Realtime analytics with Vercel Edge, Kafka and MongoDB Atlas

The post outlines the creation of a data pipeline that utilizes serverless technologies to capture traffic events at the edge with Vercel Edge, process them with Kafka via Upstash, and store them in MongoDB Atlas for real-time querying. By leveraging Vercel Edge Middleware, the system decouples web analytics from applications, while Kafka offers scalability, fault-tolerance, and real-time processing capabilities. Upstash Kafka is highlighted for its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, and MongoDB Atlas is chosen for its high scalability and serverless pricing model. The post provides step-by-step instructions for setting up each component of the pipeline, including creating a Next.js app, configuring Upstash Kafka and MongoDB Atlas, and testing the complete system. This architecture enables users to build scalable and adaptable data systems without managing infrastructure, allowing for easier expansion and more complex queries in the future.