Why it matters

Dataflow enables unified batch+stream. Understanding shapes GCP data engineering.

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The architecture

Beam: unified programming model.

Runners: execute Beam pipelines. Dataflow is GCP's runner.

Dataflow modelBeam SDKJava/Python/GoDataflow runnermanaged executionBatch + streamingsame codeAuto-scaling + dynamic work rebalancing built in
Dataflow pipeline.
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How it works end to end

Streaming: windowing, watermarks, triggers.

Batch: read + process + write.

Auto-scaling: workers adjust to load.

Integration: Pub/Sub sources, BigQuery sinks common.