Description: Jaeger is an open-source end-to-end distributed tracing system that allows developers and operators to monitor and troubleshoot microservices architectures. Its main function is to provide visibility into the performance and behavior of applications, facilitating the identification of bottlenecks and process optimization. Jaeger enables tracking requests across multiple services, offering a graphical representation of interactions and response times. This system is based on the concept of tracing, where each request is associated with a unique identifier that allows following its path through different components of the system. Among its most notable features are the ability to perform latency analysis, collect metrics, and integrate with other monitoring tools. Jaeger is particularly relevant in environments where microservices are used, as these can complicate visibility into data flow and service interaction. By providing a framework for tracing, Jaeger helps teams better understand the performance of their applications and make informed decisions to improve efficiency and user experience.
History: Jaeger was initially developed by Uber Technologies in 2015 as a solution to their own monitoring challenges in a microservices environment. Over time, it became an open-source project and was donated to the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) in 2017, allowing for its adoption and enhancement by the community. Since its release, Jaeger has evolved with new features and performance improvements, becoming a key tool for distributed tracing in modern applications.
Uses: Jaeger is primarily used to monitor applications based on microservices architecture, allowing developers to trace the flow of requests across different services. This is especially useful for identifying performance issues, such as high latencies or errors in service communication. Additionally, Jaeger can be integrated with other monitoring and analysis tools, providing a more comprehensive view of application status.
Examples: A practical example of using Jaeger is in an application where multiple microservices manage different aspects, such as user authentication, data processing, and resource management. By implementing Jaeger, developers can trace how a request moves through these services, quickly identifying any delays or errors in the process. Another case is in cloud-native applications, where Jaeger helps optimize service communication by tracing the performance of the services involved.
