Cassandra is a powerful NoSQL database that is designed to handle large amounts of data across many commodity servers. It is highly scalable, fault-tolerant, and flexible, which makes it a popular choice for developers who need to build APIs. In this article, we’ll explore the different ways to make an API with Cassandra and provide a code example for each method.
Using Cassandra API
The most straightforward way to make an API with Cassandra is to use the Cassandra API. The Cassandra API is a simple and easy-to-use API that allows you to interact with Cassandra using a variety of programming languages, including Java, Python, and Node.js. Here’s an example of how to use the Cassandra API to create a simple REST API:
from flask import Flask, jsonify
from cassandra.cluster import Cluster
app = Flask(__name__)
cluster = Cluster(['localhost'])
session = cluster.connect()
@app.route('/')
def hello():
rows = session.execute('SELECT * FROM mytable')
result = []
for row in rows:
result.append({'id': row.id, 'name': row.name})
return jsonify(result)
if __name__ == '__main__':
app.run()
In this example, we’re using Flask to create a simple REST API that retrieves data from a table called ‘mytable’ in Cassandra. We’re using the Cassandra API to execute a CQL query and retrieve the data, and then we’re returning the data in JSON format using Flask’s jsonify function.
Using GraphQL
Another way to make an API with Cassandra is to use GraphQL. GraphQL is a query language for APIs that allows you to define the data you need and receive only that data. It’s a powerful and flexible tool that can be used to build APIs with Cassandra. Here’s an example of how to use GraphQL to create an API with Cassandra:
from flask import Flask
from graphene import ObjectType, String, Schema
from cassandra.cluster import Cluster
app = Flask(__name__)
cluster = Cluster(['localhost'])
session = cluster.connect()
class User(ObjectType):
id = String()
name = String()
class Query(ObjectType):
users = String()
def resolve_users(self, info):
rows = session.execute('SELECT * FROM mytable')
result = []
for row in rows:
result.append({'id': row.id, 'name': row.name})
return result
schema = Schema(query=Query)
@app.route('/')
def graphql():
query = '{ users { id, name } }'
result = schema.execute(query)
return result.data
if __name__ == '__main__':
app.run()
In this example, we’re using Flask and GraphQL to create an API that retrieves data from a table called ‘mytable’ in Cassandra. We’re defining a User type and a Query type using the GraphQL schema definition language, and then we’re using the Cassandra API to execute a CQL query and retrieve the data. Finally, we’re returning the data in JSON format using Flask.
Using RESTful API
Another way to make an API with Cassandra is to use a RESTful API. A RESTful API is an architecture style for building APIs that uses HTTP requests to perform CRUD (create, read, update, delete) operations. Here’s an example of how to use a RESTful API to create an API with Cassandra:
from flask import Flask, jsonify, request
from cassandra.cluster import Cluster
app = Flask(__name__)
cluster = Cluster(['localhost'])
session = cluster.connect()
@app.route('/users', methods=['GET'])
def get_users():
rows = session.execute('SELECT * FROM mytable')
result = []
for row in rows:
result.append({'id': row.id, 'name': row.name})
return jsonify(result)
@app.route('/users', methods=['POST'])
def create_user():
user = request.get_json()
session.execute(
'INSERT INTO mytable (id, name) VALUES (?, ?)',
(user['id'], user['name'])
)
return jsonify({'message': 'User created successfully'})
@app.route('/users/<string:id>', methods=['PUT'])
def update_user(id):
user = request.get_json()
session.execute(
'UPDATE mytable SET name = ? WHERE id = ?',
(user['name'], id)
)
return jsonify({'message': 'User updated successfully'})
@app.route('/users/<string:id>', methods=['DELETE'])
def delete_user(id):
session.execute(
'DELETE FROM mytable WHERE id = ?',
(id,)
)
return jsonify({'message': 'User deleted successfully'})
if __name__ == '__main__':
app.run()
In this example, we’re using Flask to create a RESTful API that performs CRUD operations on a table called ‘mytable’ in Cassandra. We’re using the Cassandra API to execute CQL queries and perform the operations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are several different ways to make an API with Cassandra, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The Cassandra API is the most straightforward and easy-to-use option, GraphQL is a powerful and flexible option, and RESTful API is a widely-used and standard option. If you’re interested in learning more about how to build APIs with Cassandra, contact ANANT services today.
Photo by Jan Antonin Kolar on Unsplash
