Zipkin
Zipkin is a distributed tracing system that helps gather timing data needed to troubleshoot latency problems in microservice architectures. It collects and visualizes trace data from services, allowing developers to see how requests propagate through a system and identify performance bottlenecks. Originally developed by Twitter and now open-source, it provides a web UI for querying and analyzing traces.
Developers should use Zipkin when building or maintaining distributed systems, especially microservices, to monitor request flows and debug latency issues. It is essential for identifying slow services, understanding dependencies between components, and optimizing performance in complex architectures. Common use cases include e-commerce platforms, financial systems, and any application with multiple interacting services.