This blog post discusses how to use an external Apache Kafka connector with Aiven, specifically focusing on gathering Twitter messages into Kafka. The author explains the process of creating a self-managed Apache Kafka Connect cluster and connecting it to Aiven for Apache Kafka. They provide step-by-step instructions on setting up the Twitter source connector, including generating Java keystore and truststore, defining configuration files, and starting the local Connect cluster. The post also covers obtaining Twitter access credentials and configuring the Twitter source connector. Finally, the author highlights the benefits of using a managed service like Aiven for Apache Kafka while still having the freedom to use open-source connectors.