Data Mesh in Action
Notes from the book Data Mesh in Action by Zhamak Dehghani
The provided text outlines the core tenets and practical implementation of a data mesh, an architectural paradigm that decentralizes data management by treating data as a product. Using a fictional case study called Messflix, the authors demonstrate how to move away from congested, centralized data warehouses toward a model where individual domain teams own and maintain their own datasets. This approach relies on four fundamental principles: decentralized ownership, product-oriented thinking, federated computational governance, and a self-serve infrastructure platform. The text provides a detailed roadmap for creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), establishing governance policies, and choosing technical architectures that facilitate automated data sharing. By applying software engineering best practices like DevOps and domain-driven design, organizations can improve scalability and empower users to find and utilize high-quality data. Ultimately, the source serves as a guide for transforming complex organizational structures into efficient, interconnected networks of autonomous data products.
There are nine chapters in Data Mesh in Action, organized into three main parts.
Part 1: Foundations
- Chapter 1: The what and why of the data mesh
- Chapter 2: Is a data mesh right for you?
- Chapter 3: Kickstart your data mesh MVP in a month
Part 2: The Four Principles in Practice
- Chapter 4: Domain ownership
- Chapter 5: Data as a product
- Chapter 6: Federated computational governance
- Chapter 7: The self-serve data platform
Part 3: Infrastructure and Technical Architecture
- Chapter 8: Comparing self-serve data platforms
- Chapter 9: Solution architecture design
The book also includes four appendices (A through D) following the final chapter.