batchstyle

Batchstyle is a term used in data processing and software engineering to describe a design approach for batch-oriented workloads. It emphasizes organizing work into discrete batches that are processed together, typically on a schedule or in response to a trigger, rather than item-by-item streaming.

In batchstyle systems, tasks are defined as batch steps with well-defined inputs and outputs, enabling predictable resource usage and easier retry semantics. Operations are often idempotent and stateless between runs, making reruns safer.

Common features include a batch window for scheduling, partitioning data into chunks, and parallel execution across batches to improve throughput. Pipelines are usually defined declaratively, with configuration that specifies batch size, time window, and failure handling.

Applications include ETL jobs, report generation, image or video processing, and scientific simulations where processing large data sets in groups is more efficient than continuous streaming.

History and terminology: The phrase batchstyle is used in some vendor documentation and academic discussions as a general descriptor for batch-oriented design patterns; it is not a formal standard and is sometimes used interchangeably with batch processing or batch-oriented pipelines. Related concepts include batch processing, ETL, and data pipelines.

Limitations include higher latency for the first batch, potential tail-processing issues, and the need for robust state management and monitoring.