Technology is continuously evolving. But, there are some big technologies around which everything else is revolving such as Big Data, AI, Data Science, cloud, etc. In the past two years, Big Data has taken a high momentum. While talking about Big Data, one another term also comes up and that is Hadoop. There is no other Big Data processing tool that has gained this level of market popularity. However, Hadoop has added features and continuous upgrading. This is why it is challenging for beginners to get started with Hadoop.
In this article, we will be discussing how you can learn Hadoop. But first, we will start with the skills you must have to learn Hadoop as a beginner. Please note that none of the following skills are mandatory. However, having a working knowledge of the following will help you learn Hadoop faster. But, if you are unfamiliar with them, you can start learning them and then move on to Hadoop. Take help from online materials, books, or join a course.
3 Ways to build basic knowledge about Hadoop
1. Linux operating system
The preferred choice for installing Hadoop is Ubuntu as the server distribution while Linux as the operating system. So, you need to have a basic knowledge of commands used in Linux. The editor of Linus works like wonder and will make the installation and file management system of Linux extremely easy. But, if you are an amateur, you can simply get an Ubuntu image and install it in a virtual box for learning the features.
2. Programming
Hadoop is not specific to any particular job role. It is capable of handling different languages. For example, if you are working as a data analyst, you will need to learn Python or R, whereas as a Hadoop developer, you should know Scala or Java. To work with Hadoop, you should have programming skills. So, if you have prior knowledge, you will be able to learn Hadoop easily.
However, this doesn’t mean that if you are a non-programmer, you won’t be able to learn Hadoop. There are several skilled Java professionals who have to start Python/R from scratch. As the demand for Hadoop increases in the market, learning these programming languages is not a tough job.
3. SQL
Irrespective of what role you want to play in your future Hadoop jobs, you have to focus on SQL. When it comes to Hadoop, handling and processing data is an integral part. This is why you must have the knowledge of SQL commands and queries to learn how to work with Apache Hadoop. Also, the Hadoop ecosystem comes with several software packages such as Apache Hive, Pig, and HBase, that use SQL like queries for extracting data from HDFS. So, if you don’t have practice with the SQL query, you can practice it through tools like MySQL workbench.
Basic Steps to Learn Hadoop
If you want to learn Hadoop, you must first get through the basics. Here are a few steps that will help you do the same:
- Know the reason for learning Hadoop
As a beginner, before you start learning Hadoop, you have to stop and think about the reason behind Hadoop’s popularity and how it is used in the technology market. Through this, you will be able to get an understanding of the idea behind the functionalities of Hadoop. To achieve this, you can watch seminars, read white papers and case studies, and follow the documentation on the internet.
- Identify the components of Hadoop
You have to get yourself familiar with the Hadoop’s underlying structure. In order to do that, you need to get an understanding of how components like HDFS, Yarn, and MapReduce work together in the architecture. Once you are acquainted with the architecture, you can start learning about the Hadoop ecosystem and the different tools used with Hadoop. The best way to learn about the practical aspects of Hadoop is to install it and do the hands-on practice.
- Understand the theory
If you don’t know the theory, it will be difficult for you to move forward. For this, you need to read books, case studies, and articles so that you can properly grab the knowledge. There are a multitude of books in the market that can help you understand the concepts of Hadoop.
First Learn Hadoop as a beginner
Once you are familiar with Hadoop’s basics, you can move on to the next levels of learning Hadoop. Here is the best path for you to follow to learn Hadoop as a beginner:
1. Practice
The more hands-on practice you have with Hadoop, the better insights you will have regarding the Hadoop framework. As a beginner, you will have to first download a virtual machine and set up. You can use one from Cloudera or Hortonworks – the major vendors of the Hadoop. Another way is accessing a pre-installed virtual machine setup from a training source. Through both ways, you will be able to access and practice Hadoop, making your learning process effective and faster.
2. Follow online blogs – By following various blogs, you will be able to better understand than you would with just bookish knowledge. There are several Big Data blogs that are suitable for beginners. These can help you learn about the latest innovations and trends happening in the field.
3.Join an online course – If you join a guided course, it will help you learn Hadoop easily. There are various online and classroom Hadoop training centers in the market that you can use for learning Hadoop as a beginner. Moreover, most of these courses have additional tools and packages that you can learn along with the Hadoop ecosystem.
It is important to remember that learning any technology is not a destination, but a journey. You need motivation and persistence to stay relevant in the challenging world of technology. Pursuing Hadoop training programs from industry-recognized institutes will help you become an expert in the concepts of the Hadoop framework and the different Big Data methodologies and tools. With the training, you will be prepared to take on the role of a Big Data Developer successfully. The program will help you understand how the different components of the Hadoop ecosystem can fit together in the Big Data processing lifecycle.
