Learning Observability Tracing Through Experiential Learning
摘要
In a large-scale software development product development organization, we found that most developers, although experienced, were lacking architectural knowledge of the specific developed product. As a remedy, we evaluated whether we could stimulate learning the product architecture by conducting training in how to use the product’s distributed tracing platform, built on the OpenTelemetry standard and the open-source Jaeger Tracing visualization tool. We planned and participated in a training event, where parts of the organization explored, using experiential learning, how to set up and use tracing to troubleshoot a realistic fault scenario we prepared. Respondents were asked to rate the tool according to the Technology Adoption Model (TAM), and responses were collected on Likert-type scales, analyzed, and summarized using a Bayesian workflow. Even as tool usage post-training was low, respondents still had a positive attitude toward using the tool, valued the experiential training, and expressed a strong intent to use the tool for program comprehension.