Click Create to finalize the draft setup.

Step 2: Write Code for the Draft

Copy and execute the following SQL code in the editor to create and manipulate data streams:

-- Create a temporary table named datagen_source. 
CREATE TEMPORARY TABLE datagen_source(
  randstr VARCHAR
) WITH (
  'connector' = 'datagen'
);

-- Create a temporary table named print_table. 
CREATE TEMPORARY TABLE print_table(
  randstr  VARCHAR
) WITH (
  'connector' = 'print',
  'logger' = 'true'
);

-- Display the data of the randstr field in the datagen_source table. 
INSERT INTO print_table
SELECT SUBSTRING(randstr,0,8) from datagen_source;

Step 3: View and Configure Settings

On the right side of the SQL Editor page, you can view or adjust configurations such as:
（1） Engine Version: Choose from recommended, stable, or other minor versions.
（2）Additional Dependencies: Include any necessary dependencies for your SQL operations.

Step 4: Perform a Syntax Check

Click Validate in the upper-right corner of the SQL Editor page to perform a syntax check and ensure that your SQL is correct.

Step 5: Debug the Draft (Optional)

  1. Click Debug to simulate the deployment and verify SELECT and INSERT logic.
  2. Debugging requires creating a session cluster, which provides insights and enhances development efficiency.

Step 6: Deploy the Draft

Click Deploy in the upper-right corner, configure necessary parameters in the Deploy draft dialog box, and then click Confirm.

Step 7: Start the Deployment and Monitor Results

  1. Navigate to the Deployments page and find your deployment.
  2. Click Start in the Actions column, select Initial Mode, and then start the deployment.
  3. Once running, monitor computing results and logs:

Navigate to the Logs tab and view the Running Task Managers for details.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage and deploy Apache Flink SQL jobs on Alibaba Cloud's Realtime Compute for Apache Flink, leveraging its robust managed services to simplify your data processing tasks.

Start Your Journey with Realtime Compute for Apache Flink

Ready to harness the full power of Apache Flink SQL for your real-time data processing needs? Sign up for Alibaba Cloud's Realtime Compute for Apache Flink today and experience the benefits of seamless stream processing at scale. Don't miss out on our 30-day free trial offer—sign up now and elevate your real-time data processing capabilities with Apache Flink on Alibaba Cloud!

Big Data Distributed Computing Data Analytics Batch Processing Stream Processing Apache flink Real-time Data Processing Realtime Compute for Apache Flink Managed Services
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