Apache Kafka 0.9.0.0 Release with Kafka Connect

This release officially bundled Kafka Connect into the Apache Kafka project, making it a first-class citizen of the Kafka ecosystem. It introduced the core framework, API for connectors, and distributed runtime.

Significance

This was the public debut and formal inclusion of Kafka Connect, legitimizing its role as the standard for data integration with Kafka and providing a foundational platform for future connector development.