Intro
Perfect isn’t perfect unless you know where the imperfections are, or at least, might be. Especially if we’re talking about the software development field where things get pretty critical if any issue happens, so, is there really no way to solve this but wait till the issue happens?
Or is there something that you could do to minimize issues, increase work quality, and safeguard your systems as we do at InvoiceQ? In fact, that’s actually possible and it could be done via what we call Trace Level Logging.
So, what is it? And why is it important for developers to use it while writing the code? Let’s figure it out!
Trace Level Logging: What is it?
In the field of software development, logging as a term is used to refer to the process of recording a group of messages that are generated during the development of the system or program.
This recorded information assists developers in checking a program’s execution and making the necessary amendments. As a result, developers can easily understand the behavior of any service and get a better overview of where the project is headed.
Trace Level Logging is a type of logging but it’s a detailed one with more in-depth insights. And while different log levels such as warning messages, error messages, information messages, and debugging messages are important, they don’t provide step-by-step clarification as trace logs do.
Difference Between Trace Logs And Other Types of Logs?
Trace Logs
Trace Logs focus on tracking the flow of a certain request across different parts of the system or the microservice as systems are mostly being developed now by adopting the microservices approach.
Hence, if the developer is to track any request inside the system, they can test it across all microservices through a unique identifier of that specific request to track it in every service with ease. Thus, developers can perform data aggregation for all of the logs related to this request and take advantage of the data gathered.
Trace Logs are concerned with details of all steps including things like timestamps which serve a crucial role as they help developers detect errors that happened during a certain time frame to narrow down errors. In addition to other details.
Trace Logs’ main goal is to pinpoint performance bottlenecks, debug complex system issues, and organize the ways by which different parts of the system interact with each other, or the way a request is functioning across various microservices inside the system.
Other Types of Logs
1- Warning Level Log
It occurs to indicate potential unexpected errors before they happen. They highlight potential risks that could turn into errors later.
2- Error Level Log
It occurs to flag unexpected behavior or incorrect data that causes a malfunction in the system. Not all errors stop a whole system from functioning, this is where the error level log comes into play as it indicates a problem that needs to be investigated to ensure smooth operation.
3- Debug Level Log
A detailed message of where the issue happened inside the code. It summarizes events leading to specific outcomes without getting lost in the minutiae.
4- Info Level Log
Clarifies what happens during the execution of the operation the developer is working on. They don’t indicate abnormalities but rather state the system is functioning in a normal way.
These types of system or application-level logs don’t focus on details as much in comparison with the trace-level log. They provide a more general record of how the events within an application, system, or program are functioning.
System or application-level logs tend to focus on showing the flow of certain requests in specific parts of the system levels, unlike trace logs where a specific request is tracked across various microsystems.
They mostly capture the errors, messages, and info regarding a particular system’s functionality. They aim to monitor the general performance of the system, troubleshoot issues, and mitigate potential risks via various logs instead of one detailed level log like the trace log. Thus, it provides help in understanding how an application, system, or even a program behaves in different environments.
Frameworks & Libraries
Frameworks and libraries play an important role in managing trace-level logs effectively. They’re a set of tools used to assist developers in formatting the system’s logs in an organized way. They help developers in the following areas:
- Providing a structured way of categorizing trace-level logs to differentiate them from other log levels.
- Trace logging generation is made easier with pre-built logging statements that can be integrated with the framework.
- Advanced configuration control settings that enable developers to configure level logs dynamically so that different levels of logs do not overlap with one another, especially in production environments.
- Allowing developers to set the log in a particular format without limiting it to message recording only.
- Managing the tracked request right from the initial point such as tracking an invoice from the customer’s side till it’s delivered to ZATCA servers and vice versa. Almost like having a detailed map with a starting and ending point.
- Be more concise and precise while writing the log. Excessive logging can hinder performance so it’s recommended to focus on key information.
- Invest your time and effort in monitoring, good logs can only shine when paired with effective monitoring.
Level Logging Best Practices
– Choosing the correct level of log such as error level log to indicate the error and ease the tracking of the service.
– Implementing it to ease performance monitoring for different development environments such as the production phase and the testing phase.
– Paying attention to the structure of the level log as in knowing what sort of information is to be included in the log based on the list type as well as including the time stamp; as it helps in detecting the errors during a filtered period.
– Using it to protect sensitive data such as personal information from being recorded or saved.
Benefits of Trace Logs
– Logging at the trace level allows you to observe your system in a more detailed manner which makes it possible to observe how data flows through various components, as well as how each function is performed individually through various services This in turn assists in monitoring processes and analysis.
– Building a dashboard through which all log files can be tracked and managed in real-time updates instead of checking each one separately, which consumes more time and effort.
– Archiving old logs in compressed files right from the starting date the developer wants up to the date they’re on with the ability to delete any log records that are no longer needed after a specific time duration to free some disc space.
– Better understanding of the intricate structure of different system parts.
– Optimizing performance as trace-level logging helps identify the root cause of errors and even predict them which enhances the troubleshooting process.
– For fintech companies like InvoiceQ or any other financial service, trace-level logging is important for things like maintaining compliance as it helps in tracking every action or change that happens.
Conclusion
For understanding system behavior, logging and trace logging both play vital roles. Trace logging offers a detailed record for troubleshooting intricate issues in more complex systems while logging offers a high-level overview of general monitoring.
Consider logging as your Second Eye that monitors the system’s performance even if your First Eye is not. With a well-defined logging strategy, you can ensure your systems operate smoothly. and that you have the information you need to diagnose and resolve problems.
Want to integrate your system with ZATCA without worrying about errors and troubleshooting? Get in touch with our support team, get a free trial, or book a demo with our sales team now!
