Stories with Tag log analysis

• Show HN: Nerdlog – Fast, multi-host TUI log viewer with timeline histogram

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  Posted: 2025-04-21 11:38:10

  Verbose tl;dr

  Nerdlog is a fast, terminal-based log viewer designed for efficiently viewing logs from multiple hosts simultaneously. It features a timeline histogram that provides a visual overview of log activity, allowing users to quickly identify periods of high activity or errors. Written in Rust, Nerdlog emphasizes speed and efficiency, making it suitable for handling large log files and numerous hosts. It supports filtering, searching, and highlighting to aid in analysis and supports different log formats, including journalctl output. The tool aims to streamline log monitoring and debugging in a user-friendly terminal interface.

  The Hacker News post titled "Show HN: Nerdlog – Fast, multi-host TUI log viewer with timeline histogram" introduces a new terminal user interface (TUI) application called Nerdlog designed for efficient and intuitive log viewing across multiple hosts. Nerdlog aims to be a faster and more user-friendly alternative to traditional methods like tail -f or web-based log aggregators when dealing with numerous log files simultaneously.

  The core functionality highlighted is its ability to consolidate logs from various sources into a single, unified view within the terminal. This streamlined presentation enables users to monitor real-time log streams from multiple servers or applications concurrently, simplifying the process of debugging distributed systems or tracking events across a complex infrastructure.

  A key feature of Nerdlog is its integrated timeline histogram. This visual representation displays the frequency of log entries over time, providing a quick overview of activity patterns and potential bursts or lulls in logging activity. This allows users to easily identify periods of high activity which might correspond to errors or performance issues.

  The post emphasizes Nerdlog's speed and performance, suggesting it's optimized for handling large volumes of log data efficiently. This efficiency makes it suitable for monitoring high-traffic applications and servers where log output can be substantial.

  Furthermore, being a TUI application, Nerdlog offers the advantages of a lightweight footprint and direct terminal integration, making it easily accessible from remote servers via SSH. This contrasts with web-based solutions which might require additional setup or introduce performance overhead.

  The post links to the Nerdlog GitHub repository where users can find the source code, installation instructions, and further documentation about its features and usage. This allows interested individuals to explore the project, contribute, or adapt it to their specific log monitoring needs. In essence, Nerdlog presents itself as a practical tool for developers and system administrators seeking an efficient and visually informative way to manage logs in a terminal environment.

  • tui
  • terminal
  • log viewer
  • log analysis
  • multi-host
  • Timeline
  • histogram
  • performance
  • Monitoring
  • Debugging
  • Open Source
  • Golang
  • cli
  • command-line
  • system administration
  • DevOps

  Summary of Comments ( 6 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43750765

  Verbose tl;dr

  Hacker News users generally praised Nerdlog for its speed and clean interface, particularly appreciating the timeline histogram feature for quickly identifying activity spikes. Some compared it favorably to existing tools like lnav and GoAccess, while others suggested potential improvements such as regular expression search, customizable layouts, and the ability to tail live logs from containers. A few commenters also expressed interest in seeing features like log filtering and the option for a client-server architecture for remote log viewing. One commenter also pointed out that the project name was very similar to an existing project called "Nerd Fonts".

  The Hacker News post titled "Show HN: Nerdlog – Fast, multi-host TUI log viewer with timeline histogram" generated several comments discussing various aspects of the project.

  Several commenters expressed their appreciation for the tool and its potential usefulness. One user highlighted the value of the histogram feature for quick identification of peak error periods, while another praised the multi-host functionality, noting its superiority to their current setup of multiple tail -f commands. The clean and intuitive user interface was also a point of positive feedback.

  Some users offered suggestions for improvements and additional features. One suggested incorporating logrotate support or similar functionality for managing log files. Another requested the ability to pause the log stream, a feature commonly found in other log viewers. Integration with systemd journal logs was also mentioned as a desirable addition. A commenter also inquired about the project's license, expressing their preference for an OSI-approved license.

  A few commenters drew comparisons to existing log viewing tools. One mentioned similarities to lnav, another popular TUI log viewer, and discussed some of the tradeoffs between the two. Another user pointed out features present in commercial log management solutions that could be beneficial additions to Nerdlog.

  There was a brief discussion regarding performance, with one commenter noting that the performance claims in the project's README seemed plausible based on their own experience with similar tools.

  Finally, the developer of Nerdlog actively engaged in the comments section, responding to questions and acknowledging feedback. They addressed inquiries about the licensing, confirmed plans to add features like log rotation and pausing, and expressed openness to further suggestions. This interaction added to the overall positive reception of the project.

• Telescope – an open-source web-based log viewer for logs stored in ClickHouse

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  Posted: 2025-02-26 08:28:21

  Verbose tl;dr

  Telescope is an open-source, web-based log viewer designed specifically for ClickHouse. It provides a user-friendly interface for querying, filtering, and visualizing logs stored within ClickHouse databases. Features include full-text search, support for various log formats, customizable dashboards, and real-time log streaming. Telescope aims to simplify the process of exploring and analyzing large volumes of log data, making it easier to identify trends, debug issues, and monitor system performance.

  Telescope is an open-source, web-based log viewer specifically designed for efficiently querying and visualizing logs stored within ClickHouse, a high-performance column-oriented database management system. It provides a user-friendly interface for exploring and analyzing vast quantities of log data, enabling users to quickly identify trends, pinpoint errors, and gain deeper insights into their application's behavior.

  Key features of Telescope include:

  • ClickHouse Integration: Telescope is tightly coupled with ClickHouse, leveraging its powerful analytical capabilities for fast and efficient log processing. This allows for interactive querying and analysis of massive datasets, making it suitable for handling the high volume of logs generated by modern applications.

  • Intuitive Web Interface: The project offers a clean and intuitive web UI, enabling users to easily browse, search, and filter logs without needing to write complex ClickHouse queries. The interface simplifies the process of navigating through large log files and facilitates quick identification of relevant information.

  • Real-time Log Streaming: Telescope supports real-time log streaming, providing up-to-date visibility into application activity. This allows users to monitor live logs and immediately detect and react to emerging issues.

  • Customizable Dashboards and Visualizations: Users can create custom dashboards and visualizations to track key metrics and gain a comprehensive overview of their application's performance. This allows for tailored insights based on specific needs and facilitates the identification of patterns and anomalies.

  • Search and Filtering: Telescope offers robust search and filtering capabilities, allowing users to quickly locate specific log entries based on various criteria. This includes filtering by timestamps, log levels, keywords, and other relevant attributes.

  • Open Source and Extensible: Being open-source, Telescope allows for community contributions and customization. Users can adapt the tool to their specific requirements and integrate it seamlessly into their existing logging infrastructure.

  • Simplified Log Management: By centralizing log viewing and analysis within a single web interface, Telescope simplifies log management and reduces the complexity of working with ClickHouse directly.

  In essence, Telescope bridges the gap between the raw power of ClickHouse and the need for an accessible and user-friendly log exploration tool. It empowers users to harness the performance of ClickHouse for log analysis without requiring in-depth knowledge of ClickHouse query language or database administration. This makes Telescope a valuable tool for developers, DevOps engineers, and anyone dealing with large volumes of log data stored in ClickHouse.

  • ClickHouse
  • log viewer
  • log analysis
  • web-based
  • open-source
  • Telescope
  • logging
  • Monitoring
  • Observability
  • Data Visualization
  • real-time logs

  Summary of Comments ( 36 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43181862

  Verbose tl;dr

  Hacker News users generally praised Telescope's clean interface and the smart choice of using ClickHouse for storage, highlighting its performance capabilities. Some questioned the need for another log viewer, citing existing solutions like Grafana Loki and Kibana, but acknowledged Telescope's potential niche for users already invested in ClickHouse. A few commenters expressed interest in specific features like query language support and the ability to ingest logs directly. Others focused on the practical aspects of deploying and managing Telescope, inquiring about resource consumption and single-sign-on integration. The discussion also touched on alternative approaches to log analysis and visualization, including using command-line tools or more specialized log aggregation systems.

  The Hacker News post for Telescope, an open-source web-based log viewer for ClickHouse, has several comments discussing its features, alternatives, and potential use cases.

  Several commenters express interest in the project and its capabilities. One user highlights the benefit of having a GUI for ClickHouse, especially for tasks like filtering logs. Another appreciates the straightforward setup process and the user-friendly interface, contrasting it with more complex alternatives. The simplicity of Telescope compared to Grafana is also mentioned favorably.

  Some discussion revolves around comparisons to other existing tools. One commenter mentions using Kibana with ClickHouse, while another brings up Grafana and Loki as a comparable setup. The discussion points out that Telescope is specifically designed for ClickHouse, unlike more general-purpose tools. This focus potentially offers a more tailored and efficient experience for users working exclusively with ClickHouse.

  The ability to write SQL queries within Telescope is highlighted as a major advantage. This direct access to ClickHouse's power is seen as a significant plus for those familiar with SQL.

  A few comments delve into more technical aspects. One user asks about the performance implications of running Telescope, particularly regarding resource usage. Another commenter inquires about the support for distributed ClickHouse setups, showcasing interest in scaling the log viewing capabilities.

  The thread also touches upon the potential uses of Telescope. One commenter mentions using a similar setup (ClickHouse and a custom web UI) for security log analysis, while others discuss the general benefits of having a visual tool for navigating large log datasets. This illustrates the broad applicability of Telescope in various domains.

  Finally, there's some discussion around the project's open-source nature and future development. Users express interest in contributing and suggest features like adding authentication or improving performance. This active community engagement suggests a healthy and evolving project.