We Shall Have Order!

The article discusses the proper way to order data in Apache Cassandra, a distributed NoSQL database system. It highlights common mistakes made by new users when designing time series data models and provides solutions for these issues. The primary key design is crucial for ordering data correctly, as it determines how data is partitioned across nodes. Using a dummy partition key or the Byte Ordered Partitioner (BOP) should be avoided due to potential hot spots and unbounded row growth problems. Instead, proper partitioning and clustering keys should be used to allow efficient sorting and querying of data. The article also emphasizes the importance of understanding the limits of Cassandra's wide row model and adjusting table designs accordingly.