Astra DB from DataStax is a vector database for developers that need to get accurate Generative AI applications into production, fast.
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Writer
Score 8.6 out of 10
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Writer is a full-stack generative AI platform. It consists of Writer-built LLMs, a graph-based RAG, AI guardrails, and a flexible application layer. Writer boasts users at enterprises like L’Oreal, Vanguard, and Accenture.
We use Astra DB to improve our management systems. Storing data has become hassle-free and quite simple. When launching a Cassandra-based cloud application, Astra DB is exactly what you need. In addition to the standard training programs and videos, the extended support and training require significant additional effort to activate and cover which I feel is a bit more tedious task.
I think Writer is perfect for marketing professionals who need to draft copy about dense topics and subject matter, such as within tech and product companies. It bridges the gap of knowledge between marketer and engineer and saves the former countless minutes to bring what the latter develops to the marketplace
Regarding what Writer does, I can say as a first instance it makes my work easier when making my forms, sealing and inserting what I want to implement.
As a second place when it comes to directing me through a business document, you have the option of the synonym search engine and automatic correction.
As a third example, I would say that Writer makes my work easier, is easy to use[,] and saves versions of the same document.
The support team sometimes requires the escalate button pressed on tickets, to get timely responses. I will say, once the ticket is escalated, action is taken.
They require better documentation on the migration of data. The three primary methods for migrating large data volumes are bulk, Cassandra Data Migrator, and ZDM (Zero Downtime Migration Utility). Over time I have become very familiar will all three of these methods; however, through working with the Services team and the support team, it seemed like we were breaking new ground. I feel if the utilities were better documented and included some examples and/or use cases from large data migrations; this process would have been easier. One lesson learned is you likely need to migrate your application servers to the same cloud provider you host Astra on; otherwise, the latency is too large for latency-sensitive applications.
i do find the organisation a bit confusing, like the functions available in 'ask Writer' being separate to the main window. there were lots of functions i wasn't able to find intuitively that we needed a support call for
asking for a summary of key points doesn't always pick up the main points
Their response time is fast, in case you do not contact them during business hours, they give a very good follow-up to your case. They also facilitate video calls if necessary for debugging.
We know Astra is built on Cassandra / Kubernetes / Stargate and can work on any cloud. The competitors we reviewed are cloud specific and create a lock in. We also have the option to run Cassandra / Stargate ourselves if we wanted to. The competitors don’t give that option
Writer's "recipes" and workflow approach allow me to think through the process of generation better than an open-chat format like ChatGPT or Gemini. It also is more flexible than Jasper (at least when I tested both).
As per my experience, I never faced issues of scalability with Astra DB. We don't have at the moment a use case with millions of requests or users, so I can't give full score because of my limited use case.
The high availability capabilities of Astra DB can assist in reducing downtime, which is crucial for revenue-generating applications.
The developer-friendly features of Astra DB, as well as support for known query languages, can help expedite development, save development time, and minimize labor costs. This can result in a shorter time to market and a higher ROI.
