What is our primary use case?
Glue is a NoSQL-based data ETL tool that has some advantages over IIS and ISAs. It is tailored and customized to use with SQL Server, which works very well in that platform.
If you want to use other data sources, the NoSQL concept makes it very easy, because missing data can be inserted as a new column or with null values.
That is not the case with many other tools. If you have on-premises tools, such as IIS, they don't manage missing data well.
What is most valuable?
If you want extremely high-performance functionality, you have to use both AWS Glue or Data Lake to store it in some temporary table. First, you will have to do some cleaning of the data, then if you need performance and speed, you have to use IIS with an IBM tool.
You have to use the right tool in the right places. For example, if you're using Oracle, you have got to use the Oracle tools. If you are using SQL, you have to use the SQL tools. There is no other tool that provides the performance.
It's context-based and project-based. In the projects that I have used, it has worked well.
What needs improvement?
There is a learning curve to this tool.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with AWS Glue for four years.
Everything runs on AWS, even if it belongs to a third party. For example, if you have a Netflix subscription, it runs on AWS. We have other products or vendor subscriptions that run on AWS.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Undoubtedly, the cloud is built to handle failure. If you have your devices, and your resources configured correctly, you won't have any issues. I haven't seen a problem.
How are customer service and support?
You have to pay for their technical support, and depending on which level of subscription, you will receive a call within an hour; otherwise, you will have to wait for days.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We also use Azure's Data Lake, and I worked with Tipco in the past, though it's been a few years since we used it.
You should select the best tool for the job or the projects that are currently being worked on. Tipco was heavily used in the previous project we worked on.
How was the initial setup?
It takes some time to learn, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be fine. It's like any other IT tool, where nobody is an expert or isn't an expert, it is just the way you are exposed to a tool.
You've chosen the right tool if you understand how the data works and what it needs to do. It's like going to Home Depot to get the right tool. You can purchase a set of tools, and it will work for you, but you will still need to purchase something else.
It's one of those tools in which someone must be an expert. After that, all tools and platforms become secondary.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
With AWS Glue, you pay more, but if you want to process the data, with speed and performance, you need the correct EC2 instances.
There is a price to pay. It doesn't come free.
Technical support is a paid service, and which subscription you have is dependent on that. You must pay one of them, and it ranges from $15,000 to $25,000 per year.
You sign up for a level of service, and it does not come for free. As previously stated, everything is based on performance, ELAs.
It was very expensive, at that time. If a company wants to pay the money, it makes my job easier. However, if the company or enterprise does not have the funds to pay for it, then it is a hassle.
What other advice do I have?
In that environment, there is a lot going on. There are some things that you can get for free, and there are some add-ons that you can develop or use that have been tested. It's all about convenience and service. You will get what you pay for if you pay for what you want.
I'm not a fan of any tools; it all depends on the organization I work for, where their data is, what they want to do with it, how quickly they want to get there, and what their budget is, and you work around that. For me, I would not choose one over the other, unless I know the details of the project.
I would rate AWS Glue a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.