Observability Industry Critique: The Unanswered Question About Data Waste

Summary

The article is a critical reflection on the observability industry after a decade of experience. The author, who founded Timber.io (which became Vector and was later acquired), expresses disillusionment with observability vendors who prioritize revenue over customer value. The central question that vendors avoid answering is: "How much of your data is waste?" The article argues that observability tools generate massive amounts of unnecessary data, creating financial waste and operational complexity while failing to provide meaningful insights. The author calls for a shift toward more efficient, value-focused observability solutions that prioritize actionable data over data volume.