Unpacking the Databricks Lakehouse: A Deep Dive into Delta, Photon, and Unity Catalog
Databricks has rapidly evolved from a managed Spark platform to the cornerstone of many modern data architectures, often termed the ‘Lakehouse’. While the high-level benefits—simplicity, scale, and collaboration—are well-known, the true power lies in its meticulously engineered components working in concert. This deep dive aims to peel back the layers, exploring the “under-the-hood” mechanisms of key Databricks technologies: Delta Lake, Photon, and Unity Catalog, alongside practical implementation considerations for DataFibers engineers.