The GeekNarrator cover image

The GeekNarrator

Latest episodes

undefined
Apr 7, 2025 • 1h 9min

How do vector (search) databases work? ft: turbopuffer

For memberships: join this channel as a member here:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_mGuY4g0mggeUGM6V1osdA/joinSummary:In this conversation, Kaivalya Apte and Simon Eskildsen talk about vector databases, particularly focusing on TurboPuffer. They discuss the importance of vector search, embeddings, and the challenges associated with building efficient search engines. The conversation covers various aspects such as cost considerations, chunking strategies, multi-tenancy, and performance optimization. Simon shares insights on the future of vector search and the significance of observability and metrics in database performance. The discussion emphasizes the need for practical application and experimentation in understanding these technologies.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Vector Databases10:34 Understanding Vectors and Embeddings15:03 Example: Designing a Search Engine for Podcasts27:53 Scaling Challenges in Vector Search36:46 Indexing and Querying in TurboPuffer38:12 Understanding Indexing and Query Planning45:45 Exploring Index Types and Their Performance50:27 Data Ingestion and Embedding Retrieval54:19 Use Cases and Challenges in Vector Search01:01:22 Metrics and Observability in Vector Databases01:03:52 Future Trends in Vector Search and DatabasesReferences:How do build a database on Object Storage? https://youtu.be/RFmajOeUKnETurbopuffer https://turbopuffer.com/Continous Recall measurement: https://turbopuffer.com/blog/continuous-recallTurbopuffer architecture: https://turbopuffer.com/architecture
undefined
Apr 7, 2025 • 1h 23min

Are your Data Pipelines Complex?

The GeekNarrator memberships can be joined here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_mGuY4g0mggeUGM6V1osdA/joinMembership will get you access to member only videos, exclusive notes and monthly 1:1 with me. Here you can see all the member only videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UUMO_mGuY4g0mggeUGM6V1osdA------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------About this episode: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In this conversation, Jacopo and Ciro discuss their journey in building Bauplan, a platform designed to simplify data management and enhance developer experience. They explore the challenges faced in data bottlenecks, the integration of development and production environments, and the unique approach of Bauplan using serverless functions and Git-like versioning for data. The discussion also touches on scalability, handling large data workloads, and the critical aspects of reproducibility and compliance in data management. Chapters:00:00 Introduction03:00 The Data Bottleneck: Challenges in Data Management06:14 Bridging Development and Production: The Need for Integration09:06 Serverless Functions and Git for Data17:03 Developer Experience: Reducing Complexity in Data Management19:45 The Role of Functions in Data Pipelines: A New Paradigm23:40 Building Robust Data Solutions: Versioning and Parameters30:13 Optimizing Data Processing: Bauplan Runtime46:46 Understanding Control Planes and Data Management48:51 Ensuring Robustness in Data Pipelines52:38 Data Quality and Testing Mechanisms54:43 Branching and Collaboration in Data Development57:09 Scalability and Resource Management in Data Functions01:01:13 Handling Large Data Workloads and Use Cases01:09:05 Reproducibility and Compliance in Data Management01:16:46 Future Directions in Data Engineering and Use CasesLinks and References:Bauplan website:https://www.bauplanlabs.com
undefined
Apr 6, 2025 • 1h 17min

Can Math simplify incremental compute?

In this episode of The Geek Narrator podcast, Lalit Suresh, CEO of Feldera, joins us to share insights on incremental view maintenance and its significance in modern data processing.We have discussed the challenges posed by distributed systems, the mathematical foundation of DBSP, and how Feldera's architecture addresses these challenges. Performance optimization, handling late events, and the future of stream processing, the importance of SQL in creating efficient data workflows - its all in here.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Incremental View Maintenance06:30 Challenges in Distributed Systems11:46 Batch Processing vs Stream Processing16:27 Understanding DBSP: The Mathematical Foundation27:46 Architecture of Feldera and Data Flow39:23 Partitioning and Storage Layer in Feldera42:51 Understanding Co-Design Storage Layers45:52 Foreground and Background Workers in DBSP49:16 Tuning Background Workers for Performance49:41 Synchronous Compute Model and View Propagation51:35 Zsets and Batch Processing in Stream Workloads54:00 Data Model Optimization in Feldera57:22 Handling Late Events and Lateness in Feldera01:01:18 Watermarks and Lateness Annotations01:04:20 Error Handling and Idempotency in Feldera01:11:05 Feldera's Differentiators and Future Roadmap
undefined
11 snips
Mar 14, 2025 • 1h 5min

Redpanda - High Performance Streaming Platform for Data Intensive Applications

Dive into innovative engineering as Alex discusses Red Panda's unique architecture, setting it apart from traditional messaging systems like Kafka. Unravel the complexities of optimizing memory management and latency for high-performance streaming. Explore the benefits of the 'thread per core' design for improved concurrency and reduced latency. Discover the importance of storage protocol correctness and the rigor of formal verification methods. This conversation highlights a future where streamlined data processing meets cutting-edge technology.
undefined
Mar 14, 2025 • 1h

Hosted PostgreSQL on bare metal and uni kernel

The GeekNarrator memberships can be joined here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_mGuY4g0mggeUGM6V1osdA/joinMembership will get you access to member only videos, exclusive notes and monthly 1:1 with me. Here you can see all the member only videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UUMO_mGuY4g0mggeUGM6V1osdA------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------About this episode: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In this episode, we talk to Søren Schmidt, Co-Founder and CEO of Prisma, discussing the evolution of Prisma from a backend as a service to a popular ORM and now to Prisma Postgres. He shares insights into the challenges faced during this journey, the importance of user feedback, and the innovative architecture of Prisma Postgres, which leverages micro VMs for performance optimization. The conversation also touches on the complexities of managing data centers and the strategies employed to ensure a seamless user experience. In this conversation, Søren Schmidt discusses the details about Postgres snapshots, their impact on performance, and the mechanisms for fault tolerance. He explains how Pulse change data capture works and how Prisma Postgres simplifies database management for users. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Prisma and Its Evolution03:00 The Journey from ORM to Prisma Postgres06:00 Simplifying Database Management09:01 Understanding Prisma Postgres Architecture12:12 The Role of Accelerate in Query Routing14:51 Optimizing Query Processing with Micro VMs18:12 Maintaining Postgres Integrity in a Micro VM Environment21:07 User Experience and Community Feedback23:57 Challenges of Data Center Management27:09 Cold Starts and Performance Optimization34:30 Understanding Snapshots in Postgres38:55 Snapshot Mechanisms and Fault Tolerance44:09 Change Data Capture with Pulse55:07 Transitioning to Prisma Postgres58:45 Community and Getting Started with Prisma PostgresSome blogs worth checking out:https://www.prisma.io/blog/prisma-postgres-the-future-of-serverless-databaseshttps://www.prisma.io/blog/cloudflare-unikernels-and-bare-metal-life-of-a-prisma-postgres-queryhttps://www.prisma.io/blog/announcing-prisma-postgres-early-accessPrisma Postgres relies heavily on the Unikraft project. There is a good introductory talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4wOyAuNhl0And some very technical papers here: https://unikraft.org/community/papersThe best way to get started with Prisma Postgres is to go straight to https://www.prisma.io/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Like building real stuff?------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Try out CodeCrafters and build amazing real world systems like Redis, Kafka, Sqlite. Use the link below to signup and get 40% off on paid subscription.https://app.codecrafters.io/join?via=geeknarrator------------Database internals series: https://youtu.be/yV_Zp0Mi3xsPopular playlists:Realtime streaming systems: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL7QpTxsA4se-mAKKoVOs3VcaP71X_LA-Software Engineering: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL7QpTxsA4sf6By03bot5BhKoMgxDUU17Distributed systems and databases: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL7QpTxsA4sfLDUnjBJXJGFhhz94jDd_dModern databases: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL7QpTxsA4scSeZAsCUXijtnfW5ARlrsN
undefined
Mar 14, 2025 • 1h 18min

eBPF and continuous profiling with Frederic

The GeekNarrator memberships can be joined here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_mGuY4g0mggeUGM6V1osdA/joinMembership will get you access to member only videos, exclusive notes and monthly 1:1 with me. Here you can see all the member only videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UUMO_mGuY4g0mggeUGM6V1osdA------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------About this episode: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In this episode, Kaivalya Apte and Frederic Branczyk talk about observability, focusing on continuous profiling and the role of eBPF. They discuss the evolution of profiling techniques, the importance of systematic data collection, and the challenges faced in maintaining low overhead while gathering detailed performance metrics.Frederic shares insights from his extensive experience with Prometheus and Kubernetes, emphasizing the transformative impact of continuous profiling on software performance optimization. This conversation delves into the intricacies of eBPF (Extended Berkeley Packet Filter) and its applications in profiling and performance analysis. The discussion covers the capabilities of eBPF in extending the kernel safely, the mechanisms of user space profiling, and the handling of process terminations. It also explores memory and network profiling techniques, the challenges of profiling in different programming environments, and the limitations of eBPF in certain use cases. The conversation concludes with valuable resources for those interested in learning more about eBPF and profiling techniques.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Observability and Profiling01:17 Frederic's Background and Expertise02:11 The Importance of Continuous Profiling06:46 The Value of Continuous Profiling11:20 Understanding Profiling Data19:09 Data Structures and Performance in Profiling32:35 The Role of eBPF in Profiling42:48 Introduction to eBPF and Its Capabilities48:32 User Space Profiling and Memory Management51:39 Handling Process Termination and Agent Recovery55:27 Memory and Network Profiling Techniques01:01:33 Profiling in Different Programming Environments01:11:47 Use Cases and Limitations of eBPF in Profiling01:13:54 Resources for Learning eBPF and Profiling Techniques------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Like building real stuff?------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Try out CodeCrafters and build amazing real world systems like Redis, Kafka, Sqlite. Use the link below to signup and get 40% off on paid subscription.https://app.codecrafters.io/join?via=geeknarrator------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Link to other playlists. LIKE, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Database internals series: https://youtu.be/yV_Zp0Mi3xsPopular playlists:Realtime streaming systems: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL7QpTxsA4se-mAKKoVOs3VcaP71X_LA-Software Engineering: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL7QpTxsA4sf6By03bot5BhKoMgxDUU17Distributed systems and databases: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL7QpTxsA4sfLDUnjBJXJGFhhz94jDd_dModern databases: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL7QpTxsA4scSeZAsCUXijtnfW5ARlrsNStay Curios! Keep Learning!
undefined
14 snips
Feb 12, 2025 • 58min

Patterns of Distributed Systems with Unmesh Joshi

Unmesh Joshi, a Principal Consultant at ThoughtWorks and author of "Patterns of Distributed Systems," dives deep into the intricacies of distributed systems. He discusses the critical role of context in applying patterns and the necessity of reading code for better implementation. Unmesh highlights common developer pitfalls and the importance of understanding consensus mechanisms, using the Paxos algorithm as an example. He also emphasizes the evolution of cloud computing practices and the human aspect of software design, urging a user-focused iterative approach.
undefined
Jan 24, 2025 • 1h 15min

AWS Aurora Distributed SQL internals with Marc Brooker

In this discussion, Marc Brooker, a distinguished engineer at AWS, shares insights from his extensive career transforming cloud computing. He dives into the creation of Aurora Distributed SQL, emphasizing its resilience and serverless nature. The choice of PostgreSQL as a foundation is highlighted, focusing on its robust features. Marc also explains the complexities of managing distributed databases, including concurrency control and the architecture's fault tolerance. Innovative elements like Firecracker VMs are discussed for their role in enhancing scalability and performance.
undefined
Jan 22, 2025 • 1h

Power of #Duckdb with Postgres: pg_duckdb

Discover the game-changing integration of DuckDB with PostgreSQL, enhancing analytics capabilities. Learn how pg_duckdb addresses challenges in transaction and analytics management. Explore the intricacies of schema migration and the importance of careful upgrades. Hear insights about community contributions and how newcomers can participate in this dynamic project. Exciting discussions about optimizing query performance and the future roadmap of DuckDB and Postgres await!
undefined
Jan 4, 2025 • 1h 2min

DBOS internals - Build reliable backends 10x faster

Dive into the world of fault-tolerant applications with insights from the co-founders of DBOS. They tackle the complexities of building reliable systems and the architecture behind their innovative library. Explore strategies for managing workflows and side effects, like email delivery, without blocking processes. Learn about maximizing efficiency with unique serverless pricing models and the integration of AI agents. This engaging discussion highlights the importance of observability, version control, and resource management for resilient cloud solutions.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode