May 2020 Summaries

Cockroach University is a free online curriculum that provides an engaging learning experience on modern database technology. Launched six months ago, it has seen nearly 2,000 enrollments and serves as a resource for developers to learn how to build applications or proof-of-concepts using CockroachDB. The university offers hands-on exercises and covers topics such as scaling databases horizontally, monitoring cluster activity, leveraging distributed transactions with ACID guarantees, surviving node and data center failure, and working with PostgreSQL API. A new course for Python developers is in the works, set to be released this summer. Upon completion of a course, participants receive a Certificate of Completion and can opt-in for a swag package from Cockroach Labs.

CockroachDB now supports online primary key changes, allowing users to change the primary key of a table while performing read and write operations on the table. This feature makes it easier to transition an application from being single-region to multi-region or iterate on the schema of an application with no downtime. The implementation involves building new primary indexes along with their dependent indexes, swapping out the old primary key for the new one, and dropping the old primary key and indexes. This process ensures that all nodes in the system either view the target table as completely before or after the primary key change, maintaining data consistency and correctness during the transition.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cockroach Labs has launched several initiatives to support developers and frontline workers affected by the crisis. They introduced "Learn With Us," a comprehensive library of resources designed to help developers improve their skills in building cloud-native applications, organized into sections on building, delivering, and deploying. Additionally, Cockroach Labs is partnering with Women Who Code by donating $3 for every Cockroach University signup, a free platform that offers a curriculum and incentivizes completion with swag. They are also supporting frontline healthcare workers through donations to Direct Relief, a nonprofit providing essential resources and protective gear. These efforts reflect Cockroach Labs' commitment to helping both their technical community and those impacted by the pandemic.

CockroachDB 20.1 introduces significant updates aimed at enhancing productivity and ensuring long-lasting, resilient database management for cloud-based data-intensive applications. This release features productivity improvements, such as online primary key changes that allow schema modifications without downtime, enhanced monitoring tools for quicker troubleshooting, and expanded compatibility with popular ORMs and SQL functionalities, making it easier for developers to work efficiently with their preferred tools. Performance and security enhancements include better multi-region performance with reduced latency in follower reads, encrypted backups for improved data security, and more granular Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) for managing user permissions. Additionally, CockroachDB Dedicated now offers VPC peering and has achieved SOC 2 Type 1 certification, further solidifying its position as a robust database solution for both single and multi-region applications. Users are encouraged to explore these features through a 30-day free trial or by joining the CockroachDB community for further engagement and feedback.

Ben Darnell, after taking a three-month parental leave for the birth of his first child, embarked on a side project to create a custom watch face for his Fitbit Versa 2 smartwatch. Utilizing the Baby Connect app to track his newborn's feeding, diaper changes, and other vital stats, he developed an interface that visually represented this data on his watch. The project aimed to provide a quick reference for understanding the baby's needs, using an analog watch aesthetic with color-coded indicators. Despite the technical challenges of working within the constraints of the Fitbit SDK and facilitating communication between the watch and smartphone, Darnell successfully created a functional app that he used until his child’s feeding schedule became more predictable. This project, although short-lived, offered Darnell a refreshing change from his work on CockroachDB, allowing him to enjoy developing without the pressure of rigorous design or extensive user testing. He has shared the code on GitHub for those interested.

Cockroach Labs has secured $87 million in a series D financing round, co-led by Altimeter Capital and Bond Capital, marking significant growth for the company and underscoring the increasing demand for cloud-native databases. Founded on the premise that modern applications require databases with distributed architecture for resilience and scalability, Cockroach Labs has experienced validation through open-source adoption and increasing deployment by companies like Equifax, Bose, and Comcast. The new funding will enhance product development, focusing on improving PostgreSQL compatibility, language integrations, and their database-as-a-service offering, Cockroach Cloud. This investment comes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, which has accelerated digital transformation and heightened the need for robust data solutions. Cockroach Labs is committed to supporting its community and customers by continuing to innovate and expand its capabilities to meet the demands of a cloud-native future.