Centralized Logging Is Not Observability-But It Was a Necessary First Step
Article summary
Centralized Logging Is Not Observability-But It Was a Necessary First Step We thought centralizing logs would give us clarity. It gave us something else: a flood. Every service piped its logs into a single place. We deployed a search UI. We set up indices. But the result wasn’t insight-it was noise. We had no structure. No standards. And no signal. That’s when we realized: centralized logging is not the goal-it’s the groundwork. And without discipline, it becomes a liability. This post walks through what we did wrong, what we fixed, and the rules we apply today to keep logs useful, not overwhelming.
Read Full Article on MediumPractical takeaway
The main idea behind Centralized Logging Is Not Observability-But It Was a Necessary First Step is to help teams move from broad theory to clear, repeatable decision making. When teams apply this thinking, they reduce ambiguity and focus on improvements that deliver measurable momentum.
Example scenario
Imagine a team facing competing priorities. By applying the ideas in Centralized Logging Is Not Observability-But It Was a Necessary First Step, they can map dependencies, identify risks and choose the next move that produces progress without destabilizing their system.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Trying to redesign everything instead of taking small steps.
- Ignoring real constraints like incentives, ownership or legacy systems.
- Creating documents that do not lead to any change in code or decisions.
How to apply this in real work
Start by identifying where Centralized Logging Is Not Observability-But It Was a Necessary First Step already shows up in your architecture or delivery flow. Then pick one area where clarity would reduce friction. Apply the idea, measure its effect and share the learning.
Signs you are doing it correctly
- Teams make decisions faster and with fewer disagreements.
- Architectural conversations become clearer and less abstract.
- Changes land safely with fewer surprises or rework cycles.