Talend Open Studio for Data Integration is an open source graphical development environment for creating and deploying custom integrations between systems. It comes with over 600 pre-built connectors that make it quick and easy to connect databases, transform files, load data, move, copy and rename files, and connect individual components in order to define complex integration processes.
Talend Open Studio for Data Integration is a code generator, and so does a lot of the "heavy lifting" for you. As such, it is a suitable tool for experienced developers and non-developers alike. Talend Open Studio for Data Integration is easy to use and reduces the time taken to develop integrations from weeks and months to days or even hours.
Integration jobs are created from components that are configured rather than coded and jobs can be run from within the development environment or executed as standalone scripts.
Some common use cases for Talend Open Studio for Data Integration include:
Data migration from one database to another: This is a common scenario when new systems are implemented or existing systems are upgraded. Data has to be populated into the new or upgraded system and database schemas may be subtly or completely different, requiring some modification of the data prior to loading. Data migrations tend to be "one-off" activities, not integrations that are deployed on an ongoing basis. The Studio facilitates data migrations through its many database connectors and actions.
Regular file exchanges between systems: The humble flat file is still a cornerstone of many systems integrations. Their low-tech approach makes them particularly suitable for batch processes when real-time data flows are unnecessary. File exchanges will often require some form of file transformation, either data content, data format, or both. The Studio has the ability to manage many different file formats and, with its file management capabilities such as FTP and archiving (zipping), is able to facilitate a full end-to-end file exchange process.
Data synchronization: Enterprises often have multiple data repositories of the same data. For example, data about customers might reside in the CRM system, the finance system, and the distribution system. They will probably have similar but different data models across these systems and every time a change is made in one, the same change needs to be made in the others—typically a time-consuming and manual process. The Studio can be used to keep the data in sync across systems with jobs that automate and transform the data transfer.
ETL (Extract, Transform, and Load): A key component process of a data warehouse or business intelligence system, ETL processes extract data from operational systems, transform the data, applying a series of rules or functions, and load the data into a database or data warehouse system.
Talend was founded in 2005 and is an open source software vendor providing solutions for data integration, data quality, master data management, enterprise service bus, and business process management.
Talend's first product, Talend Open Studio for Data Integration, was launched in 2006, under the name Talend Open Studio, and has since been downloaded over 20 million times. Talend has continued to develop its product portfolio and has added complementary tools that provide a single platform for application, data, and process integration. The Talend Open Studio brand has since been adopted across the range of Talend's products.
An obvious question to ask is "Why should I use Talend Open Studio above other similar products? What can it do for me?" Talend Open Studio for Data Integration offers a number of benefits:
The Studio is open source, free to download and use, with access to the source code, allowing users to extend the product to their particular needs if required.
The Studio is a great productivity-booster. It's easy to learn and quick to develop with. Even novice developers will be building complex integrations in no time.
The Studio's pre-built components handle many common and not-so-common tasks. Developers can focus on the end-to-end process, rather than the low-level technical details.
Talend has an active and open user community. Practical, problem-solving advice is easy to access.