In this episode, we unpack the communication layer of microservices—arguably the most complex and critical part of distributed systems. We start with a clear introduction to Apache Kafka—what it is, how it works, and why it's become a cornerstone for decoupled, scalable systems. Then, we shift into real-world strategies for using Kafka to build reliable, event-driven Node.js services that can scale with confidence. What you’ll learn: ✅A developer-friendly introduction to Apache Kafka ✅Why communication between microservices is the #1 source of complexity ✅How to design services that communicate through events, not tight coupling ✅The pros and cons of REST, gRPC, and Kafka—and when to use each ✅Strategic patterns like event sourcing, pub/sub, and log compaction ✅Best practices for using Kafka with Node.js ✅Why @platformatic/kafka is designed for performance, safety, and DX ✅How Platformatic Watt enables multi-threaded, high-performance microservices ready for Kafka at scale Whether you're building greenfield services or refactoring a legacy mess, this episode will help you design smarter communication patterns that scale.