Dataflow for stream/batch processing in GCP - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to create a Dataflow pipeline that reads from a Pub/Sub topic.

GCP

pipeline = beam.Pipeline(options=PipelineOptions())
messages = pipeline | 'ReadFromPubSub' >> beam.io.ReadFromPubSub(topic=[1])

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A"projects/my-project/topics/"

B"my-topic"

C"projects/my-project/subscriptions/my-subscription"

D"projects/my-project/topics/my-topic"

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using only the topic name without the full path

Using subscription path instead of topic path

The Pub/Sub topic must be specified with the full resource path including project and topic name.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to write the output of the pipeline to a BigQuery table.

GCP

output | 'WriteToBigQuery' >> beam.io.WriteToBigQuery(table=[1])

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A"my-project:my_dataset.my_table"

B"my_dataset.my_table"

C"my_table"

D"my_dataset/my_table"

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using only dataset.table without project

Using slashes instead of dots or vice versa

BigQuery table must be specified with the full resource path including project, dataset, and table.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the pipeline options to enable streaming mode.

GCP

options = PipelineOptions()
options.view_as(StandardOptions).[1] = True

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Abatch_mode

Benable_streaming

Cstreaming

Dis_streaming

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using incorrect attribute names like 'batch_mode' or 'enable_streaming'

Using 'is_streaming' which does not exist

The correct attribute to enable streaming mode is 'streaming' set to True.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a windowed aggregation that sums values every 5 minutes.

GCP

windowed_data = data | 'Window' >> beam.WindowInto(beam.window.[1](5 * 60))
result = windowed_data | 'SumValues' >> beam.CombinePerKey([2])

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AFixedWindows

BSlidingWindows

Csum

Dlen

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using SlidingWindows instead of FixedWindows for fixed intervals

Using 'len' which counts elements instead of summing

FixedWindows creates fixed time windows. 'sum' sums values per key.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to filter elements greater than 100 and map keys to uppercase.

GCP

filtered = data | 'FilterGreater' >> beam.Filter(lambda x: x[1] [1] 100)
mapped = filtered | 'MapKeys' >> beam.Map(lambda x: (x[0][2], x[1]))
result = mapped | 'GroupByKey' >> beam.GroupByKey()

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A>

B.upper()

C<

D.lower()

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using '<' instead of '>' in filter

Using '.lower()' instead of '.upper()' for keys

Filter uses '>' to keep values greater than 100. Map uses '.upper()' to uppercase keys. GroupByKey groups by keys.

Practice

1. What is the main difference between streaming and batch processing in Google Cloud Dataflow?

easy

A. Batch processing is faster than streaming in all cases.

B. Streaming processes data continuously as it arrives; batch processes fixed sets of data.

C. Streaming only reads data; batch only writes data.

D. Batch processes data continuously; streaming processes fixed sets of data.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand streaming processing

   Streaming processes data continuously as new data arrives in real time.

2. Step 2: Understand batch processing

   Batch processes data in fixed sets or chunks, not continuously.

3. Final Answer:

   Streaming processes data continuously as it arrives; batch processes fixed sets of data. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Streaming = continuous, Batch = fixed sets [OK]

Hint: Streaming = live data; batch = fixed data sets [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing batch as continuous processing
• Thinking streaming only reads data
• Assuming batch is always faster

2. Which option correctly sets a Dataflow pipeline to run in streaming mode using the Python SDK?

easy

A. options.view_as(StandardOptions).batch = True

B. options.view_as(StandardOptions).stream = False

C. options.view_as(StandardOptions).mode = 'batch'

D. options.view_as(StandardOptions).streaming = True

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the correct property for streaming

   In Dataflow Python SDK, streaming mode is enabled by setting streaming = True on StandardOptions.

2. Step 2: Check other options

   Batch is default and does not require setting batch = True; mode property does not exist; stream = False disables streaming.

3. Final Answer:

   options.view_as(StandardOptions).streaming = True -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   streaming = True enables streaming mode [OK]

Hint: Set streaming=True in StandardOptions for streaming mode [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using batch=True which is invalid
• Setting mode='batch' which is not a valid property
• Confusing stream with streaming property

3. Given this Python Dataflow pipeline snippet, what will be the output if run in batch mode on input [1, 2, 3]?

import apache_beam as beam
with beam.Pipeline() as p:
  result = (
    p | beam.Create([1, 2, 3])
      | beam.Map(lambda x: x * 2)
      | beam.Map(lambda x: x + 1)
  )
  result | beam.Map(print)

medium

A. 3, 5, 7

B. 1, 2, 3

C. 2, 4, 6

D. Error due to missing streaming option

Solution

1. Step 1: Trace the transformations

   Input list is [1, 2, 3]. First Map multiplies each by 2: [2, 4, 6]. Second Map adds 1 to each: [3, 5, 7].

2. Step 2: Confirm batch mode output

   Batch mode processes all data at once, so output will be printed as 3, 5, 7.

3. Final Answer:

   3, 5, 7 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Multiply by 2 then add 1 = 3,5,7 [OK]

Hint: Apply transformations stepwise to input list [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting to multiply before adding
• Assuming streaming mode affects output here
• Expecting original input as output

4. You wrote a Dataflow streaming pipeline but it fails to process live data. Which fix is most likely correct?

medium

A. Set options.view_as(StandardOptions).streaming = True before running the pipeline.

B. Change the input source to a batch file instead of a streaming source.

C. Remove all Map transforms to simplify the pipeline.

D. Run the pipeline without specifying any options.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify streaming mode requirement

   Streaming pipelines require setting streaming=True in options to process live data.

2. Step 2: Evaluate other options

   Changing input to batch file disables streaming; removing transforms breaks logic; no options means default batch mode.

3. Final Answer:

   Set options.view_as(StandardOptions).streaming = True before running the pipeline. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Enable streaming option to fix live data processing [OK]

Hint: Enable streaming=True to fix live data issues [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Not enabling streaming mode in options
• Switching to batch input source mistakenly
• Removing necessary transforms

5. You want to build a Dataflow pipeline that reads live sensor data, filters out values below 50, and writes results to BigQuery. Which approach is best?

hard

A. Use streaming mode with a Cloud Storage file source, apply a Map transform, then write to BigQuery sink.

B. Use batch mode with a Cloud Storage file source, apply a Map transform, then write to BigQuery sink.

C. Use streaming mode with a Pub/Sub source, apply a Filter transform, then write to BigQuery sink.

D. Use batch mode with a Pub/Sub source, apply a Filter transform, then write to BigQuery sink.

Solution

1. Step 1: Choose streaming mode for live sensor data

   Live sensor data requires streaming mode to process data as it arrives.

2. Step 2: Select Pub/Sub as source and apply Filter transform

   Pub/Sub is the streaming data source; Filter removes values below 50; BigQuery sink stores results.

3. Final Answer:

   Use streaming mode with a Pub/Sub source, apply a Filter transform, then write to BigQuery sink. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Streaming + Pub/Sub + Filter + BigQuery = correct pipeline [OK]

Hint: Live data needs streaming + Pub/Sub + Filter + BigQuery [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using batch mode for live data
• Using Cloud Storage as streaming source
• Applying Map instead of Filter for filtering