This disclosure generally relates to data delivery in distributed applications. One example method includes identifying a data source associated with a shuffle operation, the data source configured provide data from a data set associated with the shuffle operation; identifying a data sink associated with the shuffle operation, the data sink configured to receive data provided by the data source; associating a shuffler component with the shuffle operation, the shuffler component configured to receive data from the data source and provide the data to the data sink; receiving, by the shuffler component, a first data portion from the data source; providing, by the shuffler component, the first data portion to the data sink; receiving, by the shuffler component, a second data portion from the data source, the second data portion being received from the data source prior to or concurrent with providing the first data portion to the data sink.