Automated Microservices Dashboards and Alarms from Source-Code Metrics

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manual process of generating microservices dashboards is time-consuming and requires developers to learn different tools from those used for developing microservices, increasing the burden and reducing efficiency in monitoring microservices platforms.

Innovation Solution

A device integrated into the microservices platform automatically generates dashboards and alarms by retrieving threshold data, parsing source code to identify custom metrics, and leveraging observability applications to create tailored dashboards with standard and custom metrics, reducing the manual effort required.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual process is used to generate microservices dashboards, then developers can create custom monitoring dashboards, but the process is time-consuming and reduces productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveDashboard generation processVSAvoidDeveloper efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service dashboard generation by automatically retrieving threshold data from microservices, parsing source code to identify custom metrics, and generating dashboards without requiring developer intervention in the monitoring tool configuration process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the dashboard generation process to automatically extract metrics from source code and retrieve threshold data before the developer needs to view the dashboard, eliminating manual setup steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If developers learn different tools for monitoring, then comprehensive monitoring capabilities are achieved, but the learning burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMonitoring capabilityVSAvoidTool learning requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary layer that automatically translates microservice source code and threshold data into dashboard visualizations, eliminating the need for developers to directly learn and configure complex monitoring tool syntax and interfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical process of manually configuring monitoring tools with an automated computational process that parses source code and generates dashboards through programmatic operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If automated dashboard generation is implemented, then productivity is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveDashboard generation speedVSAvoidGeneration system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves multi-functionality by combining source code parsing, threshold data retrieval, metric identification, and dashboard generation into a single integrated platform, eliminating the need for multiple separate tools and reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250321757A1Automated generation of dashboards and alarms

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

Architectures and techniques are described that can automate generation of dashboards and alarms that are used to monitor the operation of microservices or other suitable entities. Threshold data can be determined for certain operational metrics of a microservices platform and stored to a data structure that can be configured or updated. Based on the threshold data, a template applicable to a particular observability application or service can be generated. The dashboard can be generated in response to inputting the template and the threshold data to the observability application or service.