> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mariadb.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mariadb.com/docs/gridgain/gridgain-8/gridgain8-get-started/learning-paths.md).

# Learning Paths

Hands-on tutorials that teach GridGain 8 by building and operating working examples, organized into learning paths from first cache to data locality.

Tutorials teach by doing: each one builds or operates something end to end on a local cluster. Use the reference sections of this documentation for complete configuration details, and use these tutorials to learn how the pieces fit together.

New to GridGain 8? Read [What Is GridGain?](/docs/gridgain/gridgain-8/gridgain8-get-started/what-is-gridgain.md) and run the [Quick Start](/docs/gridgain/gridgain-8/gridgain8-get-started/quick-start.md) first, then follow a learning path below.

## Learning Paths

| Path                                                                                                                     | Level        | Start here when                                                                                |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Cache-Centric Foundations](/docs/gridgain/gridgain-8/gridgain8-get-started/learning-paths/cache-centric-foundations.md) | Beginner     | You are new to GridGain 8 and want a guided first week.                                        |
| [Beyond Key-Value](/docs/gridgain/gridgain-8/gridgain8-get-started/learning-paths/beyond-key-value.md)                   | Intermediate | Plain caching no longer covers your needs: SQL, transactions, compute, persistence, or events. |
| [Design for Data Locality](/docs/gridgain/gridgain-8/gridgain8-get-started/learning-paths/data-locality.md)              | Advanced     | You need predictable performance by keeping related data and compute together.                 |

## More Tutorials

* [Application Examples](/docs/gridgain/gridgain-8/gridgain8-get-started/application-examples.md): standalone example applications that can be read in any order.
* [Management and Monitoring](/docs/tools/enterprise/control-center/tutorials/gridgain8-management-and-monitoring.md): a Control Center walkthrough covering storage and cluster health, alerts, tracing, and backups.

## How-To Guides

Looking for a solution to one specific task, such as security, monitoring, performance, or an integration? See the [How-To Guides](/docs/gridgain/gridgain-8/gridgain8-get-started/how-to-guides.md).