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Apache SkyWalking
What it is
Apache SkyWalking is a self-hosted observability platform for cloud-native systems and AI workloads. It brings traces, metrics, logs, and profiling together to help users examine services, Kubernetes, and infrastructure through topology, telemetry, profiles, and alerts. For AI workloads, users can inspect model and MCP call latency and token rates, and explore AI agent conversations, tool calls, and recorded file changes. The project lists agents for Java, Python, NodeJS, Go, Rust, PHP, Ruby, Nginx LUA, Kong, and client-side JavaScript. Integrations and ecosystem projects include OpenTelemetry OTLP, Istio, Envoy, Kubernetes, Grafana, and MCP. BanyanDB is described as a database for ingesting, analyzing, and storing metrics, tracing, and logging data. Docker installation instructions cover Linux, macOS, WSL, and Windows PowerShell. Horizon UI supports SkyWalking natively since v11 and partially for v10. Its GraalVM distribution is marked experimental. The software is an open-source Apache Software Foundation project and is available for self-hosted deployment.
For and against
For
- Brings traces, metrics, logs, and profiling together
- Includes AI workload observability
- Lists agents across multiple languages
- Docker setup instructions cover major desktop systems
Against
- Self-hosted deployment is required
- Horizon UI support is partial for v10
- GraalVM distribution is experimental
The verdict
Apache SkyWalking combines service and infrastructure observability with views into AI calls and agent activity. Check the Horizon UI version compatibility and experimental status of the GraalVM distribution against your deployment needs.
Who it suits
SkyWalking suits teams that need observability across cloud-native infrastructure, services, or AI workloads and can manage a self-hosted deployment. Its listed agents and integrations may also fit environments using the named languages and systems.
Plans and prices
Apache SkyWalking
Open-source observability platform; self-hosted deployment
Read 4 Oct 2026 · skywalking.apache.org
On the record
- Agents
- The project lists agents for Java, Python, NodeJS, Go, Rust, PHP, Ruby, Nginx LUA, Kong, and client-side JavaScript.skywalking.apache.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- AI observability
- The site says users can inspect model and MCP call latency and token rates, and explore AI agent conversations, tool calls, and recorded file changes.skywalking.apache.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Cloud-native coverage
- The site describes exploring services, Kubernetes, and infrastructure with topology, telemetry, profiles, and alerts.skywalking.apache.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Compatibility limit
- Horizon UI supports SkyWalking natively since v11 and partially for v10.skywalking.apache.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The get-started page provides Docker-based installation instructions for Linux, macOS, WSL, and Windows PowerShell.skywalking.apache.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Download verification
- The downloads page says Apache source releases are official artifacts and recommends verifying downloads with PGP or SHA512 signatures.skywalking.apache.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Experimental component
- The GraalVM distribution is explicitly marked experimental.skywalking.apache.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The site identifies OpenTelemetry OTLP, Istio, Envoy, Kubernetes, Grafana, and MCP among its integrations and ecosystem projects.skywalking.apache.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Project governance
- The site identifies Apache SkyWalking as an Apache Software Foundation project.skywalking.apache.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Apache SkyWalking is an observability platform for cloud-native systems and AI workloads.skywalking.apache.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- Horizon UI documents Content-Security-Policy, strict session cookies, no-store API responses, and optional login auditing.skywalking.apache.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Storage
- BanyanDB is described as an observability database for ingesting, analyzing, and storing metrics, tracing, and logging data.skywalking.apache.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project directs users to GitHub discussions for questions and issues and provides a developer mailing list and Slack community contact instructions.skywalking.apache.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Telemetry
- The platform brings traces, metrics, logs, and profiling together to help users understand services.skywalking.apache.org · read 4 Oct 2026
