Avro vs Apache Thrift

Struggling to choose between Avro and Apache Thrift? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Avro is a Development solution with tags like serialization, data-exchange, binary-format.

It boasts features such as Data serialization system, Provides rich data structures, Fast, compact binary data format, Used for serializing data between applications/systems and pros including Efficient data serialization, Language neutral data format, Small data footprint, Fast encoding/decoding, Dynamic typing, Container file format for Hadoop.

On the other hand, Apache Thrift is a Development product tagged with rpc, serialization, crosslanguage, microservices.

Its standout features include Interface definition language, Code generation for RPC clients and servers, Support for many programming languages, Binary protocol, Transport abstraction layer, and it shines with pros like Language interoperability, High performance, Reduced boilerplate code, Built-in serialization.

Feature	Avro	Apache Thrift
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Development	Development

Product Overview

Avro

Description: Avro is a data serialization system that provides rich data structures and a compact, fast, binary data format. It is used for serializing data for communication between applications or systems.

Apache Thrift

Description: Apache Thrift is an interface definition language and binary communication protocol used to define and create services for numerous languages. It allows easy cross-language service development, enabling users to build and use robust services that work across programming languages like JavaScript, Python, PHP, Ruby, Erlang, Perl, Haskell, C++, C#, Java, Smalltalk, and OCaml.

Key Features Comparison

Avro Features

• Data serialization system
• Provides rich data structures
• Fast, compact binary data format
• Used for serializing data between applications/systems

Apache Thrift Features

• Interface definition language
• Code generation for RPC clients and servers
• Support for many programming languages
• Binary protocol
• Transport abstraction layer

Pros & Cons Analysis

Avro

Pros

• Efficient data serialization
• Language neutral data format
• Small data footprint
• Fast encoding/decoding
• Dynamic typing
• Container file format for Hadoop

Cons

• Limited adoption outside of Hadoop ecosystem
• Less flexible than JSON/XML for some use cases
• Lack of human-readable data format
• Requires code generation for statically typed languages

Apache Thrift

Pros

• Language interoperability
• High performance
• Reduced boilerplate code
• Built-in serialization

Cons

• Steep learning curve
• Limited adoption outside of Facebook/Apache projects
• Extra dependency and build configuration

Pricing Comparison

Avro

• Open Source

Apache Thrift

• Open Source