ClickHouse is a C++ based, column-oriented database built for real-time analytics. While it has its own internal storage format, the rise of open lakehouse architectures has created a growing need for seamless interoperability. In response, we have developed integrations with your favorite lakehouse ecosystem to enhance compatibility, performance and governance. From integrating with Unity Catalog to embedding the Delta Kernel into ClickHouse, this session will explore the key design considerations behind these integrations, their benefits to the community, the lessons learned and future opportunities for improved compatibility and seamless integration.

Delta Kernel makes it easy for engines and connectors to read and write Delta tables. It supports many Delta features and robust connectors, including DuckDB, Clickhouse, Spice AI and delta-dotnet. In this session, we'll cover lessons learned about how to build a high-performance library that lets engines integrate the way they want, while not having to worry about the details of the Delta protocol. We'll talk through how we streamlined the API as well as its changes and underlying motivations. We'll discuss some new highlight features like write support, and the ability to do CDF scans. Finally we'll cover the future roadmap for the Kernel project and what you can expect from the project over the coming year.