How to work with Shopify Data in Apache Spark using SQL

Apache Spark is a fast and general engine for large-scale data processing. When paired with the CData JDBC Driver for Shopify, Spark can work with live Shopify data. This article describes how to connect to and query Shopify data from a Spark shell.

The CData JDBC Driver offers unmatched performance for interacting with live Shopify data due to optimized data processing built into the driver. When you issue complex SQL queries to Shopify, the driver pushes supported SQL operations, like filters and aggregations, directly to Shopify and utilizes the embedded SQL engine to process unsupported operations (often SQL functions and JOIN operations) client-side. With built-in dynamic metadata querying, you can work with and analyze Shopify data using native data types.

Install the CData JDBC Driver for Shopify

Download the CData JDBC Driver for Shopify installer, unzip the package, and run the JAR file to install the driver.

Start a Spark Shell and Connect to Shopify Data

1. Open a terminal and start the Spark shell with the CData JDBC Driver for Shopify JAR file as the jars parameter: $ spark-shell --jars /CData/CData JDBC Driver for Shopify/lib/cdata.jdbc.shopify.jar
2. With the shell running, you can connect to Shopify with a JDBC URL and use the SQL Context load() function to read a table.

   To make use of all the features of the data provider, provide the AppId, Password, and ShopUrl connection properties.

   To obtain these values, see the Getting Started section in the help documentation to register the data provider as an application with Shopify.

   Built-in Connection String Designer

   For assistance in constructing the JDBC URL, use the connection string designer built into the Shopify JDBC Driver. Either double-click the JAR file or execute the jar file from the command-line.

   java -jar cdata.jdbc.shopify.jar

   Fill in the connection properties and copy the connection string to the clipboard.

   Configure the connection to Shopify, using the connection string generated above.

   scala> val shopify_df = spark.sqlContext.read.format("jdbc").option("url", "jdbc:shopify:AppId=MyAppId;Password=MyPassword;ShopUrl=https://yourshopname.myshopify.com;").option("dbtable","Customers").option("driver","cdata.jdbc.shopify.ShopifyDriver").load()
3. Once you connect and the data is loaded you will see the table schema displayed.

4. Register the Shopify data as a temporary table:

   scala> shopify_df.registerTable("customers")

5. Perform custom SQL queries against the Data using commands like the one below:

   scala> shopify_df.sqlContext.sql("SELECT FirstName, Id FROM Customers WHERE FirstName = jdoe1234").collect.foreach(println)

   You will see the results displayed in the console, similar to the following:

Using the CData JDBC Driver for Shopify in Apache Spark, you are able to perform fast and complex analytics on Shopify data, combining the power and utility of Spark with your data. Download a free, 30 day trial of any of the 200+ CData JDBC Drivers and get started today.