Summary
The problem at hand is to display detailed information from a query in a Grafana alert annotation description. The goal is to show entry_ids grouped by entry_type without modifying the existing SQL queries. The desired output is a single alert with all necessary information in the description.
Root Cause
The root cause of the issue is the inability to access and manipulate data from the second query in the alert description. The main reasons for this are:
- Incorrect use of Grafana variables and templating
- Lack of understanding of how to work with TimeSeries data in Grafana
- Insufficient knowledge of Grafana’s querying and data manipulation capabilities
Why This Happens in Real Systems
This issue occurs in real systems due to:
- Complexity of data: Dealing with complex data structures and queries can lead to difficulties in accessing and manipulating data.
- Limited documentation: Insufficient or unclear documentation can make it hard for users to understand how to use Grafana’s features correctly.
- Lack of experience: Users may not have the necessary experience or knowledge to work with Grafana and its templating system.
Real-World Impact
The impact of this issue is:
- Inadequate alerting: Alerts may not provide sufficient information, leading to difficulties in troubleshooting and resolving issues.
- Increased workload: Users may need to manually query and manipulate data, increasing their workload and decreasing efficiency.
- Decreased productivity: The inability to access and display data correctly can lead to decreased productivity and increased frustration.
Example or Code
SELECT e.entry_id, COUNT(*)
FROM database_table_process dt
JOIN entities e using(entry_id)
WHERE $__timeFilter(dt.started)
GROUP BY dt.entry_typeThis query is used to retrieve the data for display in the alert description.
How Senior Engineers Fix It
Senior engineers fix this issue by:
- Using Grafana’s templating: They use Grafana’s templating system to access and manipulate data from the second query.
- Creating custom templates: They create custom templates to display the data in the desired format.
- Utilizing Grafana variables: They use Grafana variables to store and access data from the queries.
Why Juniors Miss It
Juniors may miss this solution due to:
- Lack of experience: They may not have the necessary experience working with Grafana and its templating system.
- Insufficient knowledge: They may not have a deep understanding of Grafana’s features and capabilities.
- Limited training: They may not have received adequate training or guidance on how to use Grafana effectively.