Decision Tree Archives

MCP vs REST HTTP vs Apache Kafka -The Enterprise Architect Guide and Decision Tree to Agentic AI Integration

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12 minute read

MCP vs. REST/HTTP API vs. Kafka: The Architect’s Guide to Agentic AI Integration

ByKai Waehner
10. April 2026

MCP, REST/HTTP APIs, and Apache Kafka are not alternatives. They solve different problems at different layers of the architecture. This article maps the decision: what each technology is built for, where the boundaries are, and where the real gray areas lie. Includes a comparison table and decision tree for architects.

The Trinity of Data Streaming in Industrial IoT - Apache Kafka MQTT OPC UA

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15 minute read

OPC UA, MQTT, and Apache Kafka – The Trinity of Data Streaming in IoT

ByKai Waehner
11. February 2022
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In the IoT world, MQTT and OPC UA have established themselves as open and platform-independent standards for data exchange in Industrial IoT and Industry 4.0 use cases. Data Streaming with Apache Kafka is the data hub for integrating and processing massive volumes of data at any scale in real-time. This blog post explores the relationship between Kafka and the IoT protocols, when to use which technology, and why sometimes HTTP/REST is the better choice. The end explores real-world case studies from Audi and BMW.