Unify synthetic monitoring and distributed tracing with Middleware to proactively detect issues, reduce MTTR, and optimize your app’s performance

Unifying Synthetic Monitoring and Distributed Tracing for Proactive Incident Detection

Discover how Middleware helps you monitor infrastructure proactively with AI alerts, real-time dashboards, and deep visibility to prevent costly outages.

Proactive Infrastructure Health Monitoring Using Middleware

Tired of juggling multiple tools? Middleware unifies logs, metrics, traces, and alerts in one platform, speeding up incident resolution and reducing costs.

Why Engineering Teams are Replacing 3–4 Tools with Middleware


<p>ServiceNow Cloud Observability, formerly Lightstep, is reaching its End of Life (EOL) on March 1, 2026. To avoid disruption in <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/observability/">observability</a> and performance monitoring, organizations should plan a ServiceNow migration to Middleware, a modern observability platform that delivers full-stack visibility and AI-driven insights.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This guide offers a clear roadmap to help organizations transition smoothly, highlighting Middleware’s unique advantages as a modern observability platform.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-plan-servicenow-cloud-observability-migration">Why Plan ServiceNow Cloud Observability Migration?</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>End of Support:</strong> After March 1, 2026, ServiceNow Cloud Observability will no longer receive updates or support. Planning a ServiceNow migration now ensures uninterrupted monitoring and operational continuity.</li>



<li><strong>Strategic Shift: </strong>ServiceNow is shifting focus toward Service Observability and Service Reliability Management, without a direct replacement for <a href="https://middleware.io/whitepaper/cloud-native-observability-the-new-normal-for-enterprises/">Cloud Observability</a>.</li>



<li><strong>Business Continuity:</strong> Migrating to a supported observability platform like Middleware ensures uninterrupted operational efficiency and system health.</li>
</ul>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>👉 Don’t wait until ServiceNow Cloud Observability sunsets — <a href="https://app.middleware.io/auth/register/">Start your<strong> </strong>ServiceNow Migration</a><strong> </strong>now and secure uninterrupted visibility with Middleware.</p>
</blockquote>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-middleware-the-superior-choice-for-observability">Middleware: The Superior Choice for Observability</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unified-observability-across-the-stack">Unified Observability Across the Stack</h3>



<p>When planning a ServiceNow migration, Middleware provides true end-to-end visibility, including AI-powered log analysis and <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/kubernetes-observability/">Kubernetes observability</a>, enabling teams to detect issues across <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/cloud-infrastructure-guide/">cloud infrastructure</a>, applications, databases, and containers proactively.</p>



<p>All within a single, intuitive platform boasting over 200 integrations, so teams can instantly correlate events and trace root causes from business KPIs to individual requests.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It also dramatically reduces incident resolution times by working from a unified “single pane of glass” instead of piecing together siloed data sources.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>👉 See Middleware in Action – <a href="https://middleware.io/demo-request/">Book a Demo</a></p>
</blockquote>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1600" height="908" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Migrating-from-ServiceNow-Lightstep-to-middleware.webp" alt="Migrating from ServiceNow Lightstep to middleware" class="wp-image-12734"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unified-data-ingestion">Unified Data Ingestion</h3>



<p>Middleware’s purposeful telemetry collection via its data pipelines ensures only meaningful data is ingested, optimizing observability costs while maintaining complete visibility.</p>



<p>Complete native <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-opentelemetry/">open-telemetry</a> compatibility, rapid <a href="https://docs.middleware.io/agent-installation/kubernetes/auto-instrumentation">auto-instrumentation</a> for all popular languages, and uninterrupted ingestion through established agents. It consolidates all observability signals efficiently, controlling data retention and cost, and accommodating petabyte-scale telemetry without friction.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-powered-insights">AI- Powered Insights</h3>



<p>By embedding AI and machine learning, Middleware’s OpsAI provides full-stack observability, automatically detects issues, generates and prioritizes alerts to reduce <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-alert-fatigue/">alert fatigue</a>, and even fixes problems without manual intervention. This dramatically reduces MTTR and frees engineering teams to focus on strategic work.</p>



<p>Its AI engine not only <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/anomaly-detection/">detects anomalies</a> but also creates and prioritizes alerts intelligently, reducing noise and ensuring teams focus on what truly matters. It also identifies frequent emerging dangers, while AI-operated diagnostic features reduce problems by 80% before they are analyzed.</p>



<p>See AI in action with real-world error tracking by exploring our blog on<a href="https://middleware.io/blog/github-commit-ownership-error-tracking/"> GitHub Commit Ownership &amp; Error Tracking</a> and learn how teams can quickly identify and resolve issues.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1140" height="655" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Migrate-Servicenow-Lightstep-to-Middleware-for-better-error-tracking.webp" alt="Migrate Servicenow Lightstep to Middleware for better error tracking" class="wp-image-12735"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smooth-servicenow-migration-to-middleware">Smooth ServiceNow Migration to Middleware</h3>



<p>Keeping in mind the enterprise change, the middleware provides rapid, low-risk onboarding with easy setup. It also automates source mapping, provides seamless dual-installed validation, includes <a href="https://docs.middleware.io/quickstart">comprehensive documentation</a>, and offers direct ServiceNow Lightstep migration support from platform experts. It also ensures that a complex environment can be made smooth and error-free without compromising on complexity or compliance.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scalability-and-flexibility">Scalability and Flexibility</h3>



<p>Built on a modern, elastic architecture, middleware supports organizations from startup scale to large enterprise deployments, providing reliability and scalability. It also has tenant protection dynamically for millions of telemetry events per second.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predictable-pricing">Predictable Pricing</h3>



<p>Middleware helps companies slash observability spend without compromising visibility, with a transparent, pay-as-you-use <a href="https://middleware.io/pricing/">pricing</a> model that scales with business needs. Organizations migrating from ServiceNow Cloud Observability can reduce spend with Middleware’s pay-as-you-use pricing, scaling costs naturally as the business grows. Organizations can <a href="https://middleware.io/customers/mindorigin/">reduce costs by up to 75% </a>compared to legacy tools.</p>



<p>It provides transparent metered billing for only the data and features used, along with complete visibility into costs. This enables organizations of any size to optimize observability spending, forecast budgets, and avoid surprise overages or locked-in minimums.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>For more details on migrating, see the Middleware’s guide:<br>👉<a href="https://middleware.io/blog/switch-to-middleware-day0-week4/"> What to Expect When You Switch to Middleware (Day 0 – Week 4)</a></p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-servicenow-cloud-observability-vs-middleware">ServiceNow Cloud Observability vs. Middleware</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Feature</td><td>ServiceNow Cloud Observability</td><td>Middleware</td></tr><tr><td>Support Status</td><td>End of Life by March 1, 2026</td><td>Active, full support</td></tr><tr><td>OpenTelemetry Integration</td><td>Limited</td><td>Comprehensive</td></tr><tr><td>AI-Driven Insights</td><td>Basic</td><td>Advanced analytics</td></tr><tr><td>Real User Monitoring (RUM)</td><td>Not available</td><td>Available</td></tr><tr><td>ServiceNow Migration Assistance</td><td>None</td><td>Dedicated teams</td></tr><tr><td>Data Retention Policy</td><td>Proprietary limits</td><td>Transparent, configurable</td></tr><tr><td>Pricing Model</td><td>Proprietary, contract-based</td><td>Transparent, usage-based</td></tr><tr><td>Deployment Flexibility</td><td>SaaS only</td><td>Cloud &amp; self-hosted options</td></tr><tr><td>API &amp; SDK Coverage</td><td>Enterprise-focused, some gaps</td><td>Full SDK &amp; API support</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-of-migrating-to-middleware">Benefits of Migrating to Middleware</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-lower-costs-with-pay-as-you-go">1. Lower Costs with Pay-As-You-Go</h3>



<p>Transparent, use-based pricing of middleware means that organizations only pay for the data they actually ingest and analyze. It eliminates expensive upfront commitments and reduces unnecessary overpricing.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This consumption-driven model scales with your business. You can plan your budget easily and <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/reduce-observability-costs/">reduce observability costs</a> by up to 75% compared to legacy tools.</p>



<p> This empowers you to adapt expenses by gaining deep insights and operational controls.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-avoid-vendor-lock-in">2. Avoid Vendor Lock-In</h3>



<p>Built on open standards like OpenTelemetry, Middleware makes your telemetry data fully portable and avoids silos or vendor lock-in. This freedom enables you to manage your data lifecycle and transition to new tools without a complicated ServiceNow migration process.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Additionally, demonstrate your observability strategy in a rapidly evolving cloud-native scenario, with future-proofing flexibility and reduced operational risk.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-faster-issue-resolution-with-ai">3. Faster Issue Resolution with AI</h3>



<p>Middleware unites all telemetry logs, metrics, traces, and KPIs in a single, correlated context rich in the art of AI analytics. It also automatically detects issues and guides engineers directly to the root causes.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This intelligent, end-to-end observability exposes events and accelerates troubleshooting, <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/how-to-reduce-mttr/">reducing the MTTR</a> by up to 80% and minimizing the financial impact of downtime on your business.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1600" height="826" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Migrate-from-ServiceNow-lightstep-for-end-to-end-observability.webp" alt="Migrate from ServiceNow lightstep for end-to-end observability" class="wp-image-12736"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-boost-developer-productivity">4. Boost Developer Productivity</h3>



<p><a href="https://middleware.io/product/ops-ai/">Ops AI</a> of middleware not only automatically detects issues but also provides actionable solutions and generates a PR. Developers and SREs spend less time pursuing symptoms and more time increasing team efficiency and delivering flexible, high-quality software rapidly.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-flexible-deployment-options">5. Flexible Deployment Options</h3>



<p>Recognizing the diverse needs of various ventures, middleware enables flexible deployment across public clouds, private clouds, and hybrid environments. It also supports fully self-hosted configurations, equipped with a safe multi-tenant architecture and comprehensive compliance certificates.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This adaptability ensures that observability with your existing infrastructure strategy can be effectively integrated with strategies for performance, security, or governance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-migration-support-and-services">Migration Support and Services</h2>



<p>Organizations can start by <a href="https://app.middleware.io/auth/register/">trying Middleware for free</a> to explore its features and understand how it fits into their environment. Once ready to migrate from ServiceNow, dedicated customer success and technical teams are available to guide the transition, ensuring a smooth and low-risk onboarding.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Detailed documentation and training resources are also provided to help teams get up to speed quickly and confidently, ensuring a seamless ServiceNow migration process that maintains business continuity and minimizes risk.</p>



<div class="container-cta">
  
<div><h3>✨Try Middleware Risk-Free</h3>
  <p>Explore AI-driven alerts, OpsAI, and full observability across cloud, applications, and Kubernetes—no commitment required.
 </p>

 <a href="https://app.middleware.io/auth/register/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><button class="primary white">Start Free Trial</button></a>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conclusion">Conclusion</h3>



<p>Migrating from ServiceNow Cloud Observability to Middleware is not just necessary to avoid disruption; a ServiceNow migration is a strategic step to enhance full-stack observability and AI-driven monitoring. The integrated, AI-driven platform of middleware provides unique operational capabilities through faster issue resolution, deeper insights, and adaptive scalability.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A smooth ServiceNow Lightstep migration process, transparent pricing, and dedicated expert support ensure that the business not only maintains continuity but also gains a competitive advantage through increased reliability, cost optimization, and developer productivity. Choosing middleware means predicting your observability strategy today to run continuous success tomorrow.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>👉 <a href="https://middleware.io/contact-us/">Contact us</a> today for a ServiceNow migration consultation or schedule a personalized demo.</p>
</blockquote>



<p><br></p>


Migrate from ServiceNow Cloud Observability to Middleware for seamless AI-driven monitoring, faster issue resolution, and flexible, cost-efficient observability.

Migration From ServiceNow Cloud Observability to Middleware


<p>High API latency frustrates users and can drive them to competitors. Monitoring and reducing latency is essential for a smooth user experience and system reliability.</p>



<p>For this reason, <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/how-dem-improve-user-journey/">user experience</a> and system reliability depend on the latency. Most of the time, the problem originates from API latency, which poor backend code, slow databases, or slow networks can cause.</p>



<p>The good news is that with Middleware APM, you don’t have to guess where the problem is coming from. You can <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/latency-reduction/">detect latency</a> issues early, identify the root cause, and resolve them before they affect users. In this article, you’ll learn how to use <a href="https://middleware.io/product/apm/">Middleware APM</a> to detect and reduce API latency.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-api-latency">What is API latency?</h2>



<p>API latency refers to the time it takes for an API to receive a request, process it, and send a response back to the user. It displays the wait time for users accessing your API.</p>



<p>Many people often confuse latency and throughput, so let me explain the difference between them. You can determine your system&#8217;s capacity to handle calls by examining its throughput, which indicates the number of calls it can process per unit of time, and its latency, which measures the time it takes to process each call. </p>



<p>Some systems have both high throughput and high latency. This means that they can handle a large number of requests simultaneously, but each one takes a considerable amount of time.</p>



<p>Some of the causes of high API latency include:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Network delays</strong>: Problems with routing, physical distance, and network congestion</li>



<li><strong>Third-party packages</strong>: Calls to external APIs and service integrations</li>



<li><strong>Backend processing issues</strong>: Insufficient server resources and scaling problems</li>



<li><strong>Infrastructure limitations</strong>: Insufficient server resources and scaling problems</li>
</ul>



<p>When you understand the causes of latency, it’ll be easier for you to handle it effectively.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-use-middleware-apm-to-fix-api-latency-problems">How to Use Middleware APM to Fix API Latency Problems</h2>



<p>With the aid of middleware&#8217;s extensive monitoring features, you can see how well your API is performing in real-time and spot problems before they become serious.</p>



<p>In this section, we’ll go through the complete process of setting up Middleware <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/reducing-error-rates-nodejs-with-apm/">APM for a Node.js application</a>. You’ll learn how to install and configure the <a href="https://docs.middleware.io/getting-started/deploying-the-agent">monitoring agent</a> and utilize Middleware’s dashboard to identify and <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/fix-application-performance-issues/">resolve performance issues</a> to their root cause.</p>



<div class="container-cta">
  
<div><h3>Detect &#038; Fix API Latency Instantly</h3>
  <p>Start monitoring your APIs in real time with Middleware APM. Identify slow endpoints, trace issues, and optimize performance effortlessly.
 </p>
  <a href="https://app.middleware.io/auth/register/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><button class="primary white">Monitor My API</button></a>
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<p><strong>Note</strong>: This approach also works for other languages. The only difference is the installation and configuration. You can use the ideas from this guide to work with different languages.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-set-up-a-simple-project">Set Up a Simple Project</h3>



<p>We need an application to work with before we can <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/api-monitoring/">monitor API</a> latency. A Node.js CRUD API that handles user data will be used for this demonstration. </p>



<p>We will later on include a couple of endpoints that simulate high and low latency scenarios. This will help us identify how different types of operations are displayed in the Middleware monitoring dashboard.</p>



<p>Here’s how to set up the project:</p>



<p><strong>1. Install dependencies</strong></p>



<p>You need to install Express.js, cors (if you&#8217;re using it with a frontend app), and Nodemon (to restart the server while you work on it) if you&#8217;re using Node.js.</p>



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npm init -y
npm install express cors nodemon
</code>
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<p><strong>2. Update package.json scripts</strong></p>



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"scripts": {
  "dev": "nodemon server.js"
}
</code>
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<p><strong>3. Create a server.js file and add the code</strong></p>



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const express = require('express');
const cors = require('cors');

const app = express();
const PORT = 4000;

app.use(cors());
app.use(express.json());

let users = [];
let userID = 1;

app.post('/users', (req, res) => {
    const {name, email} = req.body;
    const newUser = {id: userID++, name, email}
    users.push(newUser);
    res.status(201).json(newUser);
});

app.get('/users', (req, res) => {
    res.json(users);
});

app.get('/users/:id', (req, res) => {
    const user = users.find(u => u.id === parseInt(req.params.id));
    if(!user) return res.status(404).json({message: 'User not found'});
    res.json(user);
});

app.put("/users/:id", (req, res) => {
  const user = users.find(u => u.id === parseInt(req.params.id));
  if (!user) return res.status(404).json({ message: "User not found" });

  const { name, email } = req.body;
  user.name = name || user.name;
  user.email = email || user.email;
  res.json(user);
});

app.delete("/users/:id", (req, res) => {
  users = users.filter(u => u.id !== parseInt(req.params.id));
  res.json({ message: "User deleted" });
});

app.listen(PORT, () => {
    console.log(`Server is running on http://localhost:${PORT}`);
});
</code>
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<p>This includes endpoints for adding, retrieving, updating, and deleting users.</p>



<p><strong>4. Start the application</strong></p>



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npm run dev
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<p><strong>5. Test the endpoints</strong></p>



<p>Use Postman or your preferred API client to verify that the routes are functioning correctly.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1268" height="792" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/postman-api-testing.webp" alt="Testing Node.js API endpoints using Postman" class="wp-image-12673"/></figure>



<p>Now that the API is up and running, we can add Middleware APM and begin real-time tracking of latency.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-install-and-configure-middleware-agent">Install and Configure Middleware Agent</h3>



<p>Now that our API is up and running, we&#8217;ll add Middleware APM to monitor the app&#8217;s performance. The middleware agent will automatically collect metrics, traces, and performance data.</p>



<p><strong>1. Create a Middleware account and get your API key</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Sign up at <a href="http://middleware.io">middleware.io</a></li>



<li>Log in to your dashboard, navigate to your profile, then click “API Key” to get your API key</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1197" height="635" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/middleware-dashboard-api-key.webp" alt="Accessing Middleware API key from dashboard" class="wp-image-12674"/></figure>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>You’ll need this key to authenticate your application with Middleware’s servers</li>
</ul>



<p><strong>2. Install the Middleware agent</strong></p>



<p>In your project directory, run:</p>



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npm install @middleware.io/node-apm --save
</code>
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<p><strong>3. Initialize the agent</strong></p>



<p>At the top of your project file (server.js), add:</p>



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const tracker = require('@middleware.io/node-apm');
tracker.track({
  serviceName: "Latency-With-APM",
  accessToken: "<MW_API_KEY>",
  target: "https://ccang.middleware.io",
});
</code>
</pre>
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<p>&lt;MW_API_KEY&gt; is the API key from your dashboard. Replace it.</p>



<p><strong>4. Restart your application and make a request.</strong></p>



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npm run dev
</code>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-check-dashboard">Check Dashboard</h3>



<p>After your application is up and running and linked to Middleware, you may examine the monitoring dashboard to identify any signs of latency problems.</p>



<p><strong>1. Confirm your service is connected</strong></p>



<p>From your Middleware dashboard, scroll down to the section labeled &#8220;Services.&#8221; The name of the service you chose during setup should appear, such as Latency-With-APM, if it appears that your app is sending data correctly.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1383" height="561" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/middleware-service-connected.webp" alt="Middleware dashboard showing connected service" class="wp-image-12675"/></figure>



<p><strong>2. Simulate latency for testing</strong></p>



<p>You can verify if the Middleware is catching delays by making your endpoints act like they are experiencing latency. For instance:</p>



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<div class="pre" id="code-blog"><pre><code>
// 5-second delay on /users
app.get('/users', (req, res) => {
  setTimeout(() => {
    res.json(users);
  }, 5000); // 5000 ms = 5 seconds delay
});

// 4-second delay on /users/:id
app.get('/users/:id', (req, res) => {
  setTimeout(() => {
    const user = users.find(u => u.id === parseInt(req.params.id));
    if (!user) return res.status(404).json({ message: "User not found" });
    res.json(user);
  }, 4000); // simulate 4s latency
});
</code>
</pre>
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</div>



<p>When you call these endpoints, go to your dashboard and navigate to the APM section. There, you’ll find <a href="https://middleware.io/product/metrics/">metrics</a> and information that you can use to analyze and resolve issues in your application.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1398" height="467" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/middleware-apm-metrics-dashboard.webp" alt="Middleware APM dashboard showing API metrics" class="wp-image-12676"/></figure>



<p>You’ll also see each request you made, along with the time it took to receive a response.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1194" height="303" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/middleware-apm-request-tracing.webp" alt="Middleware APM showing individual API requests and response times" class="wp-image-12677"/></figure>



<p>This information will help you identify the endpoint that is experiencing issues. When you click on each one, you&#8217;ll also discover further information that will help you figure out what went wrong.</p>



<p><strong>3. Set up alerts</strong></p>



<p>Go to the Alerts section and create a rule for response times. For example, set a threshold so you’re notified if an endpoint takes more than 2 seconds to respond.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="854" height="404" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/middleware-apm-alerts-setup.gif" alt="Setting up API response time alerts in Middleware APM" class="wp-image-12679"/></figure>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>Set up response time alerts in Middleware APM to get instant notifications when your endpoints slow down. 👉<a href="https://docs.middleware.io/workflow/alerting/setup-alert">Configure Alerts Now</a></p>
</blockquote>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-hotplat-reduced-latencies-by-90-with-middleware">How Hotplat Reduced Latencies by 90% with Middleware</h3>



<p><a href="https://middleware.io/customers/hotplate/">Hotplate</a>, a fast-growing platform for pop-up chefs, struggled with performance issues during high-traffic events. Their team required a cost-effective solution to detect problems, reduce latency, and enhance the customer experience.</p>



<p>According to Rangaraj Tirumala, the founding engineer at Hotplate,</p>



<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>“We experienced frequent performance issues but lacked the tools to measure the extent of the degradation accurately.”</p><cite>Rangaraj Tirumala, the founding engineer at Hotplate</cite></blockquote></figure>



<p>By adopting Middleware APM and <a href="https://middleware.io/product/real-user-monitoring/">Real-User Monitoring (RUM)</a>, Hotplate achieved:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>90% reduction in latency across millions of monthly events</li>



<li>75% faster root cause analysis using detailed traces and <a href="https://middleware.io/product/real-user-monitoring/session-replays/">session replays</a></li>



<li>10x <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/reduce-observability-costs/">reduction in observability&nbsp;costs</a> compared to other tools</li>
</ul>



<p>Middleware APM’s combination of <a href="https://middleware.io/product/distributed-tracing/">detailed tracing</a>, real-user monitoring, and cost-effective pricing enabled Hotplate to transform its <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/api-monitoring/">API performance</a> while scaling efficiently. With Middleware, Hotplate not only optimized <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-application-performance-monitoring/">system performance</a> but also enhanced customer interactions by diagnosing issues from the user’s perspective.</p>



<p>Managing API latency is necessary for building responsive applications. With Middleware APM, you don’t just detect latency issues; you can trace them to the root cause and resolve them before they affect users.</p>



<div class="container-cta">
  
<div><h3>Start Tracking Latency in Real-Time</h3>
  <p>Learn how to visualize your API performance, set alerts, and troubleshoot issues faster with Middleware’s APM.
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  <a href="https://middleware.io/product/apm/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><button class="primary white">Explore APM</button></a>

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<p><a href="https://middleware.io/product/apm/">Get started with Middleware APM</a> to reduce API latency.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-faqs">FAQs</h3>


		<section		help class="sc_fs_faq sc_card    "
				>
				<h3>What is a good latency threshold for APIs?</h3>				<div>
						<div class="sc_fs_faq__content">
				

<p>It depends on the use case. However, generally, APIs should respond within 100-500 ms for a smooth user experience. Anything over 1 second usually feels slow.</p>

			</div>
		</div>
		</section>
				<section		help class="sc_fs_faq sc_card    "
				>
				<h3>How quickly can Middleware detect latency anomalies?</h3>				<div>
						<div class="sc_fs_faq__content">
				

<p>Middleware detects issues in real time. It flags unusual spikes in latency as soon as they occur.</p>

			</div>
		</div>
		</section>
				<section		help class="sc_fs_faq sc_card    "
				>
				<h3>Can Middleware monitor APIs across multiple regions?</h3>				<div>
						<div class="sc_fs_faq__content">
				

<p>Yes. Middleware can track API performance across different regions and environments, helping you spot region-specific issues.</p>

			</div>
		</div>
		</section>
				<section		help class="sc_fs_faq sc_card    "
				>
				<h3>What languages and frameworks can Middleware APM work with?</h3>				<div>
						<div class="sc_fs_faq__content">
				

<p>Middleware APM can be integrated with various popular programming languages and tools, including Node.js, Python, Java, .NET, Ruby, PHP, and others. This makes it simple to integrate with most tech stacks.</p>

			</div>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-"></h3>


Detect and resolve API latency with Middleware APM. Learn real-time monitoring, tracing, and optimization techniques to boost API performance and reliability.

Detecting and Resolving API Latency Issues with Middleware APM

Switching monitoring tools feels risky. This guide shows what your first 4 weeks with Middleware look like from setup to full ROI and cost savings.

What to expect when you switch to Middleware(Day 0 – Week 4)

Learn to troubleshoot common Kubernetes errors like CrashLoopBackOff, OOMKilled, and ImagePullBackOff for smooth pod and cluster performance.

Kubernetes Common Errors & How to Fix Them

Gain clarity on Kubernetes metrics with best practices for collection, analysis, and monitoring. Ensure cluster health, optimize performance, and debug issues faster.

Understanding Kubernetes Metrics: Best Practices for Effective Monitoring

Learn how to restart Kubernetes pods using kubectl, why it matters, and the safest methods plus monitor pods easily with Middleware for smarter decisions.

How to Restart Pods in Kubernetes Using kubectl

Automate complex workloads with a K8 Operator. Simplify scaling, backups, upgrades, and observability for stateful apps like databases and message queues.

Automating Stateful Apps with Kubernetes Operators


<p>Running production workloads on Kubernetes without proper <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/observability/">observability</a> is like flying blind in adverse conditions. As your applications run across multiple pods, nodes, and services, monitoring your Kubernetes app in real time becomes essential to understand what’s happening under the surface. A single failing pod or resource bottleneck can quickly escalate into a critical outage, making effective Kubernetes app monitoring crucial to ensuring business continuity.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>Learn more about <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/kubernetes-observability/">Kubernetes observability</a> concepts and best practices in our dedicated guide.</p>
</blockquote>



<p>In production environments, <a href="https://middleware.io/">Middleware</a> simplifies Kubernetes monitoring by offering a fast, visual way to monitor workloads. Additionally, this modern observability platform provides comprehensive insights through intuitive dashboards and intelligent, <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/real-time-alerts/">real-time alerts</a>.</p>



<p></p>



<p>This tutorial demonstrates how to set up Middleware, <a href="https://middleware.io/product/metrics/">monitor metrics</a> and <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-log-monitoring/">logs</a> in real-time, navigate the UI, and maintain a smooth running of your Kubernetes apps.</p>



<div class="table-of-content" id="accordian">
<div class="toc-heading" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#toc">
Table of Contents
</div> <div id="toc" class="collapse" data-parent="#accordian">
<div class="toc-list">
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</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-setting-up-middleware-for-kubernetes-application-monitoring">Setting Up Middleware for Kubernetes Application Monitoring</h2>



<p>Deploy Middleware into your Kubernetes cluster in just a few simple steps. Unlike other monitoring tools that require large configuration files and complex setup procedures, Middleware gets you monitoring in minutes, not hours.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-step-1-signing-up-or-logging-into-middleware">Step 1: Signing up or logging into Middleware</h3>



<p>Visit Middleware to <a href="https://app.middleware.io/auth/register/">create an account</a> or log in if you already have one. The signup is quick and easy; enter your basic details, and you’re ready to start.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1600" height="868" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Middleware-Kubernetes-monitoring-dashboard-showing-cluster-overview-and-real-time-metrics.webp" alt="Middleware monitoring dashboard showing cluster overview and real-time metrics" class="wp-image-12281"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-step-2-installing-the-middleware-agent-helm-chart-in-the-cluster">Step 2: Installing the Middleware agent/Helm chart in the cluster</h3>



<p>Next, install the Middleware agent in your Kubernetes cluster. Once logged in, Middleware provides a simple <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/helm-chart-tutorial/">Helm chart</a> command that adds the Helm repository. Installing the agent then takes just a few easy steps, as shown below.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>For full installation instructions and advanced setup options, refer to the official Middleware documentation → <a href="https://docs.middleware.io/agent-installation/kubernetes/kubernetes-agent">Middleware Kubernetes Agent Installation Guide</a>.</p>
</blockquote>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1579" height="840" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Installing-Middleware-agent-in-Kubernetes-cluster-using-Helm-chart-commands.webp" alt="Installing Middleware agent in Kubernetes cluster using Helm chart commands" class="wp-image-12283"/></figure>



<p>And that’s it! Deployed as a DaemonSet, the agent automatically runs on every node in your cluster, ensuring complete monitoring with no additional setup required.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-step-3-automatic-cluster-discovery-nodes-pods-deployments">Step 3: Automatic cluster discovery (nodes, pods, deployments)</h3>



<p>Middleware makes cluster discovery effortless, with no manual configuration required. Once the agent is deployed, it automatically detects and monitors all key components:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Nodes:</strong> All worker and master nodes are detected automatically</li>



<li><strong>Pods:</strong> Every pod across all namespaces gets monitored</li>



<li><strong>Deployments:</strong> Your applications and services are identified instantly</li>



<li><strong>Services:</strong> Network components are mapped without manual setup</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1640" height="1174" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Middleware-automatically-discovering-Kubernetes-nodes-pods-deployments-and-services.webp" alt="Middleware automatically discovering Kubernetes nodes, pods, deployments, and services" class="wp-image-12284"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-step-4-verifying-successful-connection-and-data-ingestion">Step 4: Verifying successful connection and data ingestion</h3>



<p>You should confirm everything works correctly in the final step. Within a few minutes of installation, you should see data streaming into your Middleware dashboard.</p>



<p>First, check the infrastructure view to confirm that all cluster nodes are visible and that your pods are actively sending metrics. Once real-time data appears on your dashboards, you know Middleware is successfully monitoring your Kubernetes cluster.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1784" height="925" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Middleware-dashboard-showing-real-time-Kubernetes-cluster-metrics-and-node-monitoring.webp" alt="Middleware dashboard showing real-time cluster metrics and node monitoring" class="wp-image-12285"/></figure>



<p>The best part about Middleware is its simplicity. Unlike other tools that require extensive configuration, custom dashboards, or manual monitoring setup, Middleware handles everything automatically, giving you complete Kubernetes monitoring with virtually no effort.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observing-metrics-for-monitoring-of-your-kubernetes-app">Observing Metrics for Monitoring of Your Kubernetes App</h2>



<p>With Middleware running, you can start monitoring your Kubernetes cluster in real time. Its intuitive UI makes tracking metrics and cluster activity simple and efficient.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>Monitoring CPU, memory, and storage metrics is crucial for avoiding bottlenecks. For a comprehensive overview of Kubernetes monitoring approaches, <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/kubernetes-monitoring/">see our guide</a>.</p>
</blockquote>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cluster-overview-live-view-for-monitoring-your-kubernetes-app">Cluster Overview: Live View for Monitoring Your Kubernetes App</h3>



<p>When you launch Middleware after your agent installation, you will see the Cluster Overview page. Think of this page as your command center. You can see all your nodes, your namespaces, and even your pods with their current status clearly. My favorite part is that you can quickly determine which areas of your cluster are running healthily and which require attention.</p>



<p>The live view changes in real time, so you&#8217;re never looking at stale info. You will see your workloads in their current state, not as they were five minutes ago. This real-time feedback is extremely useful while troubleshooting or simply ensuring that the new deployment went smoothly.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-resource-utilization-cpu-memory-and-storage-metrics-at-the-pod-and-node-levels">Resource Utilization: CPU, memory, and storage metrics at the pod and node levels</h4>



<p>Middleware visualizes resource usage with easy-to-read charts, making monitoring your Kubernetes app effortless and accurate. You can drill down from cluster-level metrics to individual pods, monitoring CPU, memory, and storage efficiently.</p>



<p>When users report slow responses, you can quickly identify whether a node is maxed out on CPU or a specific pod consumes excessive memory. Storage metrics help prevent surprises like unexpected disk full alerts, keeping your cluster running smoothly.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1348" height="925" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Middleware-dashboard-showing-Kubernetes-cluster-overview-with-nodes-pods-resource-utilization-metrics.webp" alt="Middleware dashboard showing cluster overview with nodes, pods, resource utilization metrics" class="wp-image-12286"/></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pod-health-and-restarts-tracking-your-kubernetes-app-for-crashes-and-restarts">Pod Health and Restarts: Tracking Your Kubernetes App for Crashes and Restarts</h4>



<p>Pods can be unpredictable, but Middleware’s <strong>Pod Health and Restarts</strong> monitoring removes the guesswork. You can instantly see which pods have restarted, how often, and whether a deployment has failed.</p>



<p>Middleware also tracks restart trends over time, helping you identify consistent issues before they impact your applications. Any underlying reasons for failures are highlighted, reducing the need to dig through logs manually.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>Explore common pod issues and their resolutions in our <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/kubernetes-troubleshooting-techniques/">Top 10 Kubernetes Troubleshooting Techniques</a> blog.</p>
</blockquote>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1695" height="875" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Middleware-dashboard-showing-Kubernetes-pod-health-restarts-and-failed-deployments.webp" alt="Middleware dashboard showing pod health, restarts, and failed deployments" class="wp-image-12288"/></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-network-metrics-traffic-between-services-and-latency-insights">Network Metrics: Traffic between services and latency insights</h4>



<p>Middleware’s <strong>Network Metrics</strong> make it easy to visualize traffic between services, identify bottlenecks, and detect unusual patterns in service-to-service communication.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>For insights into managing network-related issues, check out our <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/exit-code-137-in-kubernetes-causes-diagnosis-fixes/">Exit Code 137 in Kubernetes: Causes, Diagnosis, and Fixes</a></p>
</blockquote>



<p><a href="https://middleware.io/blog/latency-reduction/">Latency</a> insights help you quickly determine if performance issues are caused by the network or specific service calls, allowing faster troubleshooting and improved <a href="https://middleware.io/product/apm/">application performance</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1906" height="983" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Middleware-dashboard-showing-Kubernetes-network-traffic-and-service-latency-metrics.webp" alt="Middleware dashboard showing network traffic and service latency metrics" class="wp-image-12289"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-automatic-anomaly-detection-your-silent-guardian">Automatic Anomaly Detection: Your Silent Guardian</h3>



<p>Middleware goes beyond charts by actively analyzing metrics, ensuring continuous monitoring of your Kubernetes application, and automatically <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/anomaly-detection/">detecting anomalies</a>. It identifies unusual behavior, such as a pod consuming 90% CPU at midnight, and alerts you before it impacts your applications.</p>



<p>The system learns what’s normal in your cluster and flags abnormal <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/debug-faster-with-log-patterns/">log patterns</a>, whether it’s unexpected pod restarts or unusual memory usage, so you can address issues proactively and maintain stable Kubernetes operations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-centralized-logs-and-alerts-for-kubernetes-app-monitoring">Centralized Logs and Alerts for Kubernetes App Monitoring</h2>



<p>When something goes wrong in your cluster, you need answers fast. Middleware automatically pulls logs from all your containers, pods, and cluster events into a single unified view, with no extra configuration required and no separate log agents to manage. Everything flows into a single, searchable interface.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>Learn more about <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/kubernetes-logging/">Kubernetes logging best practices</a> to optimize log collection and troubleshooting.</p>
</blockquote>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-searching-and-filtering-logs">Searching and Filtering Logs</h3>



<p>Middleware’s log viewer makes finding issues simple. <a href="https://docs.middleware.io/workflow/log-monitoring/search-filter">Filter logs</a> instantly by service, namespace, or time window, or search using error codes, service names, or partial messages. The interface updates in real time, so you don’t waste time while troubleshooting critical problems.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-one-click-filtering-and-severity-switching">One-Click Filtering and Severity Switching</h3>



<p>Click any value pod name, error type, or request ID to filter similar entries automatically. Severity switching allows you to toggle between <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/log-levels-guide/">log levels</a> <strong>error, warning, and info logs</strong>, with color-coded highlighting for fast visual analysis. These one-click filters save valuable time, helping you <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/catch-deployment-issues/">debug production issues</a> efficiently.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1579" height="839" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/middleware-kubernetes-logs-dashboard.webp" alt="Middleware centralized log viewer showing Kubernetes container, pod, and cluster logs with filters and severity levels" class="wp-image-12290"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alerts-amp-notifications">Alerts &amp; Notifications</h2>



<p>With Middleware, you can stay ahead of issues before they impact your users. <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://docs.middleware.io/workflow/alerting/setup-alert">Setting up&nbsp;alerts</a> for your Kubernetes cluster&nbsp;is simple;</span> no complex YAML or rule syntax is needed.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-configuring-alerts-for-kubernetes-events">Configuring Alerts for Kubernetes Events</h3>



<p>Use the alert configuration UI to monitor what matters most. Set alerts for pod failures, <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/prevent-cpu-overload-on-linux-servers/">high CPU usage</a> or memory usage, and unexpected restart rates. Drag-and-drop sliders and namespace selection make configuration fast and easy. Restart thresholds help catch subtle issues like <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/memory-leaks/">memory leaks</a> or misconfigurations before they escalate.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>For advanced debugging techniques, refer to our Troubleshoot Smarter Using Advanced <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/debug-logging/">Debug Logging</a> Techniques</p>
</blockquote>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alert-dashboard-and-incident-timeline">Alert Dashboard and Incident Timeline</h3>



<p>The dashboard displays warnings on a timeline, showing when issues occurred and their context. You can quickly see affected pods, relevant metrics, and associated log entries to troubleshoot efficiently.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-integration-with-slack-and-pagerduty">Integration with Slack and PagerDuty</h3>



<p>Middleware integrates with Slack and PagerDuty, sending notifications directly to your team for quick response. <a href="https://middleware.io/platform/alerts/">Alerts</a> provide enough context to understand the severity and scope of an issue, keeping your team informed and proactive.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1698" height="1027" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/middleware-kubernetes-alerts-dashboard.webp" alt="Middleware Kubernetes alert dashboard showing pod failures, CPU/memory alerts, and incident timeline" class="wp-image-12291"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-try-middleware-for-your-kubernetes-clusters-today">Try Middleware for your Kubernetes clusters today</h2>



<p>You now have everything you need to monitor your Kubernetes clusters professionally. Middleware makes everything surprisingly simple, from real-time data and consolidated logs to helpful smart alarms.</p>



<p>Why not see it in action? <a href="https://app.middleware.io/auth/register/">Start monitoring your Kubernetes app</a> with Middleware today and experience monitoring that works. Your future self (and your team) will thank you for making the switch.</p>



<p>Your clusters are waiting for the monitoring they deserve.</p>



<div class="container-cta">
  
<div><h3>Take Control of Your Kubernetes Monitoring with Middleware</h3>
  <p>Get real-time visibility, automatic pod and node discovery, intelligent alerts, and centralized logs—all in one platform.
 </p>
  <a href="https://docs.middleware.io/getting-started/deploying-the-agent/k8s-agent" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><button class="primary white">Deploy the Middleware Agent</button></a>

 <a href="https://app.middleware.io/auth/register/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><button class="secondary white">Start Monitoring Now</button></a>
</div>

</div>


Monitor your Kubernetes application clusters with Middleware. Get real-time dashboards, intelligent alerts, auto-discovery of pods and nodes, and centralized logs for smooth operations.

Monitoring Kubernetes Application with Middleware

EKS monitoring helps you track nodes, pods, apps, and security in Kubernetes. This guide explains what to monitor, tools available, and how Middleware makes observability simple.

Amazon EKS Monitoring: Essential Guide to Kubernetes Observability

Exit code 137 in Kubernetes means a container was killed with SIGKILL, usually due to running out of memory (OOMKilled). Learn the common causes, how to diagnose it, and the best fixes to prevent forced pod terminations.

Exit Code 137 in Kubernetes: Causes, Diagnosis, and Fixes


<p>Hyderabad, the city of Nawabs, was buzzing on August 5–7, 2025, as KubeCon India 2025 brought together over 4,000 cloud-native and <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-devops/">DevOps</a> professionals, featuring 12+ keynotes, 10+ lightning talks, 56+ technical sessions, and 30+ booths. KubeCon India 2025 was more than just a conference; it was a convergence of innovation, collaboration, and the relentless pursuit of excellence in the <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/cloud-infrastructure-guide/">cloud-native ecosystem</a>.</p>



<p><a href="https://middleware.io/">Middleware</a> immersed itself in the heart of this transformative event, showcasing our commitment to helping organisations with an AI-powered <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/observability/">observability</a> solution.</p>



<p>Building on last year’s experiences in the US, Middleware brought the same energy and commitment to India, further reinforcing our global presence in the cloud-native ecosystem.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-back-from-kubecon-usa-to-india">Looking Back: From KubeCon USA to India</h3>



<p>Last year, Middleware sponsored <a href="https://middleware.io/events/kubecon-na-2024/">KubeCon USA 2024</a> and collaborated with Devtron to host a Happy Hour party, attracting over 200 attendees, including CNCF ambassadors and industry leaders. Inspired by the event’s impact, our team decided to sponsor <a href="https://middleware.io/events/kubecon-india-2025/">KubeCon India 2025</a>, reinforcing Middleware’s commitment to innovation and community engagement.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kubecon-kickoff-round-table-thought-leadership-in-action">KubeCon Kickoff Round Table: Thought Leadership in Action</h2>



<p>On August 5, 2025, Middleware hosted a <strong><a href="https://middleware.io/events/kubecon-kickoff-india-2025/">pre-KubeCon round table</a></strong> in Radisson Hitech City, Hyderabad:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Objectives</strong>: Facilitate a discussion on challenges faced by DevOps experts and AI-operated solutions.</li>



<li><strong>Attendance</strong>: Despite heavy rains, 25 senior industry leaders of top technology companies participated.</li>



<li><strong>Highlight:</strong> The session concluded with a live demonstration of <a href="https://middleware.io/product/ops-ai/">OpsAI</a>, garnering glowing feedback and several requests for follow-up demonstrations.</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p><em>&#8220;It was incredible to witness leaders sharing insights and engaging deeply on the future of DevOps and AI,&#8221;</em>  </p><cite><strong>Sam Suthar, Founding Director</strong> at <strong>Middleware.</strong></cite></blockquote></figure>



<p>Beyond thought leadership sessions, Middleware also engaged attendees directly at our booth, turning conversations into hands-on experiences with our AI-powered <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/observability/tools/">observability tools</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="720" height="585" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/KubeCon-Kickoff-Round-Table-Thought-Leadership-in-Action.webp" alt="KubeCon Kickoff Round Table Thought Leadership in Action" class="wp-image-12117"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-engaging-with-attendees-at-the-booth">Engaging with Attendees at the Booth</h2>



<p>Middleware’s booth at Novotel became a hub for interaction:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Hands-on OpsAI <a href="https://middleware.io/demo-request/">demos</a>.</li>



<li>Discussion on the challenges faced by the company in Observability.</li>



<li>Interactive quizzes and Q&amp;A sessions.</li>



<li>Networking with industry leaders, DevOps professionals, and observability experts.</li>
</ul>



<p>The booth attracted high engagement, with more than 100 people present at the time of the OpsAI Demo and giveaway. Attendees asked detailed technical questions about OpsAI and its application in real-world DevOps scenarios.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-middleware-developer-advocate-session-highlights">Middleware Developer Advocate Session Highlights</h2>



<p>Our session, <strong>“Freeze, Investigate, Recover: Unlocking Forensic Container Checkpointing with CRI-U”</strong>, led by Neel Shah, offered an insightful look into container checkpointing.</p>



<p>Using CRIU technology, he explored how developers can capture complete container states, perform in-depth investigations, and recover seamlessly, unlocking new possibilities in security, <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/debug-logging/">debugging</a>, and incident response.</p>



<p>Alongside the session, we shared engaging activities, showcased live demos, and distributed giveaways, making the experience interactive and memorable for all participants.</p>



<p>Watch the full session highlights <a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj6h78yzYM2MEQTMX_LIOK1hrePHxLD6U&amp;si=Dmr22OzxcM5_S_xA">here</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Freeze,Investigate,Recover: Unlocking Forensic Container Checkpoint... Suman Chakraborty &amp; Neel Shah" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CRPhKh1hqmc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<p>These sessions, demos, and activities combined to highlight Middleware’s broader impact, from innovation to community engagement.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-middleware-impact-amp-takeaways">Middleware Impact &amp; Takeaways</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Showcasing Innovation:</strong> OpsAI demos highlighted the power of AI-driven DevOps.<br></li>



<li><strong>Thought Leadership:</strong> Hosting a <strong>pre-event round table</strong> positioned Middleware as a leader in AI, Observability and cloud-native solutions.<br></li>



<li><strong>Community Engagement:</strong> Interacted with thousands of attendees, building relationships and gaining insights into the future of cloud-native technologies.</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="720" height="388" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/KubeCon-India-2025-1.webp" alt="KubeCon India 2025" class="wp-image-12127"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-journey-of-innovation-and-collaboration">A Journey of Innovation and Collaboration</h3>



<p>Our KubeCon experience began well before the event. In the days leading up to the conference, our team engaged in spirited discussions with industry leaders, sharing insights and exploring the future of cloud-native technologies. These conversations set the stage for the impactful interactions that would unfold at the conference.</p>



<p>Our impact at the event was rooted in the efforts that began long before KubeCon India, as our team engaged in strategic conversations and collaborations with industry leaders.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-takeaways-from-the-event">Key Takeaways from the Event</h3>



<p>KubeCon India 2025 provided invaluable insights into the future of DevOps:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>AI is Transforming DevOps:</strong> The integration of AI is enhancing efficiency and resilience in cloud-native environments.<br></li>



<li><strong>Observability is Crucial:</strong> Real-time insights are essential for proactive issue resolution and system optimization.<br></li>



<li><strong>Community Collaboration Drives Innovation:</strong> Shared knowledge and experiences accelerate the development of cutting-edge solutions.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-join-the-middleware-community">Join the Middleware Community</h3>



<p>KubeCon India 2025 reinforced Middleware’s commitment to innovation, AI-driven DevOps, and community leadership.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://middleware.io/events/"><strong>Stay updated</strong></a> on upcoming events and webinars.<br></li>



<li><a href="https://middleware.io/demo-request/"><strong>Request a demo</strong></a> of OpsAI to see how AI can optimize your DevOps workflow.<br></li>



<li><a href="https://middlewarepublic.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-39l76rpo6-ZNGfpA_4U_kYL6oTuYAgmQ"><strong>Join our community</strong></a> to discuss observability and OpsAI in more detail.</li>
</ul>



<p>Watch the highlights of the event <a href="https://youtu.be/glDbS-uL9Aw">here</a>. See you at the next KubeCon!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="KubeCon India 2025 Highlights" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/glDbS-uL9Aw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<p>Building on the momentum from KubeCon India, Middleware is now gearing up for its next milestone: KubeCon USA 2025, where we will continue to showcase AI-driven DevOps innovation on a global stage.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gearing-up-for-kubecon-usa-2025-nbsp">Gearing Up for KubeCon USA 2025&nbsp;</h2>



<p>We are thrilled to announce that Middleware will be heading to KubeCon NA USA 2025 from November 10th to 13th in Atlanta, Georgia, joining the global cloud-native community for this milestone event. </p>



<p>As industry experts and enthusiasts gather to discuss cloud-native innovation and <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/observability/trends/">observability trends</a>, our team looks forward to showcasing Middleware’s AI-powered observability solution, which helps organizations drastically <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/observability-ways-to-reduce-it-costs-with-observability/">cut observability costs</a>, speed up issue resolution, and elevate <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-application-performance-monitoring/">application performance</a>.  For full details, visit <a href="https://middleware.io/events/kubecon-na-2025/">KubeCon USA 2025</a>.</p>


Middleware stood out at KubeCon India 2025 by highlighting AI-driven observability with OpsAI, conducting a container checkpointing session, hosting a pre-event roundtable, and connecting with the cloud-native community through demos, activities, and interactive discussions.

Middleware at KubeCon India 2025

Master debug logging in Node.js and other apps. Learn best practices, avoid common mistakes, and monitor logs efficiently for faster troubleshooting.

Troubleshoot Smarter Using Advanced Debug Logging Techniques 

Every click and form submission matters in your web app. Middleware’s browser tests help you monitor full user journeys, catch hidden issues like JavaScript errors, layout failures, or broken logins, and fix them before they frustrate your users.

Monitor Web App User Journeys with Browser Tests in Middleware

Server health monitoring helps you detect issues early, maintain uptime, and deliver a seamless user experience. This guide covers essential metrics, monitoring methods, and how Middleware simplifies the process with real-time insights and alerts.

Proactive Server Health Monitoring: Avoid Downtime Before It Happens


<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>“Every minute spent chasing a bug in production is a minute not spent building features. The biggest slowdown? Figuring out <em>who owns the failing code.</em>”</p>
</blockquote>



<p>Production errors are a headache for every engineering team. The issue isn’t just the bug itself, but the time it takes to trace where it came from, who wrote the code, and how it slipped through. Without the right <strong>error debugging tools</strong>, engineers often bounce between error <a href="https://middleware.io/product/log-monitoring/">logs</a>, GitHub commit history, and Slack threads to figure out who should even look into the problem.</p>



<p>Middleware’s Ops AI changes that. Pulling in GitHub commit and ownership data directly into your <strong>error tracking with GitHub</strong> workflow shows you the root cause and the right owner in seconds. No more guesswork, no more wasting hours chasing leads that go nowhere.</p>



<p>In this blog, we’ll explore how Middleware’s integration with GitHub works, how it automatically maps errors to code changes and owners, and how this level of <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/incident-management-kpis/">incident management</a> automation helps teams resolve issues faster and <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/how-to-reduce-mttr/">reduce mean time to resolution</a> (MTTR).</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>Looking to cut debugging time in half? <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/opsai-ai-observability-copilot/">See how Middleware</a> helps engineering teams streamline error resolution. </p>
</blockquote>



<div class="table-of-content" id="accordian">
<div class="toc-heading" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#toc">
Table of Contents
</div> <div id="toc" class="collapse" data-parent="#accordian">
<div class="toc-list">
</div>
</div>
</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-middleware-ops-ai">What Is Middleware Ops AI?</h2>



<p>To understand how GitHub data powers better error tracking, it’s important to understand what <a href="https://middleware.io/product/ops-ai/">Middleware Ops AI</a> actually is.</p>



<p>Middleware Ops AI is an AI-powered <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/observability/">observability</a> engine that monitors your application stack: <a href="https://middleware.io/product/apm/">APM</a>, logs, metrics, <a href="https://middleware.io/product/synthetic-monitoring/">frontend performance</a>, and automatically correlates incidents with the underlying code and responsible teams. Unlike traditional <strong>error debugging tools</strong>, it doesn’t just tell you that something broke. It tells you why, where, and who can fix it.</p>



<p>Here’s what makes Ops AI unique:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://middleware.io/blog/anomaly-detection/">Detects anomalies</a> across backend, frontend, and <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-infrastructure-monitoring/">infrastructure</a> automatically.<br></li>



<li>Links each error to the exact code commit, file, and developer who last changed it with <strong>error tracking through GitHub commits</strong>.<br></li>



<li>In high-confidence scenarios, generate a pull request with a recommended fix.<br></li>



<li>Assigns incidents based on real ownership, not guesswork or rotating on-call schedules.<br></li>



<li>Only pulls metadata and specific lines of code necessary to diagnose the issue, not your entire repo.</li>
</ul>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>👉 Want to try it yourself? <a href="https://docs.middleware.io/integrations/github-integration">See how to set up GitHub Integrations</a> and connect Middleware Ops AI with your repo in minutes.</p>
</blockquote>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-github-commit-and-ownership-data-actually-helps-you-fix-errors-faster">How GitHub Commit and Ownership Data Actually Helps You Fix Errors Faster</h2>



<p>Let’s be honest, when an error shows up in production, </p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>First question isn’t “what failed?” It’s “who last touched this code?”</p>
</blockquote>



<p>And that’s where <a href="https://middleware.io/product/ops-ai/">Middleware’s Ops AI</a> makes a big difference. Instead of leaving you to jump between your error logs and GitHub manually, it connects the dots for you, showing which commit introduced the problem, who made the change, and how it’s connected to the current error.</p>



<p>Here’s how it works in real life:</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trace-errors-to-the-exact-commit">Trace Errors to the Exact Commit</h2>



<p>When an error hits production, most teams scramble to answer: <em>what changed that triggered this?</em> </p>



<p>With Middleware, you don’t have to dig through logs or GitHub history yourself. It uses <strong>error tracking with GitHub</strong> to match the error to the right commit automatically.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Introducing Ops AI by Middleware | Observability Co-pilot | AI Agent" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/29pzH-1_Dpc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">In this short demo, you’ll see how Ops AI detects issues across your stack and automatically recommends GitHub fixes.</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>Here’s how it works:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Matches the stack trace to the right commit: </strong>When something breaks, Middleware looks at the stack trace, pinpoints the exact file and line where it happened, and checks your Git history for commits that touched those areas, even across different branches.<br></li>



<li><strong>Finds the real cause, not just the last deploy: </strong>The most recent commit/deploy isn’t always the culprit. Middleware looks for the meaningful change that actually caused the issue, even if it happened hours or days earlier.<br></li>



<li><strong>Puts all the commit details in your alert: </strong>When a commit is flagged, you see who made the change, the diff, the commit message, the timestamp, and the pull request link; all without leaving the <a href="https://docs.middleware.io/workflow/alerting/setup-alert">alert</a>.<br></li>



<li><strong>Keeps results clean for big codebases: </strong>For monorepos or multi-service setups, Middleware scopes its search to the correct repo structure or service, so you don’t get flooded with irrelevant matches.<br></li>



<li><strong>Connects deploys to commits: </strong>By linking deployment markers to Git commit hashes, it’s easy to confirm whether a bug came from the latest push or if it’s a regression from an older change.</li>
</ul>



<p>With this workflow, engineering teams can <strong>reduce mean time to resolution (MTTR)</strong> dramatically turning hours of detective work into minutes.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-use-case">Use Case</h3>



<p>If a deployment suddenly triggers 500 errors on a critical API, Middleware’s Ops AI can help you identify the exact commit responsible within seconds. By linking stack traces to commit history and showing the code diff, you’ll know exactly what changed and who owns it. </p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>Learn more about how Middleware improves error tracking and <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/how-to-reduce-mttr/">cuts down MTTR</a> ⏱️ for modern engineering teams</p>
</blockquote>



<p>From there, you can roll back or patch the issue in minutes, without combing through logs or GitHub manually.</p>



<p>Middleware not only matches stack traces to commits but also filters logs by severity <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/log-levels-guide/">logs level </a>(Error, Warning, Info). This ensures you’re focusing on the real problem instead of sifting through noisy debug data.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2299" height="1187" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/stack-traces-to-commit-history-in-Middleware-OpsAI.webp" alt="stack traces to commit history in Middleware OpsAI" class="wp-image-11897"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-know-who-owns-the-failing-code">Know Who Owns the Failing Code</h2>



<p>Finding the root cause is one part of the problem. The next challenge? Figuring out <strong>who should fix it</strong>. Middleware uses GitHub ownership data to automatically identify the right person or team behind the broken code.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Maps errors to GitHub commit history:</strong> When an error occurs, Middleware examines the stack trace to pinpoint the file and function involved, then checks the commit history to determine who has worked on that code most recently or frequently.<br></li>



<li><strong>Works with individual and team ownership:</strong> Whether you use GitHub’s CODEOWNERS file or rely on commit activity, Middleware can match the error to a specific engineer or an entire team. It understands patterns across large repos, not just the last person who touched the file.<br></li>



<li><strong>Delivers alerts to the right person fast: </strong>Once the owner is identified, Middleware sends the alert directly via Slack, email, or your incident response tool so it lands with the right person immediately.<br></li>



<li><strong>Removes the “who owns this?” guessing game: </strong>During incidents, you don’t have to waste time in back-and-forth messages. Alerts include the most likely owner and full commit context, so you can go straight to fixing the problem.</li>
</ul>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>🔎 <em>Discover how Middleware correlates logs, metrics, and traces 📊 into one view for faster debugging.</em> <a href="https://middleware.io/solutions/log-analysis-correlation/">Learn More</a></p>
</blockquote>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-use-case-0">Use Case</h3>



<p>If a frontend update in your web app suddenly starts throwing errors, Middleware’s Ops AI can point out the exact component and the developer who last committed/fixed it. </p>



<p>The alert goes straight to their inbox or chat, skipping the usual back-and-forth in Slack or manual log digging. The developer can see the commit, diff, and context right away, ship a fix, and get the app stable again before the next deployment window.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>Learn how <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/how-dem-improve-user-journey/">Digital Experience Monitoring</a> (DEM) improves user journeys and how Middleware simplifies monitoring across web and mobile apps.</p>
</blockquote>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-get-full-error-context-in-one-view">Get Full Error Context in One View</h2>



<p>Even with the right commit and code owner, engineers still need context to act fast: what triggered the error, what the user was doing, and what environment it happened in.</p>



<p>Middleware pulls all that into a single view, so you don’t need to piece it together manually.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Combines GitHub commit data with runtime details like environment, stack trace, and user actions<br></li>



<li>Links error events directly to related deployments and code changes<br></li>



<li>Shows when the error first appeared and how often it’s been happening<br></li>



<li>Helps teams understand if it’s an edge case or something breaking at scale</li>
</ul>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>Loved how Ops AI pinpoints commits and reduces MTTR? Dive deeper into foundational concepts behind AI-powered monitoring in our <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-ai-ops/">What is AIOps</a> guide.</p>
</blockquote>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-use-case-1">Use Case</h3>



<p>If your SaaS product’s conversion rate starts dropping with no clear cause, Middleware’s Ops AI can detect silent errors that slip past normal monitoring. It correlates the issue to the exact commit and file, showing the dev team when and how the problem was introduced. With this context, engineers can deploy a fix before the business feels the impact.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1343" height="878" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Code-updated-from-suggested-fixes.webp" alt="Code updated from suggested fixes" class="wp-image-11903"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reduce-time-to-resolution-with-smarter-workflows">Reduce Time to Resolution with Smarter Workflows</h2>



<p>Triaging production issues isn’t just about finding bugs; it’s about understanding context, routing it to the right team, and resolving it fast. The challenge? Most teams juggle too many tools to get the full picture. Middleware brings it all into one place, aligning error data with code, commits, and ownership so engineers can act with confidence, and not assumptions.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Without this visibility, teams often have to guess whether a deploy introduced the bug, relying on cross-checking timestamps, commit logs, or deployment tools. Middleware cuts through the noise by linking errors to the exact commit that went live, helping teams identify if the issue is deployment-related within seconds.<br></li>



<li>When an error appears in production, Middleware parses the associated stack trace and automatically checks Git history to identify the related commit. This makes it easy to pinpoint not just what broke, but when and how it was introduced.<br></li>



<li>Instead of vague alerts that send engineers hunting for context, Middleware sends detailed alerts with commit info, file paths, environment, and owner. Teams get everything they need to act, right where they work.<br></li>



<li>Middleware can automatically generate GitHub issues tied to the failing commit or notify the reviewer responsible for the change. This shortens the feedback loop and ensures accountability without manual triage.<br></li>



<li>In modern architectures, knowing which team owns what is crucial. Middleware tags errors by service or team using repo structure and ownership metadata, helping large orgs route issues quickly and accurately.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-use-case-2">Use Case</h3>



<p>In a <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/microservices-architecture/">microservices</a>-heavy environment, incident triage can eat up valuable time. Middleware’s Ops AI pinpoints the commit and author responsible for an error, even across dozens of services. Instead of passing issues through a central SRE queue, the alert goes straight to the right engineer with full context, often cutting resolution time from hours to minutes.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1320" height="896" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Middlewares-Ops-AI-pinpoints-the-commit.webp" alt="Middleware’s Ops AI pinpoints the commit" class="wp-image-11901"/></figure>



<p>Debugging shouldn’t feel like a never-ending guessing game. With Middleware, you get error alerts that already know where the problem started and who can fix it, so your team can jump straight to the solution.</p>



<p>No more long nights chasing bugs or waiting on answers. Just clear context, faster fixes, and more time to focus on building the things that matter.</p>



<div class="container-cta">
  
<div><h3>⚙️Stop guessing. Start fixing with confidence.</h3>
  <p>Ready to troubleshoot smarter? Get started with Middleware Ops AI and connect your GitHub repo today. 
 </p>
  <a href="https://docs.middleware.io/integrations/github-integration" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><button class="primary white">GitHub Integration</button></a>

 <a href="https://app.middleware.io/auth/register/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><button class="secondary white">Get Started with Middleware Ops AI</button></a>
</div>

</div>



<p></p>



<p>📚 <strong>Also Read</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://middleware.io/blog/python-error-types/">Python Error Types</a>: Quick guide to identifying and fixing the most common Python errors.</li>



<li><a href="https://middleware.io/blog/reducing-error-rates-nodejs-with-apm/">Reducing Error Rates in a High-Traffic Node.js App Using APM</a>: See how APM tools help lower Node.js error rates in production.</li>



<li>Discover how smart <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/debug-faster-with-log-patterns/">log pattern detection</a> can reduce noise and surface anomalies in your logs instantly.</li>
</ul>


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14 Common Application Performance Issues & How to Fix Them

Catch deployment issues before your users do. Learn how Middleware helps DevOps teams monitor errors, latency, and resource spikes in real time—ensuring smooth, reliable releases every time.

How Middleware Helps Catch Deployment Issues Before They Hit Users

Discover how log pattern analysis helps you detect issues faster, reduce noise, and monitor smarter using Middleware’s AI-powered log monitoring tools.

How Log Patterns Help You Debug Faster and Monitor Smarter


<p>Error tracking and performance monitoring of the platform or applications have been stuck in the past with static dashboards and manual detective work to sift through logs to find bugs. Currently, developers spend almost 60% of their time on finding the root cause of errors and fixing them. </p>



<p>At <a href="https://middleware.io/">Middleware</a>, our mission has been to help companies keep their apps available to customers all the time by providing unified <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/observability/">observability</a> by collating logs, metrics, and <a href="https://middleware.io/product/distributed-tracing/">traces</a> in one place. We have always been thinking about how to increase <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/developer-productivity/">developer productivity</a>.</p>



<p>As we are in the early years of the AI era, we started thinking about building a tool suitable for the new age of computing. New-age programming tools are helping developers generate billions of lines of code every day. </p>



<p>While that means teams are shipping more code faster, it also results in more errors creeping into the codebase and breaking production systems. As the codebase grows, it becomes harder to monitor bugs.</p>



<p>For that, we need an ever-aware tool to observe your codebase. But that’s not enough. Apart from detecting errors, it should also fix these exceptions so your engineers don’t need to hamper their sleep cycle at 3:00 AM.&nbsp;</p>



<p>That’s why we built <strong>Ops AI</strong>, our new <strong>AI co-pilot</strong> that spots and explains errors while finding ready fixes for you to apply within seconds.&nbsp;</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-use-ops-ai">Why use Ops AI?</h2>



<p>Ops AI is an AI observability co-pilot that works across any platform, language, or framework. Ops AI can detect and fix issues across both your frontend and backend. With full awareness of your codebase, it delivers accurate, pinpoint insights into exceptions.</p>



<p>Built on top of Middleware’s trusted <a href="https://middleware.io/product/apm/">APM</a> solution, it leverages deep context from logs, traces, and metrics to provide fast, reliable fixes.</p>



<p>At Middleware, we want to create an environment of trust and safety. That’s why we started using Ops AI for our own system and got robust results.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>“We started using Ops AI at Middleware, and it now resolves over half of our production issues automatically. In tests with multiple customers, we&#8217;ve seen a detection-to-resolution rate of over 70%. We believe this is a game-changer for observability,”</p><cite>Laduram Vishnoi, Founder and CEO of Middleware</cite></blockquote></figure>



<p>The new Ops AI tool boosts on-call developer productivity by more than 80% and reduces mean time to respond (MTTR) by 5 times, allowing developers to concentrate on important tasks for creating applications.</p>



<p>Ops AI also learns from historical patterns, and as it catches and fixes more bugs, it becomes smarter as you use it more.</p>



<p>We have created this new tool with privacy-first principles. We don’t use your data to train our AI models.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-does-ops-ai-work">How does Ops AI work?</h2>



<p>On a high level, Ops AI pulls together all issues across your frontend (<a href="https://middleware.io/product/real-user-monitoring/">real-user monitoring</a>) and back-end applications (application performance monitoring) —&nbsp; including syntax errors, code exceptions, and runtime errors in a single report. These issues include details such as error type, frequency, and timeline.&nbsp;</p>



<p>After installing our latest <a href="https://github.com/middleware-labs/mw-agent">APM agent</a>, customers can connect their GitHub and let our observability AI do its work. You can connect your GitHub account, and Ops AI will automatically collect errors from all your repositories. It helps you identify and fix issues with just one click.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-error-issue-detection">Error/Issue Detection</h3>



<p>On a more granular level, once you install the agent, it starts monitoring your application stack. When it catches a code exception, syntax or runtime error, it will use information from traces, logs, request headers and body, error messages, and environment to create a detailed report.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1140" height="654" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Error-or-Issue-detection-by-OpsAI.webp" alt="Error or Issue detection by OpsAI" class="wp-image-11126"/></figure>



<p>Through GitHub integration, it helps fetch the file and code context to show the exact error location, including the file and line number in your codebase.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solution-finding">Solution Finding</h3>



<p>Before solving the error, Ops AI acts as an investigator to find the root cause of the bug using context from the Middleware’s full-stack observability suite. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1140" height="655" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Code-updates-from-the-suggested-fixes-by-OpsAI-Observability-co-pilot.webp" alt="Code updates from the suggested fixes by OpsAI Observability co-pilot" class="wp-image-11127"/></figure>



<p>It observes commits made before the error, code dependencies, past data about similar errors, and other developer activities to build the complete picture to understand what caused the breakdown of the system.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-generating-pr-and-solutions">Generating PR and Solutions</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1140" height="655" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Generating-PR-and-solutions-by-OpsAI-Observability-Co-pilot.webp" alt="Generating PR and solutions by OpsAI Observability Co-pilot" class="wp-image-11128" style="width:620px;height:auto"/></figure>



<p>All these details are passed to our refactoring agent to get suggestions for the bug fix. Finally, apply them to the code. Ops AI only creates a PR if it&#8217;s more than 95% confident of the fix. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1140" height="629" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Fix-development-application-issue-by-OpsAI-observability-co-pilot.webp" alt="Fix development application issue by OpsAI observability co-pilot" class="wp-image-11130"/></figure>



<p>For a lower confidence score, it provides all the context for the error to engineers to start debugging without having to spend time going through logs.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-can-aiops-co-pilot-do">What Can AIOps Co-Pilot Do?</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Error Monitoring and Summarization: </strong>The tool collects all errors from the front-end, back-end, error logs, and code exceptions to present them in an easily readable format that shows error type, error message, exception, and error code line with complete stack trace. You can also track and manage errors in a more efficient way by assigning statuses like &#8216;reviewed&#8217;, &#8216;resolved&#8217;, and &#8216;ignored&#8217;.</li>



<li><strong>Detailed Root Cause Analysis: </strong>Find the exact place that caused the error<strong> </strong>through a link to the codebase. It provides detailed error information, including the file name, code line, stack trace, and even related variables and version details. This makes it easy to understand what went wrong, and you can start fixing issues right away without wasting time searching through logs or code.</li>



<li><strong>One-click error resolution: </strong>With Ops AI, you can view the root cause and a recommended one-click fix on a single screen. You can also generate a PR with fixed bugs through this interface to save time and get your application up and running again.</li>



<li><strong>Preserves your data privacy: </strong>Ops AI is designed to maintain the security and integrity of your data. All your inputs and responses are private, and only your team can access them. Plus, the tool doesn’t share AI-generated responses publicly outside your organization.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



<p>This AI observability co-pilot summarizes errors, provides root cause analysis, and even auto-generates fixes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limitations-and-what-is-next">Limitations and What is next?</h2>



<p>This launch is the first step towards the future of <strong><em>AI-powered observability</em></strong>. We are working on building upgrades to Ops AI to cover Logs and Kubernetes monitoring.</p>



<p>Our goal is for Ops AI to generate a ready-to-use root cause analysis report before system engineers start investigating. This gives them a head start and saves valuable debugging time.</p>



<p>Middleware and Ops AI currently support Node.js, Golang, Python, Java, and JavaScript. However, we are scaling our development to be compatible with other languages, including Ruby, .NET, PHP, and more. On the version control front, we already have GitHub integration with GitLab and Bitbucket support in the works.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-get-started-with-ops-ai-nbsp">How to get started with Ops AI&nbsp;</h2>



<p>At Middleware, we have been helping our clients be AI-ready for a while now. First, our AI-powered search allowed our customers to use natural language to make sense of their data. Then, we used AI to boost <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/anomaly-detection/">anomaly detection</a> and make the systems of our clients more reliable. With Ops AI, we are stepping into the agentic era to create a reliable partner for engineering teams to seamlessly handle production issues.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Ops AI is available for all Middleware’s existing and new customers starting from 25th June. You can <a href="https://app.middleware.io/auth/register/">try</a> it for 14 days, no extra setup required.&nbsp;</p>



<p>If you have any questions or feedback, we are happy to listen to them. Please <a href="https://middleware.io/contact-us/">reach out to us</a>.&nbsp;</p>



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We’re excited to launch Ops AI — your new AI observability co-pilot. Built on Middleware’s APM, it helps developers detect, debug, and fix issues faster across the stack. Boost productivity and cut MTTR by 5x with every bug it resolves.

Introducing Ops AI: Observability Co-Pilot to Resolve Your Production Issues Instantly


<p>Before <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/understanding-the-docker-ecosystem/">Docker</a> existed, developers had a hard time trying to package, ship and deploy their applications consistently across various environments. By enabling the much-needed <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/containerization/">containerization</a>, Docker gives you the superpower that ensures your application behaves the same way regardless of the environment. However, with this great power comes the great responsibility of monitoring and troubleshooting your applications effectively.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In this roundup, we’ll introduce you to some robust logging mechanisms that you can utilize for your&nbsp; Docker container logs to provide your application the reliability and performance it needs.&nbsp;</p>



<p>We’ll dive deep into Docker container logs, explore some common Docker container logs commands, and understand how you can access and manage them.&nbsp;</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-docker-container-logs">What Are Docker Container Logs?</h2>



<p>When you run applications within containers, Docker container logs capture the standard output and error messages your application generates. Think of these as application logs, but specifically for your container.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Typically, docker container logs give you information about any exceptions or errors your application throws, status messages, events emitted by your application, relevant performance metrics, etc. These logs are extremely valuable to provide insights for troubleshooting and understanding the behavior of your application.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-accessing-docker-container-logs">Accessing Docker Container Logs</h2>



<p>To access your Docker container logs,&nbsp; you can run the following command using Docker CLI:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>docker logs my-container</code></pre>



<p>You can also enable these logs to run in real-time by using the -f flag and view Docker container logs:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>docker logs -f my-container</code></pre>



<p>Alternately, you can also view logs for a specific service using Docker Compose:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>docker-compose logs web-backend</code></pre>



<p>The above command uses Docker Compose to show you logs for your service called “web-backend”.&nbsp;</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>Understand the fundamentals of <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-log-monitoring/">log monitoring</a> and how it helps proactively detect issues before they impact users.</p>
</blockquote>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-log-drivers-and-why-they-re-important">Log Drivers and why they’re important</h3>



<p>Log drivers in Docker determine where and how your container logs should be stored and managed. This could be a JSON file, which is the default log driver that stores all your Docker logs as JSON.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Other options for log drivers include syslog, which logs your Docker container logs to the syslog daemon, journald, which integrates with systemd journal, or <strong>gelf</strong>, <strong>fluentd</strong>, <strong>awslogs</strong> for centralized logging.</p>



<p>Each log driver has its driver-specific features, including storage persistence, scalability, and ease of use.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>Understanding <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/docker-logging-tutorial/">Docker Logging</a>. Explore how Docker handles logs, best practices, and advanced options for managing them efficiently.</p>
</blockquote>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-configuring-log-drivers">Configuring Log Drivers</h3>



<p>Docker CLI lets you configure the log driver for your Docker container logs at the time of creating your container:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>docker run --log-driver syslog --log-opt syslog-address=udp://192.168.0.42:514 my-container</code></pre>



<p>In the above command, the main <code>--log-driver</code> flag specifies the log driver we’re using, which in this case is the syslog. Then, the -log-opt flag provides options specific to the selected log driver. After that, we tell Docker the address and port of the syslog server using syslog-address. Finally, the container called “<code>my-container</code>” is run, whose logs are routed to the syslog server at the specified address.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To directly configure the log driver options in the <code>/etc/docker/daemon.json</code> file, modify it’s contents as shown below:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>{
  "log-driver": "json-file",
  "log-opts": {
    "max-size": "10m",
    "max-file": "3"
  }
}</code></pre>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-managing-and-viewing-docker-logs">Managing and Viewing Docker Logs</h2>



<p>Developers often burn entire afternoons chasing down what turned out to be straightforward configuration errors, all because they were drowning in log noise. When you can effectively manage and view your logs, you can narrow down the ones that can cause critical problems. </p>



<p>Moreover, staying on top of your container logs can help you with deeper log analysis and avoid problems such as your disk space suddenly running out and causing your entire system to halt.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-viewing-and-filtering-logs">Viewing and Filtering Logs</h3>



<p>Docker provides several different ways to view Docker container logs and filter them. This eventually helps you focus on specific logs that you need to focus on during debugging and troubleshooting.&nbsp;</p>



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<p>For instance, the below command will show you all the logs from the last 30 minutes:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>docker logs --since 30m my-container&nbsp;</code></pre>



<p>But you’re not just limited by a time duration, you can view logs for a precise moment in time, like a specific timestamp:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>docker logs --since "2024-01-15T10:30:00" my-container&nbsp;</code></pre>



<p>The above command will show you all the logs taken on the exact timestamp specified. Moreover, you can also view logs until a specific time:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>docker logs --until "2024-01-15T11:00:00" my-container&nbsp;</code></pre>



<p>The <code>--until</code> flag returns all the logs till that moment in time. You can combine the <code>--since</code> flag to get a window of time and view all logs in that window, as shown below:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>docker logs --since "1h30m" --until "30m" my-container</code></pre>



<p>You can also follow logs in real-time with timestamps:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>docker logs -f -t my-container&nbsp;</code></pre>



<p>The above will show you logs alongside their timestamp. To reduce noise from unwanted logs, you can also stream logs from the last 50 lines or so:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>docker logs -f --tail 50 my-container</code></pre>



<p>The -f flag is like your messiah when it comes to debugging during development. Watching your application’s behavior in real-time makes it easier to spot any issues as they happen.&nbsp;</p>



<p>But how do you see logs for a specific pattern? Using advanced log filtering, you can specify a pattern using grep:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>docker logs my-container 2&gt;&amp;1 | grep "ERROR"</code></pre>



<p>The above log redirects logs containing the word <code>“ERROR”</code> to your window. Let’s say you have a web application whose container logs look like this:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>2024-01-15 10:30:15 INFO Starting application
2024-01-15 10:30:16 INFO Database connected
2024-01-15 10:30:20 ERROR Failed to connect to Redis
2024-01-15 10:30:25 INFO Request processed successfully
2024-01-15 10:30:30 ERROR Timeout connecting to external API</code></pre>



<p>As you can see, the container logs show that your application failed to connect to Redis and timed out connecting to an external API. To dig deeper, you can retrieve these relevant logs using the above command.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-log-size-management-and-rotation">Log Size Management and Rotation</h3>



<p>Uncontrolled logs can get out of hand easily and start taking up more disk space than needed. This can lead to crashing your entire system. To prevent this, you should set limits to your logs when creating a container:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>docker run -d \ --name my-app \ --log-driver json-file \ --log-opt max-size=10m \ --log-opt max-file=5 \ nginx:latest</code></pre>



<p>Using the <code>max-size=10m</code>, you specify the maximum size of a file that your logs can take. Similarly, using the&nbsp; <code>max-file=5</code>, you can declare the maximum number of files that will be used for your <a href="https://middleware.io/product/container-monitoring/">container logs</a>. All in all, this will set a size limit of 50MB.&nbsp; When the current log file reaches 10MB, Docker creates a new one and eventually removes the oldest when the limit is exceeded.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>If you’re facing storage bloat, learn how to free up unused containers, volumes, and images in our <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/docker-cleanup/">Docker Cleanup</a> Guide.</p>
</blockquote>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-log-file-manipulation">Log File Manipulation</h3>



<p>There are cases where you might directly need to access the log files and manipulate the logs. For example, when you need more power and flexibility, such as advanced text processing, performance upside with large log files, etc. </p>



<p>For instance, consider the below docker command that logs the entire log into memory, slowing down the process for large logs in GBs:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>docker logs huge-container | grep "ERROR"</code></pre>



<p>You can directly access the file instead, which would be much faster:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>grep "ERROR" $(docker inspect --format='{{.LogPath}}' huge-container)</code></pre>



<p>Here’s another example where you might want to get lines <code>1000-1500</code> from a log file, which is harder to do directly with Docker CLI. Instead, you can directly access the file and retrieve those lines using file manipulation:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>tail -n +1000 $(docker inspect --format='{{.LogPath}}' my-container) | head -500&nbsp;</code></pre>



<p>You can still use Docker CLI for the exact Docker container logs location:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>docker inspect --format='{{.LogPath}}' my-container&nbsp;</code></pre>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-practices-for-efficient-log-management">Best Practices for Efficient Log Management</h2>



<p>Here are some quick best practices you should keep in mind to get an efficient log management system for your Docker container logs:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Rotate logs regularly:</strong> Disk overflow is a common consequence of not rotating Docker container logs regularly. Configuring the daemon with rotation settings can ensure that you always have enough disk space available.</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Set log size limits: </strong>Use flags such as max-size and max-file, as we explored in the previous section, to ensure proper file size restrictions are in place. An unpredictable surge in traffic on your application could easily eat up a lot of unwanted memory if size limits are not in place.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Follow structured logging:</strong> When streaming Docker container logs, parsing or running custom analytics, use structured formats only, like <code>JSON</code>. This can help you not get tangled in processing your logs and give you more flexibility in terms of working on top of the logs.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>Learn how to structure logs using formats like JSON for better readability and machine processing. See <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/log-formatting/">Log Formatting</a> Best Practices.</p>
</blockquote>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-centralized-logging-and-routing-logs-nbsp">Centralized Logging and Routing Logs&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Modern applications have complex architectures, interfaces and communicate extensively with external APIs. Practically, it’s best to have all your Docker container logs centralized in one place for viewing, accessing, managing and processing. Not only does centralized logging simplify management across multiple containers and environments, but using dedicated logging tools can give you benefits such as advanced filtering and real-time analytics.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The given command shows how you can route your Docker container logs to a popular monitoring platform <a href="https://middleware.io/">Middleware</a>:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>docker run --log-driver fluentd --log-opt fluentd-address=middleware.io:24224 my-app</code></pre>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-practices-for-docker-logging">Best Practices for Docker Logging</h2>



<p>As we’re close to a wrap, let’s also understand some best practices that can help us utilize Docker container logs effectively. We’ve already explored how structured logging formats like JSON can be helpful for readability and parsing logs for further analysis.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Security is paramount for every organization and their customers. A common security consideration often missed is logging sensitive data. You should never log any kind of sensitive data like passwords, auth tokens, payment information, etc.&nbsp;</p>



<p>You can save countless hours of log analysis and management by using a reliable <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/log-management/">log management</a> tool like Middleware. Which do all the heavy lifting and offer extremely valuable features like <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/log-aggregation/">log aggregations</a>, automated notifications and alerting for critical log events.</p>



<p>Finally, ensure you regularly audit and archive your container logs to meet any compliance standards necessary. Log management solutions automate audit trails and simplify regulatory compliance out of the box, so you can use them directly to meet compliance standards conveniently.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conclusion">Conclusion</h3>



<p>By combining the power of your Docker container logs with effective log management and dedicated log management tools like Middleware, you can ensure reliability for your application. Following the best practices is just as crucial, so make sure you’re not missing them.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-faqs">FAQs</h3>


		<section		help class="sc_fs_faq sc_card    "
				>
				<h3>How do I check Docker container logs?</h3>				<div>
						<div class="sc_fs_faq__content">
				

<p>To check the Docker container logs, you can use the Docker CLI command docker logs my-container</p>

			</div>
		</div>
		</section>
				<section		help class="sc_fs_faq sc_card    "
				>
				<h3>How can I follow Docker container logs in real-time?</h3>				<div>
						<div class="sc_fs_faq__content">
				

<p>When you use the command docker logs -f my-container, your Docker container logs are streamed in real-time.</p>

			</div>
		</div>
		</section>
				<section		help class="sc_fs_faq sc_card    "
				>
				<h3>What are the best practices for managing Docker container logs?</h3>				<div>
						<div class="sc_fs_faq__content">
				

<p>Some best practices for managing Docker container logs include regularly rotating logs, setting size limits using flags like max-size and max-file, using structured log formats like JSON, avoiding sensitive information in logs, and implementing centralized log management tools such as Middleware.</p>

			</div>
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				<section		help class="sc_fs_faq sc_card    "
				>
				<h3>How do I filter Docker container logs for specific errors?</h3>				<div>
						<div class="sc_fs_faq__content">
				

<p>The command docker logs my-container 2&gt;&amp;1 | grep &#8220;ERROR&#8221; can be used to filter Docker container logs for specific errors</p>

			</div>
		</div>
		</section>
				<section		help class="sc_fs_faq sc_card    "
				>
				<h3>What is structured logging, and why is it important?</h3>				<div>
						<div class="sc_fs_faq__content">
				

<p>When you format your Docker container logs into a structured format, such as JSON, it becomes easier to parse, analyse, and automate monitoring.</p>

			</div>
		</div>
		</section>
		
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<p>At Middleware, our motto is to help and transform the process of how developers and organizations handle <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/observability/">observability</a> at scale. We are on a mission to provide a full-stack observability platform that empowers developers to build, monitor, and troubleshoot infrastructure and applications with unparalleled ease and efficiency. </p>



<p>We are currently helping out many companies with their observability problems, and we believe that observability is not just a tool but the cornerstone of modern applications.</p>



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<p>The belief in helping organizations has driven us to relentlessly innovate and create a platform that seamlessly integrates logs, <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-distributed-tracing/">traces</a>, and metrics into a single pane of glass. With detailed insight, we are helping organizations to rapidly identify issues and effortlessly solve them, enhancing operational efficiency, minimizing downtime, and reducing observability costs.</p>



<p>At Middleware we strongly believe in innovation and excellence and with that motto comes a lot of responsibility, we constantly enhance our platform and add new <a href="https://middleware.io/platform/integrations/">integrations</a> to make the platform better and have more access to data. </p>



<p>Our goal is to provide developers with the most comprehensive and seamless observability experience possible. That’s why we have integrated Kapstan into our ecosystem to further elevate the developer experience. This integration ensures that developers have the tools they need to succeed in today’s fast-paced, cloud-native world.</p>



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<p>Today, we are thrilled to take a significant step forward in our journey by announcing our strategic partnership with Kapstan, a leader in Internal Developer Platforms and Kubernetes management.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-making-the-deployments-more-insightful-a-shared-vision-with-kapstan">Making the Deployments More Insightful: A Shared Vision with Kapstan</h2>



<p>Kapstan’s vision deeply resonates with our own as they also believe that “A well-observed system is the only well-behaved system”. We are gearing up together to enhance the developer experience through observability and automating the deployment process.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.kapstan.io/">Kapstan</a> is a comprehensive platform designed to simplify Kubernetes management while unlocking its full potential. It empowers developers to deploy applications using intent-based workflows without worrying about the configuration files. </p>



<p>Middleware steps in here to make the developer experience more seamless by providing complete end-to-end observability, streamlining insights, and ultimately optimizing their technology stack for success.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-announcing-our-partnership-with-kapstan-io">Announcing Our Partnership with Kapstan.io</h2>



<p>In that spirit, we are thrilled to announce our strategic partnership with Kapstan.io!</p>



<p>Kapstan helps developers instantly provision, deploy and manage complex cloud infrastructure in their own cloud account. They give engineers world-class developer experience in managing infrastructure and deploying applications, databases, jobs, and more without the infrastructure sprawl or the platform lock-in of Vercel/Heroku.</p>



<p>For larger engineering organizations with DevOps teams, Kapstan offers a fully customizable abstraction over Kubernetes clusters with getting bogged down in the intricacies of infrastructure management such as Kubernetes upgrades, repetitive tasks, and one-off tickets from developers to help them provision an S3 bucket.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-introducing-the-middleware-x-kapstan-integration">Introducing the Middleware x Kapstan Integration</h2>



<p>We are excited to announce a full-fledged integration of Middleware for Kapstan users to ease their Observability headache. With just a single click, Kapstan customers can now observe their environments within Middleware with the integration, gaining access to a unified platform that brings together logs, traces, and metrics. </p>



<p>This integration gives developers a holistic view of their applications, enabling faster issue resolution and smoother operations.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1890" height="1013" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Middleware-Kapstan-Integration-1.webp" alt="Middleware Kapstan Integration" class="wp-image-10846"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-shared-commitment-to-developer-experience">A Shared Commitment to Developer Experience</h2>



<p>This partnership is more than just a collaboration—it’s our shared commitment to improving the developer experience together. By combining Middleware’s observability expertise with Kapstan’s intuitive IDP and ZeroOps Kubernetes solution, we would create a tech ecosystem where developers can focus on what truly matters: building innovative, reliable, and scalable applications.</p>



<p>We are thrilled to embark on this journey with Kapstan and look forward to the incredible value this partnership will bring to developers worldwide. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to innovate and redefine the future of the developer experience together!</p>



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<p>I’m sure, as an engineer, there’s no bigger nightmare than a production outage at 3 AM. We live in a world where software is becoming more complex by the minute. From distributed architectures to <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-container-orchestration/">container orchestration</a> and microservices, an <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/observability/tools/">observability tool</a> is a must-have digital vigilante for your system and infrastructure.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Prometheus is a powerful open-source monitoring tool that enables system administrators and engineers to collect useful data points about their system&#8217;s health and performance. </p>



<p>These data points or metrics are called Prometheus metrics, help in tracking resource utilization, identifying system bottlenecks, and ensuring smooth operations. If you&#8217;re wondering <strong>what is Prometheus metric</strong>, it is essentially a time-series data point that represents system behavior over time.</p>



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<p>In this guide, we&#8217;ll unravel how Prometheus metrics provide visibility into your systems. By the end of this post, you&#8217;ll have everything under your belt to make the most of Prometheus metrics.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-prometheus-metrics">What Are Prometheus Metrics?</h2>



<p>Prometheus collects data points that represent the behavior and <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-application-performance-monitoring/">performance of your application</a> or infrastructure. These data points, also known as <strong>Prometheus metrics</strong>, are stored in a <strong>Prometheus metrics format</strong>, which follows a structured approach to time-series data. </p>



<p>For instance, a data point that measures your <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/efficient-server-utilization/">server&#8217;s CPU consumption</a>, the number of requests your service receives, or the average response time of your server are all examples of Prometheus metrics.</p>



<p>Let’s look at a <strong>Prometheus metrics example</strong> to understand how these metrics work in <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-real-user-monitoring/">real-time monitoring</a>. Consider <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/prevent-cpu-overload-on-linux-servers/">CPU usage</a> and average response time for a web server:</p>



<p><strong>CPU usage:</strong></p>



<p>&#8211; &nbsp; 10:00:00 AM: 45% utilization</p>



<p>&#8211; &nbsp; 10:00:15 AM: 48% utilization</p>



<p>&#8211; &nbsp; 10:00:30 AM: 73% utilization (sudden spike)</p>



<p><strong>Average response time:</strong></p>



<p>&#8211; 10:00:00 AM: 85 ms</p>



<p>&#8211; 10:00:15 AM: 90 ms</p>



<p>&#8211; 10:00:30 AM: 250 ms</p>



<p>Prometheus stores metrics as time-series data in a structured <strong>Prometheus metrics format</strong>, allowing engineers to query, visualize, and analyze them to identify performance trends. </p>



<p>You can effectively monitor system health and make data-driven decisions by understanding different&nbsp;Prometheus metrics types, such as counters, gauges, histograms, and summaries. </p>



<p>For instance, in the above example, the time-series data can be used to visualize the correlation between increased request rate and the CPU/memory spikes. We see that there was a sudden spike that happened at 10:00:30 AM, so Prometheus can also send alerts for visibility.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-prometheus-metrics-types-and-their-role">Understanding Prometheus Metrics Types and Their Role</h2>



<p>Before we dive deeper into each metric type and their role, let&#8217;s first understand some key concepts related to Prometheus metrics.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-nbsp-labels-nbsp-nbsp">1.&nbsp; Labels&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Labels are key-value pairs that give dimension to the metrics like instance, method,&nbsp;service, etc.</p>



<p>For instance, a metric like <strong><code>http_requests_total</code></strong> might include labels such as <code><strong>method="POST</strong>"</code>, <strong><code>service="checkout"</code></strong>, and<strong> <code>instance="server-1"</code></strong>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>If you wish to query metrics specifically for your checkout service, you can do so using a label selector in PromQL:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>http_requests_total{service="checkout"}</code></pre>



<p>These queries fetch data from the <strong>Prometheus metrics endpoint</strong>, which serves the latest metric values collected from various services. The <strong>Prometheus metrics endpoint</strong> allows tools like Grafana and Middleware to retrieve metrics in real time for visualization and alerting.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-nbsp-metric-name-and-value-nbsp-nbsp">2.&nbsp; Metric Name and Value&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>



<p>The name of a metric describes what the metric represents, whereas the value is the actual data point associated with that metric. For instance, a metric used to represent CPU usage is called</p>



<p>&nbsp;<strong><code>cpu_usage_seconds_total</code></strong>, which tells you how many seconds the CPU has been used in total.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>For instance, if the <strong><code>cpu_usage_seconds_total</code></strong> metric has a value of <strong>450</strong> for <strong><code>instance="server-2"</code></strong>. This means that your server-2&#8217;s CPU has been used for 450 seconds since last it was started or reset.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Also, with PromQL, you can query the rate of change for this metric.</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>rate(cpu_usage_seconds_total{instance="server-2"}&#91;5m])</code></pre>



<p>The result of the above query tells you how fast your CPU usage has increased in the last 5 minutes. You can check the same for any specified period. You can use this information to decide if you need to scale up resources. </p>



<p>For example, a value of 0.75 or higher may indicate a significant spike in CPU usage that you may need to address.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-nbsp-prometheus-metric-types-nbsp-nbsp">3.&nbsp; Prometheus Metric Types&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>



<p>We&#8217;ve seen earlier the four core metrics that Prometheus provides, but let&#8217;s examine them more thoroughly.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-counters">Counters</h4>



<p>A counter metric, as the name suggests, is a metric that counts or cumulates the value. It only gets incremented or reset to 0. You can use counter metrics to track the number of requests a service has handled, tasks a job has completed, the number of errors or crashes a system has encountered, etc.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For instance, you could have a counter metric <strong><code>requests_total</code></strong>. When its value changes from 100 to 150, we know there have been 50 new requests since the last measurement.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Using PromQL, we can also get a _rate_ of requests over time as shown below:</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>rate(requests_total&#91;5m])</code></pre>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gauges">Gauges</h4>



<p>To track values that can fluctuate over time, a gauge metric is used. It can increase in value, or go down/decrease in value. You can use a gauge to measure how much memory is used or the number of active sessions for your users.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For instance, consider a gauge metric called <strong><code>memory_usage_bytes</code></strong> . If it has a value of 2,147,483,648 it means that 2GB of memory has been consumed up to that point.&nbsp;</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-histograms">Histograms</h4>



<p>Let&#8217;s say you want to understand how quick or slow your application appears to your users. Measuring response time would be helpful here. However, not every user may get the same response time. So it may be more helpful to get a range of response times, say from 20ms to 1000ms. </p>



<p>To get a clearer picture, you might want to see these response times sorted with a count telling you how many requests fall into each category.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Response Time20ms</td><td>Count150</td></tr><tr><td>50ms</td><td>200</td></tr><tr><td>100ms</td><td>400</td></tr><tr><td>500ms</td><td>150</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p>Histograms in Prometheus are like organized bucket systems that help you understand how long things take or how big things are.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A histogram metric might look like this (in a simplified text format):</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code># HELP request_duration_seconds Request duration in seconds
&nbsp; &nbsp; # TYPE request_duration_seconds histogram
&nbsp; &nbsp; request_duration_seconds_bucket{le="0.05"} 240
&nbsp; &nbsp; request_duration_seconds_bucket{le="0.1"} 638
&nbsp; &nbsp; request_duration_seconds_bucket{le="0.2"} 912
&nbsp; &nbsp; request_duration_seconds_bucket{le="0.5"} 980
&nbsp; &nbsp; request_duration_seconds_bucket{le="1"} 995
&nbsp; &nbsp; request_duration_seconds_bucket{le="+Inf"} 1000
&nbsp; &nbsp; request_duration_seconds_sum 123
&nbsp; &nbsp; request_duration_seconds_count 1000</code></pre>



<p>From this data, you can calculate the distribution of request durations. Some useful features of Histograms are statistics like median response time (50th percentile) and 90th percentile (the time below which 90% of your requests are completed) to get a broader sense of how your application is performing.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-summaries">Summaries</h4>



<p>Summaries are similar to histograms but they also give you information like the sum of all the observations and configurable quantiles like the 95th percentile directly, without the need for any buckets.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>Let&#8217;s say you&#8217;re now interested in understanding how long it takes for your web application to process a login request for a user. Using Prometheus, you can set up a summary metric called <strong><code>login_duration_seconds</code></strong>.</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code> login_duration_seconds{instance="app-server-1",quantile="0.5"} 0.042
&nbsp; &nbsp; login_duration_seconds{instance="app-server-1",quantile="0.9"} 0.123
&nbsp; &nbsp; login_duration_seconds{instance="app-server-1",quantile="0.95"} 0.187
&nbsp; &nbsp; login_duration_seconds_sum{instance="app-server-1"} 75.3
&nbsp; &nbsp; login_duration_seconds_count{instance="app-server-1"} 1250</code></pre>



<p>You can see from the above summary that the average login time is 0.042 seconds (42ms). This is the median or the 50th percentile.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The trade-off here is that summaries are somewhat more resource-intensive and less flexible compared to histograms when it comes to combining data across multiple instances. </p>



<p>However, they can be incredibly useful if you want immediate, per-instance percentile calculations without having to define buckets as with histograms.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-practices-for-working-with-various-prometheus-metrics">Best Practices for Working with Various Prometheus Metrics</h2>



<p>We’ve seen how useful Prometheus metrics can be, but now let’s understand some best practices we can adopt when working with these metrics.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-nbsp-organize-metric-names-and-labels-clearly-nbsp">1.&nbsp; Organize Metric Names and Labels Clearly&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Ensure that your metrics follow a consistent naming convention. For instance, the metric name <code>node_cpu_usage_seconds_total</code>&nbsp; for CPU usage is self-descriptive in nature. </p>



<p>Organizing metric names and labels clearly will make it easier for anyone to understand what the metric is for. Also, avoid creating labels that can have too many values to keep your metrics database simple and reliable.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-nbsp-choosing-the-right-metric-type">2.&nbsp; Choosing the Right Metric Type</h3>



<p>Each Prometheus metric type has its own well-defined purpose. Be very strict about using the right metric type.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For a metric with continuously incrementing values, use &nbsp;Counters . For metric values that can go up or down, like current state measurements, use&nbsp; Gauges. If you need on-the-fly quantiles, for instance, use&nbsp;Summaries.&nbsp; To measure the frequency or distribution of metrics across a range of values, use Histograms.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-nbsp-avoid-overusing-histograms-nbsp-nbsp-nbsp">3.&nbsp; Avoid Overusing Histograms&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>



<p>While histograms are powerful, each histogram can generate many time series based on bucket definitions. This can lead to high cardinality and storage overhead. If you don’t need bucket-based distributions, a gauge or counter might suffice.</p>



<p>Whenever you do need to use histograms, make sure you carefully select the buckets and consider using fewer buckets for less critical metrics.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-nbsp-use-clear-and-meaningful-labels">4.&nbsp; Use Clear and Meaningful Labels</h3>



<p>If a label can have thousands or millions of values, it&#8217;s probably not suitable for Prometheus. So avoid using labels for data that has large cardinality like UserID, email addresses, etc.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-nbsp-keep-alerting-thresholds-realistic-nbsp-nbsp-nbsp-nbsp">5.&nbsp; Keep Alerting Thresholds Realistic&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Poorly defined alerts will defeat their purpose. Define sensible thresholds that account for known fluctuations. For instance, setting an alert for CPU usage above 50% might be too sensitive. A reasonable alert threshold might be close to 90% or even 95%.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Also, you should combine multiple metrics for more accurate alerting. For example, CPU usage and memory usage can be combined into a single alert.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-collecting-and-visualizing-prometheus-metrics-with-middleware">Collecting and Visualizing Prometheus Metrics with Middleware</h2>



<p>You can integrate Prometheus into your own system. A lot of teams prefer to use external tools for Prometheus custom metrics dashboards and visualizations of their Prometheus metrics. You can use an observability tool like Middleware to create custom visualizations and dashboards for common metrics like CPU, memory, disk I/O, etc.&nbsp;</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-prometheus-integration-with-middleware">Prometheus Integration with Middleware</h3>



<p>Integrating Prometheus with Middleware is a breeze. You can follow along with this setup guide or refer to the <a href="https://docs.middleware.io/integrations/prometheus-integration?_gl=1*1vlajmz*_ga*MTY1NTAxODc3MS4xNzIxNjMxODU2*_ga_2KBHR7YB2G*MTc0MTYyNjU3MC40NDQuMS4xNzQxNjI2NjQzLjAuMC4w">official docs</a> as well.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Login to Middleware and go to the installation page from the left-hand bottom side of the home screen.</p>



<p>Then, go to the <a href="https://app.middleware.io/installation#integration/allintegration">Integration Section</a></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2339" height="1168" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Prometheus-Integration-with-Middleware.jpg" alt="Prometheus Integration with Middleware" class="wp-image-9659"/></figure>



<p>Search for &#8220;Prometheus Integration&#8221; and click on the Prometheus card from inside the &#8220;Available&#8221; tab.&nbsp; Here, you can select the host and configure your cluster. You’ll need to add the required Prometheus annotations in your Kubernetes deployment’s metadata as mentioned in the instructions.</p>



<p>Let&#8217;s go with &#8220;Annotation Based Scraping&#8221; for now. Click on the &#8220;Save&#8221; button.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2319" height="1138" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Annotation-Based-Scraping-in-prometheus.jpg" alt="Annotation Based Scraping in Prometheus" class="wp-image-9656"/></figure>



<p>Next, we&#8217;ll create a dashboard. You can create a dashboard from scratch or simply add a new widget to any of your custom dashboards.</p>



<p>Add a custom widget using the &#8220;Add Widget button&#8221;. The Integration Widget can be used to collect data from Prometheus.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2299" height="1103" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/collect-data-metrics-from-Prometheus.jpg" alt="collect data metrics from Prometheus" class="wp-image-9657"/></figure>



<p>&nbsp;Next, we&#8217;ll need to mention the details of our widget.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2320" height="1113" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/update-widget-for-prometheus-integration.jpg" alt="update widget for prometheus integration" class="wp-image-9661"/></figure>



<p>&nbsp;Once you click &#8220;Save&#8221;, you should see the data in the widget.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2322" height="1048" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/prometheus-metrics-visibility.jpg" alt="prometheus metrics visibility" class="wp-image-9660"/></figure>



<p>Your metrics from Prometheus will be automatically discovered and rendered here on your Middleware dashboard.&nbsp;</p>



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<p>Think of a busy online shop with holiday sales and thousands of people waiting to make a purchase. Then, out of nowhere, the site is as slow as molasses; it takes forever for pages to load, and visitors abandon their shopping carts in disgust. Every business&#8217;s worst fear is this scenario — but <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-application-performance-monitoring/">Application Performance Monitoring</a> (APM) offers a vital safety net, ensuring optimal performance and minimizing downtime.</p>



<p>APM tracks key software performance metrics using <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/apm-tools/">monitoring software</a> and telemetry data. These tools help enterprises identify and resolve performance bottlenecks,&nbsp; ensuring smoother and faster application interactions. APM is used in many scenarios, but most enterprises use it to make the customer experience a breeze.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As shown in <a href="https://www.gartner.com/imagesrv/media-products/pdf/Catchpoint/Catchpoint1-31I1NU5.pdf">Gartner’s</a> survey, <strong>83%</strong> of enterprises prioritize improving troubleshooting, while <strong>81%</strong> focus on enhancing customer experience through APM.&nbsp; The report found that end-user experience monitoring was the most critical APM dimension, with 49% of respondents citing &#8220;<strong>enhancing CX quality</strong>&#8221; as their top reason for investing in APM.</p>



<p>This article explores the role of APM in driving customer satisfaction, measuring its business value, and implementing it on Middleware, featuring real-world applications and case studies.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-apm-drives-customer-satisfaction">How APM drives customer satisfaction</h2>



<p>Application Performance Monitoring is the practice of using real-time data to <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/why-is-monitoring-your-application-important/">monitor application performance</a> and the digital experiences of end users. It does this by tracking different metrics (which we will discuss later) in real-time and showing performance bottlenecks.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Here’s what APM does to the application to drive customer satisfaction:</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>​<strong>Improved application performance</strong>: APM plays a major part in improving application performance through real-time monitoring, including response time and errors. When these <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/devops-metrics-you-should-be-monitoring/">metrics</a> decrease to a certain level, the team is aware of possible issues.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>



<ol start="2" class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Reduced downtime</strong>: Issues in a software system are inevitable, but the time required to fix them can be reduced. APM helps lower the mean time to detect (MTTD) and the mean time to resolve (<a href="https://middleware.io/blog/how-to-reduce-mttr/">MTTR</a>). MTTD measures the duration a problem persists in an IT deployment before it&#8217;s noticed, while MTTR is the average time taken to restore a system to operational condition after a failure or cyberattack notification. Once the issue is detected early, the negative impact on the customer can be greatly reduced. </li>
</ol>



<p>Interested to know more about MTTR and MTTD? Click <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/mttr-vs-mttd/">here</a>. </p>



<ol start="3" class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Enhanced user experience</strong>: Smoother application performance greatly improves <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/mobile-app-performance-best-practices/">user experience</a> by ensuring applications run efficiently and responsively. Research by <a href="https://newsroom.cisco.com/c/r/newsroom/en/us/a/y2021/m07/tbd-ac.html">Cisco AppDynamics shows that 60% of customers</a> blame performance issues on the application or brand. An application is made up of different elements which are interrelated in some way. However, in a problem-solving process, trying to handle these aspects on your own can be quite challenging. APM are a great helping hand in figuring out such aspects.</li>
</ol>



<p>APM excels at managing these aspects, but how can you be sure it&#8217;s performing effectively? The answer is in defining the right metrics, which we will see in the next section.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quantifying-the-impact-of-apm">Quantifying the impact of APM</h2>



<p>When hard-earned money and time are invested in Application Performance Monitoring (APM), it’s crucial to ensure that it’s hitting the mark for stakeholders. </p>



<p>The impact of APM on customer experience can be quantified using several key metrics. Keeping an eye on these will help us make informed decisions and steer us in the right direction:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>CPU &amp; Memory Utilization: </strong>CPU and memory utilization show system resource usage. APM tracks these metrics in real-time to <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/efficient-server-utilization/">prevent server overloads</a> and potential slowdowns.</li>



<li><strong>Customer Support Tickets</strong>: This feature is responsible for managing the quantity and the kind of support tickets that pertain to application performance. If the number is high, it means that there are some problems with the <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/how-to-optimize-website-performance-for-the-holidays/">poor performance</a> of different operations.</li>



<li><strong>Page Load Times</strong>: It quantifies the amount of time a web page or an application takes to load. Generally, higher speeds of loading the webpage increase usability and decrease the level of frustration.</li>



<li><strong>Garbage Collection:</strong> It improves performance by automatically reclaiming memory from unused objects. It deletes redundant data and moves active objects to a new memory pool. <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/java-garbage-collection/">Optimal GC</a> frequency is crucial—too often can cause overhead, too infrequent can lead to memory shortages.</li>



<li><strong>Error Rates</strong>: Records the number of errors or failures the users go through. Lowering <a href="https://middleware.io/product/real-user-monitoring/error-tracking/">error rates</a> imply that APM is able to detect and solve problems with performance effectively.</li>



<li><strong>User Satisfaction Scores</strong>: This measure is a way of getting immediate feedback from the users with the help of questionnaires or ratings. Higher satisfaction scores tend to embody such positive experiences connected to the issue of enhanced application performance.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-apm-on-middleware">APM on Middleware</h3>



<p><a href="https://middleware.io/product/apm/">Middleware&#8217;s APM</a> solution can help correlate application performance improvements with positive customer behavior changes by:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Real-time monitoring:</strong> <a href="https://middleware.io/">Middleware</a> continuously monitors application performance. This allows you to find and resolve issues before they impact users. Improved performance metrics, like reduced page load times, are directly linked to increased user engagement and satisfaction.</li>



<li><strong>User experience tracking:</strong> By analyzing metrics like response times and error rates, Middleware helps correlate better application performance with improved user experiences, such as fewer drop-offs and increased session durations.</li>



<li><strong>Data-driven insights:</strong> The APM solution offers detailed reports that show how performance improvements, like faster transaction processing, result in positive customer behaviors, such as higher conversion rates or lower abandonment rates.</li>
</ul>



<p>Furthermore, the development process is simplified without requiring extensive learning, as will be explained in the next section.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implementing-middleware-s-apm-for-a-python-application">Implementing Middleware&#8217;s APM for a Python application</h2>



<p>This section will create a Python application in FastAPI and use APM to monitor metrics, logs, and traces. Let’s see it step-by-step.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Prerequisites</h3>



<p>To get started with setting up, follow these general steps:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Access the Installation Documentation</strong>: Visit the <a href="https://docs.middleware.io/getting-started">installation documentation</a> for detailed instructions specific to your operating system (OS).</li>



<li><strong>Run the Installation Command</strong>: Copy and execute the command provided on the documentation page.</li>



<li><strong>Verify Installation</strong>: After running the command, ensure the installation is completed.</li>
</ul>



<p>For more detailed and up-to-date instructions, refer to the official <a href="https://docs.middleware.io/quickstart">installation guide</a>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-create-fastapi-application">Create FastAPI application</h3>



<p>To create a FastAPI application, we will need to create a virtual environment to isolate the dependencies and add our code. Follow these steps: </p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Create a Virtual Environment</li>



<li>Activate the Virtual Environment</li>



<li>Install FastAPI and Uvicorn</li>



<li>Create Endpoints</li>



<li>Enable Middleware APM</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-running-the-application">Running the application</h3>



<p>Upon successfully running the application using the Middleware installation manual&#8217;s commands, you can monitor metrics and performance through the APM. </p>



<p>The dashboard presented below shows all the APIs&#8217; metrics and performance.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1600" height="858" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/unnamed-2.png" alt="Running the Application on Middleware" class="wp-image-8197"/></figure>



<p>From the above, we can observe our Application Performance Monitoring (APM) in action. It is tracking both success and error rates, indicating that the API currently has a success rate of 95.5%. If we further want to dig up the problematic request that the API didn’t handle, go to <strong>Spans</strong>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1600" height="856" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/APM-2.jpg" alt="Middleware’s APM Spans of Requests" class="wp-image-8198"/></figure>



<p>From the above, we can see all the requests that were made, including both successful ones and those that resulted in errors.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-case-studies">Case studies</h2>



<p>Application monitoring is an important part of customer satisfaction. The following case studies from different companies testify to the improvement of customer experience through APM.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kurt-geiger">Kurt-Geiger</h3>



<p>A fashion retailer operating five websites and retail stores across the UK and Ireland faced challenges with low Core Web Vitals (CWV) scores. It affected their e-commerce performance and customer satisfaction. The lack of detailed insights made it difficult to address issues. Kurt Geiger monitored CWV&nbsp; in real-time, identified performance bottlenecks, and improved their score from <a href="https://newrelic.com/blog/best-practices/kurt-geiger-core-web-vitals">45-50 to 85-90</a> within six months by implementing an APM solution. This APM-driven approach led to 99% of customers enjoying a positive online shopping experience.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hotplate">Hotplate</h3>



<p>Middleware&#8217;s APM helped <a previewlistener="true" href="https://middleware.io/customers/hotplate/">Hotplate achieve cost savings</a>, approximately 10 times more than other observability solutions. The detailed traces and session replays allowed Hotplate to pinpoint and address performance bottlenecks efficiently, enhancing overall customer interactions. As a result, Middleware&#8217;s Real-User Monitoring (RUM) now manages over 1.5 million sessions per month for Hotplate. This ensures a smooth user experience during high-traffic events.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trademarkia">Trademarkia</h3>



<p>One of the <a href="https://middleware.io/customers/trademarkia/">largest visual search engines</a> for trademarked logos, names, and slogans faced challenges with its outdated tech stack. This affected efficiency and scalability. Trademarkia adopted Middleware’s full-stack cloud <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/observability/">observability</a> platform to modernize its infrastructure. Middleware&#8217;s user-friendly interface and Slack integration boosted collaboration, productivity, and response times. These, in turn, positively impacted the CX.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mercado-libre">Mercado Libre</h3>



<p>The largest e-commerce platform in Latin-America, faced challenges in scaling, performance, and downtime as its business grew. With APM solution, they gained real-time insights into application performance, which enabled their teams to identify and resolve issues quickly. This led to a significant reduction in errors, improved <a previewlistener="true" href="https://newrelic.com/customers/mercadolibre">response times to under 50 milliseconds</a>, and enhanced the overall user experience.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Attaching an APM provides a clear view of existing bottlenecks, making it easier to address them. These case studies prove the importance of APM in improving customer experience.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion</h2>



<p>The 21st century is striving for automation. So, why manually monitor the application&#8217;s performance? It is important that the APM handles the heavy lifting of continuous monitoring and informs the team why customers are not returning. When customers feel their needs are prioritized, businesses see an increase in return rates and customer loyalty.</p>



<p>With Middleware&#8217;s APM, businesses can enhance application performance, boosting customer satisfaction and loyalty by providing real-time insights directly correlating with positive customer behavior. Middleware can extend its capabilities to RUM (Real User Monitoring) and Synthetic Monitoring to 10x the customer experience.</p>



<p>The full suite of Middleware provides monitoring tools to deliver superior customer experiences and drive business success. So, why wait? Sign up for <a previewlistener="true" href="http://middleware.io">Middleware</a> now.</p>



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Explore the role of APM in driving customer satisfaction, measuring its business value, and implementing it on Middleware.

How Can APM Transform Customer Satisfaction?


<p>Many businesses struggle with understanding real-world user experiences, leading to unresolved issues and user frustration. Slow load times, navigation difficulties, and unexpected errors often go unnoticed until they significantly impact user satisfaction.</p>



<p><a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-real-user-monitoring/"><strong>Real User Monitoring</strong></a><strong> (RUM)</strong> is a performance monitoring practice that captures and analyzes every user interaction with an application or website in real-time. By providing detailed insights into how users engage with digital platforms, it plays a crucial role in understanding and enhancing real-world user experiences.</p>



<p>It helps identify pain points such as slow load times and navigation issues, enabling businesses to make data-driven decisions to improve user satisfaction and optimize the overall experience. In this article, we will see how you can use RUM to increase user satisfaction.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-of-rum-for-user-satisfaction">Benefits of RUM for user satisfaction</h2>



<p>Let’s dive into how RUM can enhance user satisfaction:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-user-behavior-insights">User behavior insights</h3>



<p>Understanding how users navigate through an application is crucial for enhancing user satisfaction. Real User Monitoring provides businesses with the ability to track and analyze user journeys in real-time, revealing the paths users take, the actions they perform, and the obstacles they encounter. By examining these user journeys, businesses can identify common friction points that disrupt the user experience.</p>



<p>For example, if users frequently abandon a process at a particular step, RUM data can highlight this issue. This could be due to confusing navigation, lengthy forms, or unclear instructions. By pinpointing these issues, businesses can take targeted actions to streamline the process, making it more intuitive and user-friendly. Additionally, RUM can uncover patterns in user behavior, such as frequently visited pages or popular features, which can inform decisions on where to focus development efforts.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-identify-user-frustrations">Identify user frustrations</h3>



<p>RUM not only provides a macro view of user journeys but also dives deep into specific instances of user frustration. Detailed user session data allows businesses to detect issues such as repeated clicks on unresponsive buttons, error messages, or slow load times. These frustrations can significantly impact user satisfaction, leading to decreased engagement and higher churn rates.</p>



<p>For instance, if users encounter a slow-loading page, RUM data can reveal the extent of the delay and its impact on user behavior. Businesses can then prioritize performance improvements for that page, such as optimizing images, refining server-side processes, or enhancing content delivery networks (CDNs). By addressing these frustrations promptly, businesses can enhance the overall user experience and reduce the likelihood of users abandoning the application.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understand-user-interactions">Understand user interactions</h3>



<p>RUM provides a comprehensive view of how users interact with an application. This includes tracking clicks, scrolls, form submissions, and other interactions. By analyzing these interactions, businesses can gain a deeper understanding of how users engage with different features and content.</p>



<p>For example, if users frequently interact with a particular feature, such as a search bar or a filter option, businesses can optimize these elements to enhance usability and efficiency. Conversely, if certain features are rarely used, it may indicate that they are not meeting user needs or are difficult to find. In such cases, businesses can make design adjustments to improve visibility and usability.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-middleware-s-real-user-monitoring-nbsp">Middleware&#8217;s Real User Monitoring&nbsp;</h2>



<p><a href="https://middleware.io/">Middleware</a>’s full-stack cloud <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/observability/">observability</a> platform offers a robust RUM solution designed to capture detailed user session data and provide comprehensive user behavior analytics. With Middleware&#8217;s RUM, businesses can visualize user interactions through <a href="https://middleware.io/product/real-user-monitoring/session-replays/">session replays</a>, offering a clear picture of user behavior and identifying patterns that indicate potential issues.</p>



<p>Session replays allow businesses to watch recordings of actual user sessions, providing invaluable insights into how users experience the application. This visual representation helps identify usability issues that might not be apparent through traditional analytics. For example, session replays can show where users get stuck, how they navigate complex workflows, and where they <a href="https://middleware.io/product/real-user-monitoring/error-tracking/">encounter errors</a>.</p>



<p><a href="https://middleware.io/product/real-user-monitoring/">Middleware&#8217;s RUM solution</a> also includes advanced analytics capabilities, enabling businesses to segment user data based on various criteria such as demographics, device type, and location. This allows for a more granular analysis of user behavior, helping businesses understand the specific needs and preferences of different user segments.&nbsp;</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implementing-middleware-s-rum-nbsp">Implementing Middleware’s RUM&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Let’s see how to implement Middleware’s RUM to enhance your user experience. By following these steps, you can effectively track user journeys, correlate data, and prioritize key issues to <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-application-performance-monitoring/">optimize application performance</a>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-focus-on-user-journeys">1. Focus on user journeys</h3>



<p>User journeys refer to the paths users take through your application, from their initial interaction to their final action, such as completing a purchase or signing up for a service. Tracking user journeys involves <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/monitoring-best-practices-for-developer/">monitoring</a> and analyzing these paths to understand how users interact with various features and to identify any points of friction or frustration.</p>



<p>Understanding user journeys is crucial for optimizing the user experience. By examining these journeys, businesses can identify where users encounter difficulties, drop off, or experience delays. This insight helps in improving application design, enhancing usability, and ultimately increasing user satisfaction and retention.</p>



<p><em><strong>Example</strong></em>: Consider an <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/how-to-optimize-website-performance-for-the-holidays/">e-commerce website</a> where users typically search for products, add them to their cart, and proceed to checkout. By tracking this user journey, you might discover that users frequently abandon their carts during the checkout process. This could indicate issues such as a lengthy form, unexpected shipping costs, or a confusing payment interface.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-data-to-collect">What data to collect?</h3>



<p>To effectively track user journeys, collect the following data:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>User actions:</strong> Record clicks, page views, form submissions, and other interactions.</li>



<li><strong>Session duration:</strong> Measure the time spent on each page or section.</li>



<li><strong>Conversion points</strong>: Track critical actions such as adding items to the cart, initiating checkout, or completing a purchase.</li>



<li><strong>Drop-off points:</strong> Identify where users abandon their journey, such as leaving a form incomplete or exiting the checkout process.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-track-user-journeys-with-middleware">How to Track User Journeys with Middleware?</h3>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Define key user journeys: </strong>Start by identifying the most important paths within your application, such as onboarding processes, product searches, or transaction flows.</li>



<li><strong>Configure Middleware’s RUM</strong>: Set up Middleware’s RUM to track these key journeys. For instance, you can configure the RUM to capture interactions on the product page, track the steps in the checkout process, and record user actions throughout the journey.</li>



<li><strong>Utilize session replays:</strong> Middleware’s session replays allow you to watch recordings of user interactions. Use this feature to visually analyze how users navigate through your application and identify any issues or friction points.</li>



<li><strong>Analyze data:</strong> Review the collected data to understand user behavior, pinpoint areas of friction, and gain insights into user interactions. Look for patterns such as frequent clicks on non-interactive elements or repeated navigation between pages.</li>
</ol>



<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="952" data-id="8176" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/RUM-2.png" alt="How can you enhance user satisfaction with RUM 2 " class="wp-image-8176"/></figure>
</figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">2. Correlate RUM data</h3>



<p>Correlating RUM data involves integrating and comparing user interaction data with other performance metrics to gain a comprehensive understanding of user experience. This approach helps in identifying the <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/mttr-vs-mttd/">root causes of issues</a> that span both frontend and backend systems.</p>



<p>Correlating RUM data with other metrics, such as server performance or error rates, enables businesses to diagnose complex issues more effectively. It helps in distinguishing between problems caused by frontend design flaws and those resulting from backend performance issues.</p>



<p><em>Example: </em>Suppose users report slow load times on a specific page, and RUM data shows high abandonment rates on that page. By correlating this data with server performance metrics, you might discover that the slow load times are due to high server response times or inefficient database queries.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-data-to-correlate">What data to correlate?</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>User interaction data: </strong>Includes click rates, page load times, session durations, and error occurrences.</li>



<li><strong>Server performance metrics:</strong> Covers server response times, error rates, and resource utilization.</li>



<li><strong>Backend logs:</strong> Provides information on database queries, API response times, and application errors.</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="952" data-id="8177" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/RUM-3.png" alt="How can you enhance user satisfaction with RUM - 3" class="wp-image-8177"/></figure>
</figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-correlate-data-with-middleware-nbsp">How to correlate data with Middleware?&nbsp;</h3>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Integrate Middleware’s RUM with other tools: </strong>Connect Middleware’s RUM with your backend performance monitoring tools to gather comprehensive data on both frontend and backend performance. As things stand, Middleware offers over 200+ built-in <a href="https://middleware.io/platform/integrations/">integrations</a>.&nbsp;</li>



<li><strong>Analyze correlated data:</strong> Use Middleware’s platform to visualize and analyze the correlated data. Identify patterns and correlations to diagnose the root causes of performance issues and user dissatisfaction.</li>
</ol>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">3. Prioritize user impact</h3>



<p>Prioritizing user impact involves focusing on the issues that most significantly affect user satisfaction and experience. By addressing high-impact problems first, businesses can make meaningful improvements that enhance the overall <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/mobile-app-performance-best-practices/">user experience</a>.</p>



<p>Focusing on high-impact issues ensures that resources are allocated effectively to resolve problems that have the most significant effect on user satisfaction. It helps in improving key metrics such as conversion rates, user retention, and overall engagement.</p>



<p><em>Example: </em>If RUM data reveals that users frequently abandon the checkout process due to slow loading times, addressing this issue should be a priority. Slow load times can directly impact conversion rates and customer satisfaction, making it essential to implement performance optimizations.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-data-to-prioritize">What data to prioritize?</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Frequency of issues:</strong> Focus on issues that occur frequently across many user sessions.</li>



<li><strong>Severity of issues</strong>: Prioritize issues that have a significant impact on user experience, such as major performance bottlenecks or critical errors.</li>



<li><strong>User feedback:</strong> Consider user feedback and complaints related to specific issues.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-prioritize-and-address-issues-with-middleware">How to prioritize and address issues with Middleware?</h3>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Identify high-impact issues</strong>: Review RUM data to identify the most frequent and severe issues affecting user satisfaction. For example, slow loading times on key pages or frequent form submission errors.</li>



<li><strong>Assess impact:</strong> Evaluate the potential impact of each issue on user satisfaction and business goals. For instance, determine how slow loading times on a checkout page affect conversion rates.</li>



<li><strong>Implement solutions:</strong> Develop and implement targeted solutions to address high-impact issues. This might involve optimizing page load times, fixing broken features, or improving form usability.</li>



<li><strong>Monitor and iterate: </strong>After implementing solutions, continue to monitor RUM data to ensure that the changes have resolved the issues and improved user satisfaction. Iterate on the solutions based on ongoing feedback and data.</li>
</ol>



<p>By effectively tracking user journeys, correlating RUM data with performance metrics, and prioritizing high-impact issues, businesses can leverage Middleware’s RUM solution to enhance user satisfaction and optimize application performance.</p>



<p>Next, set up Middleware’s RUM in your application, start tracking user interactions, and use the data to spot and fix issues. Our advice? Focus on the most critical problems first to improve user satisfaction &#8211; and give your users something to smile about!&nbsp;</p>



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Boost user satisfaction with Middleware's RUM by identifying pain points and optimizing real-time user experiences. 

How can you enhance user satisfaction with RUM?


<p>Website reliability is essential for business success, and there is no second thought about it! A reliable website ensures customers can access services without disruptions, building trust and loyalty. On the other hand, downtime or performance issues can lead to lost revenue and damage a brand&#8217;s reputation.</p>



<p>Picture this: you&#8217;re hosting a massive online sale, and just as customers are filling their carts, the checkout page crashes. It&#8217;s a nightmare scenario, risking lost sales and unhappy shoppers. Much like you&#8217;d never wait for customers to point out broken equipment in a physical store, businesses can&#8217;t afford to wait for users to report website issues.</p>



<p>That&#8217;s where <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-synthetic-monitoring/">synthetic monitoring</a> comes in. This proactive approach acts like a virtual user, regularly testing critical parts of a website to catch problems before real customers do. By simulating typical user actions, synthetic monitoring helps <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/best-practices-to-avoid-website-outages-on-black-friday/">prevent outages</a> and keeps websites running smoothly.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-synthetic-monitoring-works">How synthetic monitoring works</h2>



<p>Synthetic monitoring proactively ensures website and application reliability by simulating user interactions. It helps identify issues before they affect real users. Here’s how it is generally implemented.</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Script creation</strong>: Develop scripts that simulate user actions, such as navigating a website or making API calls (Or you can use a full-stack cloud <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/observability/">observability</a> platform like <a href="https://middleware.io">Middleware</a> for the same).</li>



<li><strong>Simulation execution</strong>: Run these scripts regularly from various global locations to detect regional performance differences.</li>



<li><strong>Data collection and analysis</strong>: Gather data on <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/devops-metrics-you-should-be-monitoring/">metrics</a> like load times and error rates and analyze them for anomalies.</li>



<li><strong>Alerting and reporting</strong>: Generate alerts for detected issues and provide detailed reports on performance trends.</li>
</ol>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Benefits of synthetic monitoring for reliability</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-proactive-identification-of-issues">Proactive identification of issues</h3>



<p>Imagine launching a new feature on your website, only to have customers report bugs after it goes live. It&#8217;s a frustrating experience that could&#8217;ve been avoided with synthetic monitoring. By simulating user journeys and transactions, it allows businesses to detect website errors and performance issues before they affect real users.<br><br>For instance, Middleware offers robust synthetic monitoring capabilities that test API functionality from various locations. This proactive approach ensures that potential problems are caught early, preventing disruptions and maintaining a smooth user experience.<br><br>For example, if an online platform was updated to use a newly rolled out API, synthetic monitoring through Middleware can test the same, catching any glitches before the real users experience such errors.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-monitoring">Global monitoring</h3>



<p>A website&#8217;s performance can&#8217;t just be reliable in one location; it must be consistent globally. Picture an e-commerce site that&#8217;s fast and responsive in New York but sluggish in Sydney. Such disparities can drive away international customers.</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li></li>
</ol>



<p>Middleware addresses this challenge with its geographically distributed location-based testing. We can simulate API interactions from different regions, helping businesses monitor and ensure a consistent experience worldwide. This global perspective is crucial for businesses aiming to provide seamless service, regardless of where their customers are.</p>



<p>Here’s another example. Imagine a global travel booking site experiencing slow response times in Asia, affecting bookings. Global monitoring from Middleware can reveal that server configuration in that region needs optimization.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-performance-monitoring">Performance monitoring</h3>



<p>Understanding a website&#8217;s normal performance is key to spotting issues before they escalate. By establishing performance baselines, businesses can track deviations that indicate underlying problems. For example, if an API response time suddenly spikes, it could signal a technical issue or an inefficient new feature. In the real world, it looks like this: A SaaS company launches a software update, and performance monitoring shows an increase in response times. This data helps the team quickly isolate a problematic code change.<br><br>Middleware&#8217;s synthetic monitoring tools help set these benchmarks and monitor performance trends over time. By identifying regressions early, businesses can address issues promptly, maintaining optimal <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/how-to-optimize-website-performance-for-the-holidays/">website performance</a> and user satisfaction.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Using synthetic monitoring effectively with Middleware</h2>



<p>Here are some insights on optimizing your synthetic monitoring and using all the best features of Middleware effectively.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monitor API performance</h3>



<p>APIs are the backbone of many web services, facilitating communication between different systems. Monitoring API performance is vital for ensuring these integrations work smoothly. Middleware&#8217;s synthetic monitoring tools can simulate API requests and track response times and error rates. This proactive approach helps identify bottlenecks or failures in API endpoints, ensuring that services dependent on these APIs remain reliable and responsive. Using an example, let’s explore how to set up an <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/api-monitoring/">API monitor</a> with Middleware.</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Let’s use a public API that returns the current Bitcoin price. We can use the steps provided with any such API as required.</li>



<li>First, access the synthetic monitoring tab on the left-hand panel of the Middleware platform.</li>



<li>Click the “Add a new test” option.</li>



<li>This will open a configuration menu to create your synthetic API monitor. Fill in the details of your API endpoint as required.</li>



<li>Next, proceed to configure the required assertions. You can configure multiple assertions to reflect the preferred behavior of your API, like the response time for different status codes and the response type.</li>



<li>You can also configure other settings like location, frequency of monitoring, and where you would like to push your alerts and then finally create the monitor.</li>



<li>Once the monitor is created, you can check the dashboard for your results. Here’s what a typical dashboard looks like once you have configured everything.</li>
</ol>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1600" height="1056" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/How-can-synthetic-monitoring-enhance-website-reliability.png" alt="How can synthetic monitoring enhance website reliability" class="wp-image-8136"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monitor multi-step API</h3>



<p>Complex applications often rely on multi-step API calls to complete user transactions, such as logging in, processing payments, or retrieving data. Middleware enables businesses to monitor the uptime and reliability of these multi-step API processes. For instance, an e-commerce platform can use synthetic monitoring to test the entire checkout process, from adding items to the cart to confirming payment. By simulating these multi-step interactions, Middleware helps ensure each step functions correctly, preventing disruptions that could lead to customer frustration or abandoned transactions.</p>



<p>To configure a multi-step API monitor, select the “Multi-step API tests” tab under “Define request” and configure the assertions for multiple APIs in the desired sequence.</p>



<p>One of the key features of a multi-step API test is the ability to use the response values from a previous step in the next API call. The example below shows that the response preview of step 1 contains three fields– amount, base, and currency under the data object.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1600" height="930" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/How-can-synthetic-monitoring-enhance-website-reliability-2.png" alt="Monitor multi-step API" class="wp-image-8137"/></figure>



<p>You can access these values in subsequent steps using variable names like {{$0.data.amount}}, {{$0.data.base}}, and {{$0.data.currency}}. For example, If you want to use these values in making a new API call in step 2, you may access them as follows &#8211;</p>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>"https://api.coinbase.com/v2/prices/{{$0.data.base}}-{{$0.data.currency}}/spot”</code></pre>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monitor API/Endpoint performance from any location</h3>



<p>Global businesses must ensure that their APIs perform consistently across different regions. Middleware provides the ability to monitor API and endpoint performance from various geographical locations. This feature is essential for identifying region-specific issues, such as network latency or server misconfigurations, that could impact user experience. For example, a streaming service can use Middleware to test video delivery APIs from multiple countries, ensuring that users worldwide enjoy the same high-quality experience.</p>



<p>While creating a synthetic monitor, you can configure the locations to test under the “Select locations” section. The screenshot below showcases the available locations via Middleware.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1285" height="625" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/How-can-synthetic-monitoring-enhance-website-reliability-3.png" alt="Monitor API/Endpoint performance from any location" class="wp-image-8138"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Set alert thresholds</h3>



<p><a href="https://middleware.io/blog/proactive-monitoring/">Proactive monitoring</a> is most effective when paired with timely alerts. Middleware allows users to set the frequency to check the required thresholds for various metrics, such as response times, error rates, or downtime duration. By defining these thresholds, businesses can receive immediate notifications when performance deviates from the norm. For example, an online banking app might set an alert for high transaction times, prompting the IT team to investigate and resolve the issue before it affects customers. This feature ensures that potential problems are addressed quickly, minimizing their impact on end users.</p>



<p>Middleware currently supports <a href="https://middleware.io/platform/alerts/">alert</a> integrations with Slack, Email, Opengenie, and PagerDuty.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Common challenges with synthetic monitoring</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Avoiding false positives</h3>



<p>One common challenge with synthetic monitoring is the risk of false positives—instances where monitoring incorrectly reports issues that don&#8217;t exist. False positives can lead to unnecessary alarms and wasted time investigating non-issues.</p>



<p>To mitigate this, one must regularly update and validate your monitoring scripts to reflect the most current version of your website or application. Use conditional checks to ensure that only genuine issues trigger alerts.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Balancing synthetic and real user monitoring</h3>



<p>While synthetic monitoring proactively tests website functionality, it doesn&#8217;t capture the full spectrum of real user experiences. Balancing synthetic monitoring with real user monitoring (RUM) provides a more comprehensive view of website performance.</p>



<p>A good approach would be implementing a hybrid monitoring strategy that uses synthetic monitoring and RUM. Synthetic monitoring helps catch potential issues before they impact users, while RUM provides insights into actual user behavior and experiences. This combination allows for a more complete understanding of your website&#8217;s performance. Middleware also provides features for <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-real-user-monitoring/">real user monitoring</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion</h2>



<p>Synthetic monitoring is an essential tool for proactive website reliability management. By simulating user interactions it allows businesses to identify and resolve potential issues before they impact real users, ensuring a seamless online experience. Middleware&#8217;s <a href="https://docs.middleware.io/workflow/synthetic-monitoring/synthetic-monitoring">synthetic monitoring solution</a> stands out by offering features like API performance monitoring, multi-step API uptime checks, and global performance analysis. These capabilities enable businesses to maintain consistent website performance and reliability across different regions and devices.</p>



<p>With Middleware, companies can also set customizable alert thresholds, ensuring they are immediately informed of deviations from expected performance metrics. This proactive approach prevents outages and performance degradation and protects the business&#8217;s reputation and revenue.</p>



<p>Want to ensure your website&#8217;s reliability and provide a flawless user experience across the globe? Discover how <a href="https://middleware.io/product/synthetic-monitoring/">Middleware&#8217;s synthetic monitoring</a> can help your business avoid potential issues and deliver consistent performance. Start your journey to a more reliable website today!</p>


Understand how you can proactively enhance your website’s performance and reliability with Middleware’s synthetic monitoring.

How can synthetic monitoring enhance website reliability?


<p>Gone are the days when a hardware failure led to an organization&#8217;s entire infrastructure coming to a complete standstill. With digital databases and <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/cloud-native-infrastructure-challenges/">cloud-based architecture</a>, we now have sophisticated mechanisms to ensure that your database is protected and can stay running despite operational issues.</p>



<p>However, just because it is safer doesn&#8217;t mean it can never experience downtime or failures. Database failures remain a persistent threat for most businesses and can cause significant financial losses or reputational damages if they happen at a crucial time.&nbsp;</p>



<p>But why do database failures occur? The reasons can range from hardware malfunctions to human errors, and even the minutest of mistakes can cause an entire database to fail. To mitigate these risks, organizations must adopt a <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/proactive-monitoring/">proactive approach</a> to database management. This involves implementing a robust set of strategies to prevent failures, protect data integrity, and ensure business continuity.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In this comprehensive guide, we will explore nine essential safety tips for safeguarding your database and minimizing the impact of potential disruptions.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-9-ways-to-prevent-database-failures"><strong>9 ways to prevent database failures</strong></h2>



<p>So, despite being safer than traditional hardware-based infrastructure, why do database failures still occur? The answer can be several, like hardware failures, software failures, network failures, bugs in the database, or security breaches.</p>



<p>Surprisingly, 70% of organizations in a <a href="https://www.proofpoint.com/us/newsroom/press-releases/proofpoint-recognized-2024-gartner-peer-insights-customers-choice-data#:~:text=In%20fact%2C%20Proofpoint's%20inaugural%202024,while%20fewer%20than%2050%25%20cited">global report</a> mentioned “careless users” as the cause for data losses, and fewer than 50% cited technical issues as the reason for it.</p>



<p>Thus, the ideal approach to database failures is to undertake preventive steps to minimize the risks of failure and ensure that even if a failure occurs, its impact can be contained. Here are nine proactive steps you can implement to keep your data safe and ensure business continuity even if a failure occurs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>1. Regular backups</strong></h2>



<p>The best way to avoid data loss during a database failure is always to have a backup. It’s that simple!&nbsp;</p>



<p>By regularly backing up your data, you can instantly use the last saved instance and get back in action, ensuring that your data loss due to hardware failures, cyberattacks, or human errors is minimized. Depending on your organization’s dependency on the database and business usage, you can backup the data by determining:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Frequency:</strong> Determine the optimal backup frequency based on data criticality and business requirements. As per Recovery Point Objective (RPO) protocols, a business cannot afford data loss of more than 10 hours.</li>



<li><strong>Backup types:</strong> Consider full, incremental, and differential backups to balance data protection and storage efficiency.</li>



<li><strong>Backup media:</strong> Choose reliable storage options like tapes, disks, or cloud-based storage.</li>



<li><strong>Backup testing:</strong> Regularly test your backup and restore processes to verify data integrity and recovery time objectives.</li>



<li><strong>Backup retention:</strong> Define backup retention policies to manage storage space and compliance requirements. The Recovery Time Objective (RTO) mentions that a database must run within 3 hours after a failure occurs.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2. Database monitoring</strong></h2>



<p><a href="https://middleware.io/product/database-monitoring/">Database monitoring</a> is a systematic approach that helps you monitor your database systems and closely monitor their network and database performance.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This allows you to gain deep insights into the behavior and performance of your entire database, enabling you to identify slow queries, address bottlenecks, and take action regarding resource constraints that could impact your overall performance. An effective database monitoring process usually involves the following:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Tracking key metrics, such as CPU utilization, memory usage, disk I/O, query performance, and error rates.</li>



<li>Real-time monitoring using advanced <a previewlistener="true" href="https://middleware.io/blog/database-monitoring-software/">database monitoring and observability tools</a> to gain insights into the health and performance of your database.</li>



<li>Setting up alerts to notify you of abnormal behavior or performance deviations in your database.</li>



<li>Monitoring performance data 24/7 to identify and address performance bottlenecks before they can lead to a slowdown or database failures.</li>



<li>Forecasting resource requirements based on database growth and workload trends.</li>
</ul>



<p><a href="https://middleware.io/blog/observability/">Comprehensive observability solutions</a> like Middleware can help you proactively monitor and manage your database activities. Middleware is an all-encompassing tool that provides detailed insights into your database&#8217;s health and performance, enabling you to identify potential issues before they escalate into major problems.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1845" height="929" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/image.png" alt="Database monitoring to prevent database failures" class="wp-image-8093"/></figure>



<p>This proactive database monitoring allows you to perform activities like:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Real-time monitoring:</strong> Continuously monitor your database metrics such as CPU utilization, memory usage, disk I/O, query performance, and error rates.</li>



<li><strong>Anomaly detection</strong>: Leverage advanced analytics to identify unusual patterns and deviations from normal behavior, <a href="https://middleware.io/platform/alerts/">alerting</a> you to potential issues before they impact your database.</li>



<li><strong>Root-cause analysis</strong>: Middleware helps pinpoint the root cause of database performance issues by correlating database metrics with other system data, such as <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-log-monitoring/">application logs</a> and <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-infrastructure-monitoring/">infrastructure metrics</a>.</li>



<li><strong>Capacity planning</strong>: By analyzing database growth trends, Middleware helps you anticipate future resource requirements and avoid performance bottlenecks.</li>



<li><strong>Index management:</strong> Middleware offers recommendations for creating, dropping, or rebuilding indexes to improve query performance.</li>



<li><strong>Improved MTTR:</strong> By providing a comprehensive view of your system, Middleware helps reduce the time it takes to resolve database problems, improving your <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/how-to-reduce-mttr/">mean time to repair</a> (MTTR).</li>



<li><strong>Optimized MTTD:</strong> Middleware&#8217;s early warning capabilities help detect issues sooner, reducing your <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/mttr-vs-mttd/">mean time to detect</a> (MTTD).</li>
</ul>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>3. Schema optimization</strong></h2>



<p>Regularly reviewing and optimizing your database schema is crucial for maintaining performance and preventing bottlenecks. Some of the key aspects of schema optimization include:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Normalization:</strong> Ensure data is organized into tables with minimal redundancy and dependencies.</li>



<li><strong>Indexing:</strong> Create appropriate indexes to speed up query execution on frequently accessed columns.</li>



<li><strong>Data types:</strong> Choose the correct data types for columns to optimize storage and performance.</li>



<li><strong>Table partitioning:</strong> Divide large tables into smaller, more manageable partitions for improved query performance and manageability.</li>



<li><strong>Regular review:</strong> Periodically assess your schema for potential optimization opportunities.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>4. Query optimization</strong></h2>



<p>Most databases can be accessed using queries, making query execution essential to maintaining database performance and effectiveness. Some key strategies for <a href="https://middleware.io/platform/query-language/">query optimization</a> are:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Query analysis:</strong> Identify slow-performing queries and analyze their execution plans.</li>



<li><strong>Indexing:</strong> Ensure appropriate indexes are in place to support query execution.</li>



<li><strong>Query rewriting:</strong> Rewrite inefficient queries to improve performance.</li>



<li><strong>Parameterization:</strong> Use parameterized queries to reduce query compilation overhead.</li>



<li><strong>Caching:</strong> Implement query caching to store frequently executed queries and their results.</li>



<li><strong>Query tuning:</strong> Fine-tune query parameters and execution plans for optimal performance.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>5. Resource management</strong></h2>



<p>Allocating sufficient resources to your database is essential for optimal performance and preventing bottlenecks. Proper resource management involves:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Hardware resources:</strong> Ensure adequate CPU, memory, and storage capacity to handle the database workload.</li>



<li><strong>Software resources:</strong> Allocate sufficient licenses for database software and related tools.</li>



<li><strong>Monitoring resource utilization:</strong> Track resource consumption to identify potential bottlenecks and adjust allocations as needed.</li>



<li><strong>Capacity planning:</strong> Forecast future resource requirements based on database growth and workload trends.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>6. Access control</strong></h2>



<p>Protecting your database from unauthorized access is crucial for maintaining data integrity and security. Access controls allow you to provide every user with limited access to your network and overall infrastructure, protecting it from any unauthorized access. You can define access controls using parameters like:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Authentication:</strong> Verify the identity of users attempting to access the database through strong password policies, multi-factor authentication, and biometric verification.</li>



<li><strong>Authorization:</strong> Define user permissions based on roles and responsibilities, granting access only to necessary data and functions.</li>



<li><strong>Least privilege principle:</strong> Grant users the minimum privileges required to perform their tasks.</li>



<li><strong>Regular reviews:</strong> Periodically review and update user permissions to ensure they align with current roles and responsibilities.</li>



<li><strong>Security awareness training:</strong> Educate users about the importance of data security and best practices for protecting sensitive information.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>7. Patch management</strong></h2>



<p>Keeping your database software up-to-date with the latest patches is essential for maintaining security and <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/cloud-load-balancing/">performance</a>. Regular patch management helps <a rel="follow" href="https://www.getastra.com/blog/security-audit/vulnerability-assessment-scanning-tools/">address vulnerabilities</a>, improve stability, and enhance overall database reliability.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Key aspects of patch management include:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Patch testing:</strong> Thoroughly test patches in a controlled environment before deploying them to production.</li>



<li><strong>Patch scheduling:</strong> Develop a patch deployment schedule to minimize disruptions to database operations.</li>



<li><strong>Change management:</strong> Implement change management processes to document patch installations and track their impact.</li>



<li><strong>Vulnerability assessment:</strong> Regularly assess your database environment for vulnerabilities and prioritize patch applications accordingly.</li>



<li><strong>Emergency patching:</strong> Plan to apply critical patches outside of regular maintenance windows in case of security threats.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>8. Disaster recovery plan</strong></h2>



<p>Since database failures are sometimes unavoidable, you will need a comprehensive disaster recovery plan to help you in this stage. The plan should include the steps and resources you can use to get back up to speed and minimize downtime, data loss, or any sort of disruption to your business.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A complete disaster recovery plan should include:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Risk assessment:</strong> Identify potential threats and vulnerabilities to your database environment.</li>



<li><strong>Recovery objectives:</strong> Based on business requirements, define recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO).</li>



<li><strong>Backup and recovery procedures:</strong> Develop detailed procedures for backing up and restoring database data.</li>



<li><strong>Testing and validation:</strong> Regularly test your disaster recovery plan to ensure its effectiveness.</li>



<li><strong>Communication plan:</strong> Establish communication channels for coordinating disaster recovery efforts.</li>



<li><strong>Documentation:</strong> Maintain up-to-date documentation of the disaster recovery plan and procedures.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>9. Database high availability</strong></h2>



<p>A major reason for database failures is the continuous and high usage of its resources. To ensure uninterrupted database access and minimize downtime, consider implementing high-availability solutions. These solutions provide redundancy and failover mechanisms to protect against database failures. Some of the approaches for managing database availability include:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Database clustering:</strong> Create a cluster of database servers where one acts as the primary and others as standbys.</li>



<li><strong>Database replication:</strong> Maintain multiple copies of the database across different servers.</li>



<li><strong>Load balancing:</strong> Distribute database traffic across multiple servers to improve performance and availability.</li>



<li><strong>Failover mechanisms:</strong> Implement automatic failover to a standby database in case of primary database failure.</li>



<li><strong>Regular testing:</strong> Test high-availability configurations to ensure their effectiveness.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Conclusion</strong></h2>



<p>Database failures can be a nightmare, but with proper precautions, their frequency and impact can be controlled. The strategies outlined in this guide will help you reduce the risk of these failures and ensure smooth operations. However, to note any impending disaster, you need constant monitoring to ensure that any issue or anomaly gets flagged early on, giving you ample time to mitigate it.</p>



<p>Database monitoring tools like Middleware offer several features that help you proactively monitor your database, preventing failures and optimizing overall performance. This also lets you gain valuable insights into your database performance and take the right steps to safeguard it.Ready to explore how<a previewlistener="true" href="https://middleware.io/"> Middleware</a> can help you achieve database resilience and peace of mind? <a previewlistener="true" href="https://app.middleware.io/auth/register/">Try us</a> for free today!</p>



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Safeguard your database from unexpected failures with our expert advice. Discover proven methods to enhance database reliability, performance, and resilience.

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Learn how to set up, monitor, and analyze AWS CloudTrail logs for enhanced security, compliance, and operational troubleshooting.

Best Monitoring Practices for AWS CloudTrail Logs


<p>Analyzing CloudWatch Logs is an essential practice for any organization aiming to optimize their AWS expenditure and enhance the overall visibility of their cloud environment.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These logs contain data that, when properly queried and analyzed, enables teams to respond more effectively and efficiently to operational issues. For instance, if an unexpected issue arises, CloudWatch Logs Insights can be utilized to perform in-depth queries, helping to quickly identify potential causes and verify the effectiveness of deployed fixes.</p>



<p>In this article, we&#8217;ll dive into several practical methods for analyzing CloudWatch Logs using <a href="https://middleware.io/">Middleware</a>. You&#8217;ll learn how to use built-in tools like metric streams and custom dashboards&nbsp; to perform deep-dive queries, rapidly identify issues, and validate the effectiveness of the solutions you deploy.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-aws-cloudwatch-nbsp"><strong>Understanding AWS CloudWatch&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p><a href="https://docs.middleware.io/integrations/aws-integration">Amazon CloudWatch</a> is a comprehensive monitoring service offered by AWS that tracks the performance and health of your AWS resources and applications. It collects and stores operational metrics and log files from various AWS resources such as EC2 instances, RDS databases, and Lambda functions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>CloudWatch enables you to monitor your AWS account and resources effectively, reacting to system-wide performance changes, optimizing resource utilization, and gaining a unified view of operational health. Think of it like the go-to tool for cloud visibility and monitoring.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1431" height="894" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/AWS.png" alt="6 Ways to Analyze AWS CloudWatch Resources, Data, &amp; Metrics with Middleware" class="wp-image-7979"/></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What are AWS CloudWatch logs?</strong></h2>



<p>CloudWatch Logs is a feature within CloudWatch that allows you to monitor, store, and access logging information from Amazon EC2 instances, AWS CloudTrail, and other sources. This service is crucial for centralizing <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-log-monitoring/">logs</a> from all your applications, systems, and AWS services into a single, highly scalable service.&nbsp;</p>



<p>With CloudWatch Logs, you can streamline log management by viewing, searching, and filtering logs irrespective of their origin, thus maintaining a consistent and chronological flow of events.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-analyze-aws-cloudwatch-resources-data-amp-metrics-using-middleware"><strong>How to analyze AWS CloudWatch resources, data &amp; metrics using Middleware</strong>?</h2>



<p>AWS CloudWatch provides robust <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/website-monitoring-tools/">monitoring</a> capabilities, and integrating it with Middleware can enhance your ability to analyze resources, data, and metrics.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This comprehensive guide will walk you through the 3 steps to start <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/aws-monitoring/">monitoring your AWS environment</a> with Middleware effectively.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Step 1: Integrate AWS CloudWatch or ECS with Middleware</strong></h2>



<p>To begin streaming AWS CloudWatch metrics in real-time, we can use Metric Streams, a service provided by Amazon Web Services. This integration involves setting up a Delivery stream and a Metric stream.<br><br><strong><em><a previewlistener="true" href="https://docs.middleware.io/integrations/aws-ecs-monitoring">Here’s a link to the documentation on how to set it up</a>.</em></strong></p>



<p>With the Middleware Agent, you can also monitor your ECS containers and tasks running on EC2 instances and ECS Fargate. This ensures comprehensive monitoring of your <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/containerization/">containerized environments</a>.</p>



<p><strong><em>For more detailed instructions, refer to the <a href="https://docs.middleware.io/integrations/kinesis-streams">Middleware integration documentation</a>.</em></strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Step 2: Display metrics and logs in Middleware log section</strong></h2>



<p>Once you have integrated AWS services with Middleware, the next step is to display and analyze the metrics and log data. Here’s how you can make the most of the Middleware dashboard:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Viewing metrics</strong></h3>



<p>After successful integration, Middleware’s dashboard will automatically start pulling in metrics and log data from AWS CloudWatch and ECS. Some of the key metrics you can monitor include:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Task health</strong>: Check the health status of your tasks to ensure they are running smoothly.</li>



<li><strong>Container health</strong>: Monitor the health of your containers to detect any potential issues early.</li>



<li><strong>Container memory usage</strong>: Keep track of the memory usage of your containers to optimize performance.</li>



<li><strong>Task memory percent</strong>: View the percentage of memory utilized by tasks to manage resources effectively.</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1600" height="773" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/AWS_Middleware-Screen-1.png" alt="AWS_Middleware Screen 1" class="wp-image-7980"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Custom dashboard builder</strong></h3>



<p>To tailor the monitoring experience to your specific needs, you can create custom dashboards. Here’s a step-by-step guide:</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Enter custom dashboard builder</strong>: Navigate to the custom dashboard builder from the Middleware dashboard.</li>



<li><strong>Select widget type</strong>: Choose from various widget types such as Time Series, Bar, Heatmaps, and more.</li>



<li><strong>Choose data source and metrics</strong>: Select the appropriate data source (e.g., &#8220;cloud&#8221;) and metrics stream. Choose the specific metrics you want to monitor.</li>



<li><strong>Configure parameters</strong>: Set up additional parameters and filters to refine the data visualization according to your requirements.</li>
</ol>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1600" height="812" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/AWS_Middleware-Screen-2.png" alt="AWS Middleware Screen 2" class="wp-image-7981"/></figure>



<p>You can always navigate back to the default dashboard under the AWS CloudWatch section in the left-hand menu of the Middleware platform.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-step-3-visualize-your-metrics"><strong>Step 3: Visualize your metrics</strong></h2>



<p>Visualizing your metrics effectively is crucial for gaining insights into your AWS environment. Middleware offers two primary ways to visualize your data:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Middleware&#8217;s default AWS dashboards</strong></h3>



<p>Middleware provides pre-configured dashboards for popular AWS services. These dashboards come with a variety of graphs and visualizations representing key metrics for each service. For instance, an EC2 namespace dashboard might include metrics such as CPU utilization, network traffic, and disk I/O.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1600" height="810" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/AWS-Middleware-Screen-3.png" alt="Middleware’s default AWS dashboards" class="wp-image-7982"/></figure>



<p>These default dashboards are designed to give you a comprehensive view of your AWS services&#8217; performance and health. You can explore similar dashboards for other AWS services within Middleware’s default dashboard collection.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Build custom widgets using Middleware&#8217;s dashboard builder</strong></h3>



<p>If you need a more customized view, you can build your own dashboards from scratch. Here’s how:</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Add new widget</strong>: To any existing dashboard, add a new widget.</li>



<li><strong>Select AWS metrics</strong>: Choose from the list of available AWS metrics under the &#8220;cloud&#8221; data source.</li>



<li><strong>Widget types</strong>: Visualise your data using various widget types such as Time Series, Bar Chart, Pie Chart, etc.</li>



<li><strong>Customize data visualization</strong>: Tailor the widgets to display the metrics that are most important to you.</li>
</ol>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1600" height="812" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/AWS-Middleware-Screen-4.png" alt="AWS Middleware Screen 4" class="wp-image-7983"/></figure>



<p>By customizing your dashboard, you can focus on the specific metrics and data points that matter most to your operations, providing a tailored monitoring experience.</p>



<p><strong><em>How much does AWS CloudWatch Cost?&nbsp;You can read about AWS CloudWatch Pricing, or try out the <a href="https://www.economize.cloud/resources/aws/pricing/cloudwatch/">AWS Cloudwatch Pricing Catalog</a> to view direct, indirect, and hidden costs associated with using CloudWatch.</em></strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Conclusion</strong></h2>



<p>Integrating AWS CloudWatch with Middleware significantly enhances your ability to monitor and analyze your AWS environment.&nbsp;</p>



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<p>By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can set up real-time streaming of metrics, customize your dashboards, and gain deep insights into your AWS resources.Whether you utilize default dashboards or build custom views, Middleware provides powerful tools to manage and optimize your AWS infrastructure effectively.</p>


Explore how you can analyze AWS CloudWatch logs using Middleware. Learn to integrate, display, and visualize metrics with custom dashboards to optimize your AWS environment.

How to Analyze AWS CloudWatch Resources, Data, & Metrics with Middleware


<p>Imagine your Java application is a thriving online store, buzzing with activity. On a <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/best-practices-to-avoid-website-outages-on-black-friday/">big sale day</a>, the excitement peaks—but suddenly, your application starts slowing down, orders get delayed, and then it crashes.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While there are many reasons an application might slow down or crash, such as high CPU usage, slow database queries, or inefficient code, one of the <strong>main reasons is often memory management issues</strong>. This is where Java Garbage Collection comes in. By automatically reclaiming memory from objects that are no longer in use, GC helps keep your <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/why-is-monitoring-your-application-important/">application running smoothly</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Java GC acts like a diligent housekeeper for your application&#8217;s memory, automatically clearing out those unused objects to prevent such disastrous crashes. Let&#8217;s explore what Java Garbage Collection is, why it’s vital, and how you can ensure it works optimally for your applications.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-java-garbage-collection-nbsp">What is Java garbage collection?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Java Garbage Collection (GC) is an automatic memory management system that is a fundamental part of the <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/java-performance-monitoring/">Java runtime environment</a>. Its primary role is to identify and reclaim memory occupied by objects that are no longer in use by the application. By doing so, it prevents <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/memory-leaks/">memory leaks</a> and optimizes memory usage without requiring developers to manually manage memory allocation and deallocation</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Automatic memory management:</strong> GC automatically frees up memory by removing unused objects, eliminating the need for manual memory management.</li>



<li><strong>Prevents memory leaks:</strong> By identifying and cleaning up objects that are no longer referenced, GC prevents memory leaks that can lead to application crashes.</li>



<li><strong>Optimizes performance:</strong> Efficient memory management through GC helps maintain application performance by ensuring that the heap space is used effectively.</li>



<li><strong>Simplifies development:</strong> With GC handling memory cleanup, developers can focus on writing business logic without worrying about memory allocation details.</li>
</ul>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why is Java garbage collection important?</h2>



<p>Java Garbage Collection (GC) plays a vital role in maintaining the health and performance of Java applications. Here’s why:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preventing-memory-leak-nbsp">Preventing memory leak&nbsp;</h3>



<p>GC identifies and removes unused objects, preventing memory leaks that could lead to memory exhaustion and application crashes. By reclaiming memory from unused objects, GC ensures that there is always available memory for new objects, preventing sudden application failures.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Improved performance</h3>



<p>GC optimizes memory usage by continuously freeing up space occupied by unused objects, leading to smoother application execution. By managing memory allocation and deallocation, GC reduces fragmentation, ensuring faster and more efficient memory operations.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Simplified development</h3>



<p>Developers are freed from the complexities of manual memory allocation and deallocation, allowing them to focus on writing functional code. Automated memory management by GC reduces the likelihood of memory-related bugs, such as dangling pointers and memory leaks.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Enhanced scalability</h3>



<p>GC helps in managing memory resources efficiently, allowing <a href="https://middleware.io/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/the-ultimate-guide-to-auto-scaling-your-application-infrastructure.pdf">applications to scale up</a> to handle more data and users. By ensuring optimal memory management, GC makes it possible to build and maintain large-scale, enterprise-level applications.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Understanding Java memory management</h2>



<p>Java Heap Memory is a dedicated memory space used for dynamic memory allocation where all Java objects are stored. This heap is managed by the Java Garbage Collector (GC), which ensures that memory is used efficiently by reclaiming space from objects that are no longer in use.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="700" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Java-garbage-collection-What-is-it-and-how-does-it-work.png" alt="Java memory management" class="wp-image-7969"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Generational garbage collection</h3>



<p>Java uses a generational approach to garbage collection, which categorizes objects based on their lifecycle:</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-young-generation">Young generation</h4>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Frequent GC cycles:</strong> The Young Generation is designed for short-lived objects. It consists of the Eden space and two Survivor spaces (S0 and S1).</li>



<li><strong>Eden space:</strong> New objects are initially allocated in the Eden space.</li>



<li><strong>Minor GC:</strong> When the Eden space fills up, a minor GC cycle occurs, moving surviving objects to the Survivor spaces. This process is quick and happens frequently.</li>
</ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tenured-old-generation">Tenured/old generation</h4>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Longer-lived objects:</strong> Objects that survive multiple minor GC cycles in the Young Generation are moved to the Tenured Generation (also known as the Old Generation).</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Less frequent GC cycles:</strong> Collections in the Tenured Generation are less frequent but more time-consuming compared to the Young Generation.</li>
</ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-permanent-generation">Permanent generation</h4>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Static data storage:</strong> In versions of Java before 8, the Permanent Generation stored metadata such as class information and method <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/data-driven-approach-engineering/">data</a>. This has been replaced by Metaspace in Java 8 and later versions.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Garbage collection algorithms</h3>



<p>Java uses different algorithms to manage memory efficiently and reclaim unused objects. Let&#8217;s dive into two key algorithms:</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Marking and sweeping</h4>



<p><strong>Marking phase:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> Identify all reachable objects starting from GC roots.</li>



<li><strong>Process:</strong> During the marking phase, the Garbage Collector (GC) traverses through the heap, marking all objects that are accessible directly or indirectly from GC roots<em> (e.g., local variables, static variables).</em> These marked objects are considered alive and are retained in memory.</li>
</ul>



<p><strong>Sweeping phase:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> Reclaim memory from objects that were not marked as reachable.</li>



<li><strong>Process:</strong> After marking, the GC performs the sweeping phase. It scans through the heap again and identifies objects that were not marked during the previous phase. These unmarked objects are no longer in use by the application and are reclaimed, freeing up memory for future allocations.</li>
</ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Copy collection</h4>



<p><strong>Copying phase:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> Optimize memory usage by relocating surviving objects.</li>



<li><strong>Process:</strong> In the copy collection algorithm, the GC copies surviving objects from one area of memory to another. Typically, this involves moving objects from the Eden space and Survivor spaces to a new area of memory. By doing so, it compacts memory usage, reduces fragmentation, and prepares the original memory space for new allocations.</li>
</ul>



<p>Understanding these algorithms helps developers optimize memory management in Java applications, ensuring smoother performance and avoiding issues like memory leaks or excessive pauses during garbage collection cycles.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">GC terminology</h3>



<p>To understand Java Garbage Collection (GC) better, let&#8217;s explore key terminology that forms the foundation of how GC manages memory in Java applications:</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">GC roots</h4>



<p>GC roots are critical reference points in the Java runtime environment that serve as starting points for the Garbage Collector to traverse and identify reachable objects.</p>



<p><strong>Types of GC roots:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Local variables:</strong> Variables defined within methods and currently in scope.</li>



<li><strong>Active threads:</strong> Threads currently running in the application.</li>



<li><strong>Static variables:</strong> Class-level variables that are referenced from a class.</li>



<li><strong>JNI (Java native interface) references:</strong> References from native code to Java objects.</li>
</ul>



<p>GC roots ensure that any object reachable directly or indirectly from these roots is considered alive and not eligible for garbage collection.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Reachability</h4>



<p>Reachability in the context of Java GC refers to the accessibility of an object starting from the GC roots. An object is said to be reachable if there exists a path of references from one or more GC roots that lead to the object.</p>



<p><strong>Types of reachability:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Strong reachability:</strong> An object is strongly reachable if it can be accessed directly from a GC root or through a chain of strong references.</li>



<li><strong>Soft reachability:</strong> Objects that are reachable through soft references, which are cleared by the GC only when memory is low.</li>



<li><strong>Weak reachability:</strong> Objects that are reachable only through weak references, which are cleared by the GC during the next garbage collection cycle.</li>



<li><strong>Phantom reachability:</strong> Objects that are reachable only through phantom references, which are enqueued after the object is finalized but before it is reclaimed.</li>
</ul>



<p>GC uses reachability to determine which objects are eligible for garbage collection. Objects that are not reachable are considered dead and can be safely reclaimed to free up memory.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Minor vs. Major GC collections</h4>



<p><strong>Definition:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Minor GC (young generation GC):</strong> This type of GC collects garbage in the Young Generation, where short-lived objects are allocated. It is characterized by fast and frequent collections, usually involving the Eden space and Survivor spaces.</li>



<li><strong>Major GC (full GC):</strong> A major GC involves the entire heap, including both the Young Generation and the Tenured Generation (Old Generation). It is less frequent but more time-consuming compared to a minor GC.</li>
</ul>



<p><strong>Purpose:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Minor GC:</strong> Cleans up short-lived objects and promotes surviving objects to the Old Generation.</li>



<li><strong>Major GC:</strong> Reclaims memory across the entire heap, including long-lived objects in the Old Generation, and often involves compaction of memory to reduce fragmentation.</li>
</ul>



<p>Understanding the distinction between minor and major GC collections helps developers optimize memory usage and anticipate the impact of garbage collection cycles on <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-application-performance-monitoring/">application performance</a>.</p>



<p>These GC-related terms form the basis of understanding how Java manages memory dynamically, ensuring efficient memory utilization and stable application performance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Monitoring and tuning Java garbage collection</h2>



<p>Java Garbage Collection (GC) is pivotal for maintaining Java application performance by efficiently managing memory. <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/monitoring-best-practices-for-developer/">Effective monitoring</a> and tuning of GC parameters are essential practices to ensure optimal resource utilization and application stability.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Java monitoring tools</h3>



<p><a href="https://middleware.io/blog/website-monitoring-tools/">Monitoring tools</a> like Middleware, VisualVM, jmap, and jstat provide invaluable insights into GC activity:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Middleware</strong>: Offering comprehensive monitoring for Java applications, Middleware&#8217;s <a href="https://middleware.io/product/apm/">APM</a> provides end-to-end visibility, real-time metrics, and <a href="https://middleware.io/product/distributed-tracing/">distributed tracing</a> to quickly identify and resolve performance issues.</li>



<li><strong>VisualVM:</strong> Integrated with the JDK, VisualVM offers real-time monitoring of heap usage, GC cycles, thread behavior, and more through a graphical interface.</li>



<li><strong>jmap:</strong> This command-line utility generates heap dumps and provides details on heap memory usage, aiding in diagnosing memory-related issues.</li>



<li><strong>jstat:</strong> Another command-line tool, jstat reports JVM performance statistics including GC behavior, memory usage, and more, useful for analyzing application performance over time.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Interpreting GC output</h3>



<p>Understanding GC output involves monitoring key metrics:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Collection times:</strong> Track the duration of GC cycles to identify if they are causing application pauses or delays.</li>



<li><strong>Memory usage:</strong> Monitor heap usage trends to ensure it remains within optimal limits and detect memory leaks early.</li>



<li><strong>Object counts:</strong> Analyze the number of live and dead objects during GC cycles to understand memory allocation patterns and optimize accordingly.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Fine-tuning GC for optimal performance</h3>



<p>Optimizing GC behavior involves configuring JVM parameters:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Xmx and Xms flags:</strong> Set maximum (Xmx) and initial (Xms) heap sizes based on application requirements to balance memory usage and performance.</li>



<li><strong>GC logging and verbose flags:</strong> Enable GC logging (-verbose:gc, -Xlog:gc) to capture detailed information about GC activities, helping diagnose performance issues related to memory management.</li>



<li><strong>Permanent generation tuning:</strong> For older Java versions, tuning the Permanent Generation (PermGen) for class <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/structured-vs-unstructured-data/">metadata</a> and interned strings was crucial. In Java 8 and later, this has been replaced by Metaspace, which requires adjusting parameters based on application demands.</li>
</ul>



<p>By leveraging these tools and techniques, developers can proactively manage memory resources, optimize application performance, and ensure a stable and responsive Java application environment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Common Java GC issues and troubleshooting</h2>



<p>Java Garbage Collection (GC) is essential for managing memory efficiently in Java applications, but it can encounter several critical issues:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Memory leaks</h3>



<p><strong>Causes:</strong> Objects not properly dereferenced, static references holding unnecessary objects, and mismanagement of thread-local variables.</p>



<p><strong>Solution:</strong> Use tools like VisualVM for heap analysis to identify memory-consuming objects. Ensure proper object dereferencing, manage static references carefully, and use weak references for non-critical caches.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Full GC pauses and long GC times</h3>



<p><strong>Issue: </strong>Full GC cycles cause significant pauses in application execution, leading to degraded user experience and increased latency.</p>



<p><strong>Solution: </strong>&nbsp;Select GC algorithms like CMS (Concurrent Mark-Sweep) or G1 (Garbage-First) that minimize pause times.&nbsp; Adjust settings to reduce the frequency and duration of Full GC cycles based on application requirements.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Fragmentation issues</h3>



<p><strong>Issue: </strong>Fragmentation occurs when memory becomes divided into small, non-contiguous blocks over time due to object allocation and deallocation.</p>



<p><strong>Solution:</strong> Consider GC algorithms like G1 that perform heap compaction to reduce fragmentation and improve memory utilization.Design applications to minimize short-lived objects and reduce fragmentation over time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-final-thoughts">Final thoughts</h2>



<p>Java Garbage Collection (GC) automates memory management by reclaiming unused memory, preventing issues like memory leaks and OutOfMemoryError exceptions. Its importance lies in optimizing memory usage for smoother application performance and simplifying development by reducing manual memory management tasks.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Next steps would be to continuously optimize GC settings and monitor performance metrics using tools like <a previewlistener="true" href="https://middleware.io/">Middleware</a>. Stay updated on best practices and experiment with different configurations to enhance Java application efficiency.</p>



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<p><strong><em>Middleware&#8217;s new and improved platform provides complete control over telemetry data and costs, new monitoring capabilities, faster root cause analysis, and broader integration support.</em></strong></p>



<p></p>



<p>Over the last few years, we&#8217;ve witnessed a fundamental shift, driven by the relentless growth of complex, distributed systems. Monolithic applications are giving way to microservices architectures, and with them, a growing IT industry that <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/observability-vs-monitoring/">traditional monitoring tools</a> simply can&#8217;t handle.</p>



<p>Two years ago, we recognized this challenge as an opportunity. The goal was to move beyond basic metrics to <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/observability/">true observability</a>, where we could ingest and analyze massive datasets – logs, traces, metrics – to paint a holistic picture of application health in a cost-effective way.&nbsp;</p>



<p><a href="https://middleware.io/">Middleware</a> was born to empower development and operation teams to not just react to fires, but to proactively identify and prevent issues before they disrupt users. The ability to monitor applications and infrastructure in real-time allowed developers to improve end-user experience, boost operational efficiency, minimize downtime, and ensure a positive impact on the bottom line.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>“Developers no longer want outdated debugging systems. They seek faster, cost-effective, automated solutions for monitoring distributed architectures with scalable and easy-to-learn real-time observability capabilities. Back in 2022, our goal was to drive adoption by providing cost-effective, end-to-end observability.&#8221;</p><cite><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laduramvishnoi"><strong>Laduram Vishnoi</strong></a><strong>, </strong>Founder and CEO, Middleware.</cite></blockquote></figure>



<p>However, a lot has changed since. Observability is no longer a buzzword or an afterthought, but a core principle woven into the fabric of modern software development. It&#8217;s a collaborative effort, where <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/monitoring-best-practices-for-developer/">developers</a>, SREs, and operations teams work together to ensure a seamless <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/mobile-app-performance-best-practices/">user experience</a> (UX). This requires not just powerful tools, but a commitment to knowledge sharing and a deep understanding of the systems we&#8217;re building.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To achieve this, Middleware needed to be more intuitive and user-friendly while providing comprehensive insights into every layer of the tech stack, from the infrastructure to the application, without the complexity that typically comes with such solutions.</p>



<p><em>&#8220;By analyzing global customer insights across various industries, we&#8217;ve pinpointed where users struggled and the features they desired. This feedback has been crucial in shaping the new Middleware platform,&#8221;</em> <strong>Vishnoi adds. </strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>&#8220;Our mission is to simplify the observability process to the extent that the dev and ops teams can use the platform intuitively within a minute. This update is a testament to that mission. We&#8217;ve made it much easier for users to set up services and get started quickly, without having to deal with a steep learning curve. We&#8217;ve also incorporated significant changes, both minor and major, to enhance the overall user experience and functionality of the platform.&#8221;</p><cite><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laduramvishnoi"><strong>Laduram Vishnoi</strong></a><strong>, </strong>Founder and CEO, Middleware.</cite></blockquote></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-improved-within-middleware">What’s improved within Middleware?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1090" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1.1.jpg" alt="Middleware’s Observability Platform Gets a Big Makeover" class="wp-image-7949"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">UI/UX enhancements</h2>



<p>Users expressed appreciation for the depth of information provided in the first version of Middleware but desired a more intuitive workflow for correlating signals. </p>



<p>To address this, we&#8217;ve included the following updates in the latest version:&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-new-ui-with-reusable-components-nbsp">1. New UI with reusable components&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Over 300 screens have undergone a comprehensive redesign with reusable components that ensure a consistent and streamlined UX throughout the Middleware. Not only does this improve visual aesthetics, but it enhances functionality and simplifies navigation.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-enhanced-dashboard-builder">2. Enhanced dashboard builder</h3>



<p>Middleware’s dashboard builder has undergone a complete overhaul. We have added alerts on custom metrics and introduced 100 new dashboards. The improved UI/UX ensures that users can easily build and customize dashboards to suit their specific needs.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-simpler-installation-and-documentation">3. Simpler installation and documentation</h3>



<p>The installation process and documentation website have been thoroughly revamped to help users set up and utilize Middleware&#8217;s features with ease, reducing onboarding friction and accelerating time to value.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-interactive-features-for-data-correlation">4. Interactive features for data correlation</h3>



<p>Our platform can facilitate data correlation across multiple graphs. Users can now move the mouse along the X-axis of one graph to view corresponding data points on all graphs simultaneously. This streamlines data analysis and improves overall usability.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-date-picker">5. Date picker</h3>



<p>We have standardized the date picker across all features, ensuring a consistent user experience and simplifying date selection and navigation throughout the platform.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-6-high-performance-charting-library">6. High-performance charting library</h3>



<p>Middleware now features Highcharts to enhance data visualization capabilities. Developers can now gain a clearer and more interactive representation of data for quick and effective insights.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Technology enhancements (features and functionalities)&nbsp;</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-datadog-agent-support-nbsp">1. Datadog agent support&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Developers can now send logs, metrics, and traces from <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/datadog-pricing/">Datadog</a> agents directly to Middleware. This eliminates the need for new agents or configurations, making the transition to Middleware effortless.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-auto-instrumentation">2. Auto-instrumentation</h3>



<p>Middleware now supports auto instrumentation for applications written in <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/python-performance-monitoring/">Python</a>, <a href="http://node.js">Node.js</a>, <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/java-performance-monitoring/">Java</a>, .NET, and <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/golang-monitoring/">Golang</a> using the <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/opentelemetry-observability/">OpenTelemetry operator</a>. This allows for distributed tracing with zero code changes and simplifies the instrumentation process.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-new-integrations">3. New integrations</h3>



<p>Middleware now supports <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/aws-monitoring/">AWS integration</a> for collecting logs, metrics, and events from ECS, EC2, S3, RDS, Firehose, Lambda, and EBS, simplifying AWS monitoring with less complex configurations. Middleware can also ingest logs from <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/logstash-alternatives/">Elastic Logstash</a>, thereby replacing Elastic Search &amp; Open Search.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1090" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2.1.jpg" alt="Middleware’s Observability Platform Gets a Big Makeover" class="wp-image-7951"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-status-page-nbsp">4. Status page&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Users can now create status pages and publish them to their websites. This feature allows for synthetic checks and incident management, providing a public-facing status page that displays the availability of services/products. Users can also send notifications via Slack and email, keeping stakeholders informed during outages.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-product-performance-monitoring-within-real-user-monitoring-rum-nbsp">5. Product performance monitoring within real user monitoring (RUM)&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Middleware&#8217;s <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/what-is-real-user-monitoring/">RUM</a> now tracks core web vitals such as First Contentful Paint (FCP), Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). It will also support native iOS and Android apps, delivering insights on performance metrics and user interactions across <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/mobile-app-monitoring/">mobile platforms</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-6-log-patterns">6. Log patterns</h3>



<p>Middleware&#8217;s new <a href="https://middleware.io/blog/debug-faster-with-log-patterns/">log pattern</a> feature enables users to quickly identify logs by creating a pattern for the log message. It shows users which machines are emitting similar logs, helping them recognize that the issue may lie in the code rather than a specific machine or code replica.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Infrastructure enhancements</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-query-optimization-nbsp">1. Query optimization&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Several backend queries have been revisited and optimized to enhance query response times and overall system performance. These optimizations ensure that users receive timely and accurate insights into their infrastructure and applications.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-database-schema-optimization">2. Database schema optimization</h3>



<p>The database schema has been refined to optimize storage efficiency and reduce costs associated with data retention and retrieval. These improvements contribute to a more efficient use of resources and enable Middleware to offer competitive pricing while maintaining high performance standards.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-ingestion-control-and-pipelines">3. Ingestion control and pipelines</h3>



<p>Middleware&#8217;s ingestion control model allows you to optimize data intake through customizable &#8220;feature flags.&#8221; This ensures that we only ingest the telemetry data that is crucial to you, such as metrics, traces, logs, and profiling data. Within these categories, we offer granular filtering options. For example, you can choose to ingest logs from specific services or filesystems, keeping your data intake streamlined and cost-efficient.<br></p>



<p class="has-accent-3-background-color has-background"><strong><em>Read more about how Middleware makes a difference in this exclusive story by </em></strong><a href="https://analyticsindiamag.com/ai-trends/this-2-year-old-startup-drawing-customers-away-datadog-new-relic/"><strong><em>AIM</em></strong></a><strong><em>.</em></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1090" src="https://middleware.io/backend/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/3.1.jpg" alt="Middleware’s Observability Platform Gets a Big Makeover" class="wp-image-7952"/></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>&#8220;<strong><em>At Middleware, we are committed to redefining cloud native observability by making our tools more intuitive, faster, and cost-effective by using cutting-edge technologies like OpenTelemetry, cloud object storage, and fast analytical query processing. With revamped visuals, seamless integrations, and advanced capabilities like log patterns and mobile RUM, we aim to empower SREs, DevOps, and developers to achieve unparalleled insights and efficiency</em></strong>.<strong><em> To further our goal, we will also leverage AI to detect anomalies in the telemetry data, provide alert recommendations, and enable querying using natural language.</em></strong>&#8220;</p><cite><a previewlistener="true" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tejaskokje">Tejas Kokje</a>, Head of Engineering at Middleware.</cite></blockquote></figure>



<p>This is just the beginning for us. In the months to come, we’d be introducing many more exciting features and functionalities. Stay tuned!<br><br><strong><em>Want to try the latest version of Middleware’s full-stack cloud observability platform for free? </em></strong><a href="https://app.middleware.io/auth/register/"><strong><em>Click here</em></strong></a><strong><em>.&nbsp;</em></strong></p>


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