Local Logging vs Distributed Tracing

Developers should use local logging to track application execution, identify bugs, and monitor performance in development and production environments meets developers should learn and use distributed tracing when building or maintaining microservices-based applications, cloud-native systems, or any distributed architecture where requests span multiple services. Here's our take.

Local Logging

Nice Pick

Developers should use local logging to track application execution, identify bugs, and monitor performance in development and production environments

Pros

• It is essential for debugging complex issues, auditing user actions, and ensuring system reliability, especially in scenarios where real-time remote monitoring is unavailable or as a fallback mechanism
• Related to: structured-logging, log-levels

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Distributed Tracing

Developers should learn and use distributed tracing when building or maintaining microservices-based applications, cloud-native systems, or any distributed architecture where requests span multiple services

Pros

• It is crucial for performance monitoring, troubleshooting latency issues, and ensuring reliability in production environments, as it provides end-to-end visibility into request flows and dependencies
• Related to: microservices, observability

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Local Logging if: You want it is essential for debugging complex issues, auditing user actions, and ensuring system reliability, especially in scenarios where real-time remote monitoring is unavailable or as a fallback mechanism and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Distributed Tracing if: You prioritize it is crucial for performance monitoring, troubleshooting latency issues, and ensuring reliability in production environments, as it provides end-to-end visibility into request flows and dependencies over what Local Logging offers.

The Bottom Line

Local Logging wins

Developers should use local logging to track application execution, identify bugs, and monitor performance in development and production environments