There seem to be at least 2 ways to connect to HBase from external application, with language other then Java (i.e. Python):
Does anyone know which one should be used in which circumstances? I.e. what are their main differences, and pros/cons?
Thrift is generally faster because the data being exchanged is smaller. Stargate offers a web service which is an integration method that is widely supported, which is a concern when you are working with commercial products with limited integration possibilities.
In a closed environment where everything is controlled, I would prefer Thrift. If I'm exposing data to external teams or systems I would prefer Stargate.
