Python Observability

# python-observability — detailed worked examples

## Advanced Patterns

### Pattern 5: The Four Golden Signals with Prometheus

Track these metrics for every service boundary:

```python
from prometheus_client import Counter, Histogram, Gauge

# Latency: How long requests take
REQUEST_LATENCY = Histogram(
    "http_request_duration_seconds",
    "Request latency in seconds",
    ["method", "endpoint", "status"],
    buckets=[0.01, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, 10],
)

# Traffic: Request rate
REQUEST_COUNT = Counter(
    "http_requests_total",
    "Total HTTP requests",
    ["method", "endpoint", "status"],
)

# Errors: Error rate
ERROR_COUNT = Counter(
    "http_errors_total",
    "Total HTTP errors",
    ["method", "endpoint", "error_type"],
)

# Saturation: Resource utilization
DB_POOL_USAGE = Gauge(
    "db_connection_pool_used",
    "Number of database connections in use",
)
```

Instrument your endpoints:

```python
import time
from functools import wraps

def track_request(func):
    """Decorator to track request metrics."""
    @wraps(func)
    async def wrapper(request: Request, *args, **kwargs):
        method = request.method
        endpoint = request.url.path
        start = time.perf_counter()

        try:
            response = await func(request, *args, **kwargs)
            status = str(response.status_code)
            return response
        except Exception as e:
            status = "500"
            ERROR_COUNT.labels(
                method=method,
                endpoint=endpoint,
                error_type=type(e).__name__,
            ).inc()
            raise
        finally:
            duration = time.perf_counter() - start
            REQUEST_COUNT.labels(method=method, endpoint=endpoint, status=status).inc()
            REQUEST_LATENCY.labels(method=method, endpoint=endpoint, status=status).observe(duration)

    return wrapper
```

### Pattern 6: Bounded Cardinality

Avoid labels with unbounded values to prevent metric explosion.

```python
# BAD: User ID has potentially millions of values
REQUEST_COUNT.labels(method="GET", user_id=user.id)  # Don't do this!

# GOOD: Bounded values only
REQUEST_COUNT.labels(method="GET", endpoint="/users", status="200")

# If you need per-user metrics, use a different approach:
# - Log the user_id and query logs
# - Use a separate analytics system
# - Bucket users by type/tier
REQUEST_COUNT.labels(
    method="GET",
    endpoint="/users",
    user_tier="premium",  # Bounded set of values
)
```

### Pattern 7: Timed Operations with Context Manager

Create a reusable timing context manager for operations.

```python
from contextlib import contextmanager
import time
import structlog

logger = structlog.get_logger()

@contextmanager
def timed_operation(name: str, **extra_fields):
    """Context manager for timing and logging operations."""
    start = time.perf_counter()
    logger.debug("Operation started", operation=name, **extra_fields)

    try:
        yield
    except Exception as e:
        elapsed_ms = (time.perf_counter() - start) * 1000
        logger.error(
            "Operation failed",
            operation=name,
            duration_ms=round(elapsed_ms, 2),
            error=str(e),
            **extra_fields,
        )
        raise
    else:
        elapsed_ms = (time.perf_counter() - start) * 1000
        logger.info(
            "Operation completed",
            operation=name,
            duration_ms=round(elapsed_ms, 2),
            **extra_fields,
        )

# Usage
with timed_operation("fetch_user_orders", user_id=user.id):
    orders = await order_repository.get_by_user(user.id)
```

### Pattern 8: OpenTelemetry Tracing

Set up distributed tracing with OpenTelemetry.

**Note:** OpenTelemetry is actively evolving. Check the [official Python documentation](https://opentelemetry.io/docs/languages/python/) for the latest API patterns and best practices.

```python
from opentelemetry import trace
from opentelemetry.sdk.trace import Tr