title: Alternatives to Elasticsearch river plugins
body: <p>I want to synchronize an Elasticsearch index with the contents of an SQL database. The Elasticsearch JDBC river meets all my requirements, but in the documentation it is said that the plugin is deprecated.</p>
  
  <p>I don't want to use a tool that won't be supported in the following years. What are the alternatives?</p>
  
  <p>In the documentation of the river, it is said:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Note, JDBC plugin is not only a river, but also a standalone module. Because Elasticsearch river API is deprecated, this is an important feature.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Why is it an important feature? Does it mean that I can still use it indefinitely despite the deprecation, for example by using a feeder instead of a river?</p>