Apache NiFi

Apache NiFi is a software project from the Apache Software Foundation designed to automate the flow of data between software systems. Leveraging the concept of extract, transform, load (ETL), it is based on the "NiagaraFiles" software previously developed by the US National Security Agency (NSA), which is also the source of a part of its present name – NiFi. It was open-sourced as a part of NSA's technology transfer program in 2014.^{[2][3][4][5][6]}

Apache NiFi

Apache NiFi Logo
Apache NiFi Web UI
Developer(s)	Apache Software Foundation
Initial release	2006; 19 years ago (2006)
Stable release	2.0.0 / 4 November 2024; 3 months ago (2024-11-04)[1]
Repository	github.com/apache/nifi
Written in	Java
Operating system	Cross-platform
Type	Distributed dataflow
License	Apache License 2.0
Website	nifi.apache.org

The software design is based on the flow-based programming model and offers features which prominently include the ability to operate within clusters, security using TLS encryption, extensibility (users can write their own software to extend its abilities) and improved usability features like a portal which can be used to view and modify behaviour visually.^[7]

Components

NiFi - software components

NiFi is a Java program that runs within a Java virtual machine running on a server.^[8] The prominent components of Nifi are:

• Web Server - the HTTP-based component used to visually control the software and monitor the events happening within
• Flow Controller - serves as the brains of NiFi's behaviour. Controls the running of Nifi extensions and schedules allocation of resources for this to happen.
• Extensions - various plugins that allow Nifi to interact with various kinds of systems
• FlowFile repository - used by NiFi to maintain and track status of the currently active FlowFile Or the information that NiFi is helping move between systems.
• Content repository - the data in transit is maintained here
• Provenance repository - data relating to the provenance of the data flowing through the system is maintained here.

See also

• List of Apache Software Foundation projects
• Flow-based programming
• Node-RED

References

1. "Apache NiFi Downloads". nifi.apache.org. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
2. "NSA Releases First in Series of Software Products to Open Source Community". www.nsa.gov. Archived from the original on 2017-12-07. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
3. Bridgwater, Adrian (2015-07-21). "NSA 'NiFi' Big Data Automation Project Out In The Open". Forbes. Retrieved 2016-09-21.
4. Vaughan-Nichols, Steven J. "NSA partners with Apache to release open-source data traffic program". ZDNet. Retrieved 2016-09-21.
5. "NSA Source Code Leak: Information slurp tools to appear online". The Register. Retrieved 2016-09-21.
6. Wolpe, Toby. "Hortonworks CTO on Apache NiFi: What is it and why does it matter to IoT?". ZDNet. Retrieved 2016-09-21.
7. "Apache NiFi Documentation". nifi.apache.org. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
8. "Apache NiFi Developer Guide". nifi.apache.org. Retrieved 2018-01-31.

External links

• Official website