---
title:  Basic Configuration and Programming
---

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*Basic Configuration and Programming* describes how to configure cluster and cache properties for your <%=vars.product_name_long%> installation. For your applications, it provides guidance for writing code to manage your cache and cluster connection, data regions, and data entries, including custom classes.

-   **[Cluster and Cache Configuration](config_concepts/chapter_overview.html)**

    To work with your <%=vars.product_name_long%> applications, you use a combination of configuration files and application code.

-   **[Cache Management](the_cache/chapter_overview.html)**

    The <%=vars.product_name%> cache is the entry point to <%=vars.product_name%> caching management. <%=vars.product_name%> provides different APIs and XML configuration models to support the behaviors of different members.

-   **[Data Regions](data_regions/chapter_overview.html)**

    The region is the core building block of the <%=vars.product_name_long%> cluster. All cached data is organized into data regions and you do all of your data puts, gets, and querying activities against them.

-   **[Data Entries](data_entries_custom_classes/chapter_overview.html)**

    The data entry is the key/value pair where you store your data. You can manage your entries individually and in batches. To use domain objects for your entry values and keys, you need to follow <%=vars.product_name_long%> requirements for data storage and distribution.