Why Do Some People Say Logs Are All You Need?
Logs are one of the simplest and most effective tools for debugging. They capture what happens in your app, with details like errors, API requests, and performance data. Some developers rely entirely on logs for troubleshooting because of their simplicity and rich detail. Though adding traces provides more context and with OpenTelemetry it can happen automatically. Logs are often done manually.
Logs are around for decades now, while traces were never popular because of lack of standard ways how to collect them. Now we have OpenTelemetry, which resolves this issue, hence more and more companies finding the benefits of traces next to logs.
1. Logs Provide Detailed Information
Logs capture what happens in your app with details like timestamps, error messages, and custom data. They give you a step-by-step view of what happened before an issue occurred.
1console.error("#202516134622691 User authentication failed", { userId: 123, timestamp: Date.now() });2. Simple to Use and Widely Supported
Logs work with almost every programming language and platform. Developers can start logging immediately with minimal setup.
3. Logs Help Understand App Behavior Over Time
By analyzing logs, developers can spot patterns, recurring issues, or areas for optimization. Logs can also help track performance trends.
1console.log("#202516134636125 API request completed", { endpoint: "/login", responseTime: 200 });4. Why People Rely Solely on Logs
Logs are simple, text-based, and provide all the details developers need to debug. For smaller applications, logs alone are often enough to troubleshoot issues.
5. Where Logs Fall Short
While logs are great for details, they don’t show how different parts of your app interact. Traces can bridge this gap, connecting logs to the bigger picture.