Overview
Data Mesh decentralizes data ownership to domain teams, treating data as a product under a federated governance framework.
Data Organization
- Domain Data Products: Autonomous datasets owned by teams
- Self-Serve Platform: Shared infrastructure (Kubernetes, Terraform)
- Data Contracts: Schema, SLA, quality agreements
- Federated Governance: Global policies enforced via code
- Discovery Catalog: Central registry of domain products
Key Components & Patterns
Components
- Domain Pipelines: Independent ETL/ELT flows
- Platform Templates: CI/CD, IaC scripts
- Data Contracts: Standardized interfaces
- Policy Engine: Federated enforcement
- Catalog Service: Search & discovery
Patterns
- Domain Ownership teams own their data
- Data as Product SLA-driven deliverables
- Federated Governance global standards
- Self-Serve Infra reusable components
- Contract Interfaces clear schemas & APIs
Use Cases
- E-Commerce Domains: Marketing, Finance, Logistics data products
- Streaming Personalization: Content metadata, event logs, exec reports
- Manufacturing Insights: Domain-specific production analytics
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✅ Domain scalability with independent teams
- ✅ Enhanced data quality via domain expertise
Cons
- ⚠️ High organizational complexity
- ⚠️ Requires robust self-serve infrastructure
Day-to-Day Operations
- Domain Pipelines: Teams manage ETL schedules
- Product SLAs: Monitor freshness, quality, usage
- Platform Templates: Bootstrap new domains rapidly
- Contract Interfaces: Enforce schema & API standards
- Cross-Domain Discovery: Central catalog for products