Create a FlexConnect Data Source
FlexConnect makes it simple to connect data from any source, no matter the format or protocol, into the GoodData platform. Many companies have data spread across different systems, making it hard to support all combinations with standard connectors. FlexConnect solves this by allowing you to connect to almost any data source, including streaming data, structured and unstructured datasets, databases, third-party platforms, and machine learning models.
The time it takes to deliver value is critical for any analytics project. Long delays caused by complex ETL processes can stall projects before they launch. FlexConnect eliminates these obstacles by connecting to data quickly without compromising governance or security.
What FlexConnect Offers
Universal Data Source Connectivity
FlexConnect connects to all types of data sources, including cloud-based, on-premises, hybrid systems, SQL/NoSQL databases, APIs, and machine learning models. It provides seamless access to data without needing third-party tools.
Self-Service Integration
Teams can build and manage their own data connections without vendor assistance. This approach speeds up pipeline creation, reduces delays, and enhances Time to Value.
Embedded Data Processing
With FlexConnect, you can perform transformations, apply business logic, or call machine learning operations directly during runtime. This ensures that business rules and logic are consistently applied.
Integration with GoodData
After processing, FlexConnect integrates data into GoodData’s semantic model. This ensures high-quality analytics across dashboards, APIs, and SDKs.
How FlexConnect Can Be Used
Integrating External APIs
FlexConnect provides custom connectors for third-party APIs or internal systems. These connectors integrate data directly into GoodData’s semantic model, eliminating the need for slow, batch-based processes.
Connecting NoSQL Databases
FlexConnect simplifies the process of integrating NoSQL databases like MongoDB. It transforms unstructured data into a dimensional model for a user-friendly analytics experience.
Real-Time Machine Learning Integration
FlexConnect brings real-time machine learning insights into your analytics workflows, allowing businesses to make faster, more accurate decisions.
Centralized Data Governance (Unity Catalog)
Organizations using Unity Catalog can benefit from FlexConnect’s seamless integration while maintaining strong governance, data discovery, and collaboration.
Real-Time Analytics with Streaming Data
FlexConnect supports real-time data sources like Apache Kafka, enabling businesses to analyze and act on data streams instantly, such as stock feeds or social media trends.
How FlexConnect Works
FlexConnect works similarly to table functions found in many database systems. A table function is a user-defined function that returns a table and behaves like a database view but with added flexibility, such as taking parameters.
Key Benefits:
- Simple Contract: The function is called with a set of parameters and returns table data.
- Dynamic Adaptation: Functions can adapt based on context, such as the user viewing the data or applied filters.
Getting Started with FlexConnect:
- Build Your Server: Use our template to set up your server. The template handles the setup so you can focus on the logic.
- Deploy: Deploy your server using any preferred method.
- Add the FlexConnect Data Source: Once the FlexConnect data source is added, you can work with the developed functions like regular data sets. You can create models and interact with FlexConnect data just like any other data source. Query context information is passed to the functions, allowing them to provide different data based on user groups and applied filters.