Choosing the right environment to run Apache Flink applications—Standalone, Docker, Kubernetes, or YARN—is a critical first decision that often presents a bewildering array of options. This session cuts through the complexity, providing a practical, in-depth comparison of these core deployment modes. The talk delves into their fundamental differences, evaluates their respective pros and cons, and pinpoints when each mode truly shines (and when to avoid it). Engineers will leave equipped with the clarity to confidently select the optimal deployment strategy, ensuring their Flink applications are set up for success from the start.