--- title: "Nipun Nair (@nipunnair) | Hashnode" description: "Sharing thoughts as a Developer, Leader, Learner. Read the latest articles by Nipun Nair on Hashnode." url: "https://hashnode.com/@nipunnair" --- @nipunnair # Nipun Nair @nipunnair · Belmont, CA, USA · Joined July 2026 Sharing thoughts as a Developer, Leader, Learner [Website](https://www.nynair.com/) ### [When I'd Actually Reach for Kafka, Redpanda, or NATS](https://nipunnair.hashnode.dev/when-id-actually-reach-for-kafka-redpanda-or-nats?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) What my benchmark didn't test, the real operational differences between Kafka, Redpanda, and NATS, and when each one actually earns its keep. 5 min read · [nipunnair.hashnode.dev](https://nipunnair.hashnode.dev/when-id-actually-reach-for-kafka-redpanda-or-nats?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) [Aug 2](https://hashnode.com/posts/when-id-actually-reach-for-kafka-redpanda-or-nats/6a6f5c578de6f8876d630cbe) ### [Kafka vs Redpanda vs NATS on My M4 Mac: The Real Numbers](https://nipunnair.hashnode.dev/kafka-vs-redpanda-vs-nats-the-real-numbers?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) Corrected Kafka, Redpanda, and NATS JetStream latency numbers on an M4 Mac, full test rig disclosed — plus does Kafka still need ZooKeeper in 2026? 7 min read · [nipunnair.hashnode.dev](https://nipunnair.hashnode.dev/kafka-vs-redpanda-vs-nats-the-real-numbers?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) [Aug 2](https://hashnode.com/posts/kafka-vs-redpanda-vs-nats-the-real-numbers/6a6f5bf5e7ee2bc8f5403132) ### [The Benchmark Bug That Made NATS Look 9x Faster Than Kafka](https://nipunnair.hashnode.dev/the-benchmark-bug-that-made-nats-look-9x-faster-than-kafka?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) My first Kafka vs Redpanda vs NATS benchmark showed NATS 9x faster — a flat percentile curve exposed it as a test bug, not a real result. 6 min read · [nipunnair.hashnode.dev](https://nipunnair.hashnode.dev/the-benchmark-bug-that-made-nats-look-9x-faster-than-kafka?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) [Aug 2](https://hashnode.com/posts/the-benchmark-bug-that-made-nats-look-9x-faster-than-kafka/6a6f5ac461fa069b58e21e8d) ### [Streaming Showdown: Kafka vs Redpanda vs NATS, benchmarked honestly](https://nipunnair.hashnode.dev/streaming-showdown-kafka-vs-redpanda-vs-nats-jetstream?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) I benchmarked Kafka, Redpanda, and NATS JetStream on the same machine did the benchmarking and shared learnings. 4 min read · [nipunnair.hashnode.dev](https://nipunnair.hashnode.dev/streaming-showdown-kafka-vs-redpanda-vs-nats-jetstream?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) [Aug 2](https://hashnode.com/posts/streaming-showdown-kafka-vs-redpanda-vs-nats-jetstream/6a6f57535c1c237c7e51bd8b)