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Apache SkyWalking

skywalking.apache.org

Free plan WebWindowsmacOSLinuxAPISelf-hosted
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Spec score 8.4 #7 of 37 in Application Performance Monitoring

What it is

Apache SkyWalking is a free, self-hosted observability platform for cloud-native systems and AI workloads. It brings traces, metrics, logs, and profiling together to help users explore 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 review 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. Its integrations and ecosystem include OpenTelemetry OTLP, Istio, Envoy, Kubernetes, Grafana, and MCP. BanyanDB is described as a database for ingesting, analyzing, and storing observability data. Docker installation instructions cover Linux, macOS, WSL, and Windows PowerShell. Horizon UI supports SkyWalking natively since v11 and partially for v10. Its security documentation covers Content-Security-Policy, strict session cookies, no-store API responses, and optional login auditing. Apache source releases are official artifacts, with PGP or SHA512 verification recommended; the GraalVM distribution is marked experimental.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Apache SkyWalking is an observability platform for cloud-native systems and AI workloads.Read 4 Oct 2026 · skywalking.apache.org
Deployment
The get-started page provides Docker-based installation instructions for Linux, macOS, WSL, and Windows PowerShell.Read 4 Oct 2026 · skywalking.apache.org
Integrations
The site identifies OpenTelemetry OTLP, Istio, Envoy, Kubernetes, Grafana, and MCP among its integrations and ecosystem projects.Read 4 Oct 2026 · skywalking.apache.org
Security
Horizon UI documents Content-Security-Policy, strict session cookies, no-store API responses, and optional login auditing.Read 4 Oct 2026 · skywalking.apache.org
Support
The project directs users to GitHub discussions for questions and issues and provides a developer mailing list and Slack community contact instructions.Read 4 Oct 2026 · skywalking.apache.org
Agents
The project lists agents for Java, Python, NodeJS, Go, Rust, PHP, Ruby, Nginx LUA, Kong, and client-side JavaScript.Read 4 Oct 2026 · skywalking.apache.org
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.Read 4 Oct 2026 · skywalking.apache.org
Cloud-native coverage
The site describes exploring services, Kubernetes, and infrastructure with topology, telemetry, profiles, and alerts.Read 4 Oct 2026 · skywalking.apache.org
Compatibility limit
Horizon UI supports SkyWalking natively since v11 and partially for v10.Read 4 Oct 2026 · skywalking.apache.org
Download verification
The downloads page says Apache source releases are official artifacts and recommends verifying downloads with PGP or SHA512 signatures.Read 4 Oct 2026 · skywalking.apache.org
Experimental component
The GraalVM distribution is explicitly marked experimental.Read 4 Oct 2026 · skywalking.apache.org
Project governance
The site identifies Apache SkyWalking as an Apache Software Foundation project.Read 4 Oct 2026 · skywalking.apache.org
Storage
BanyanDB is described as an observability database for ingesting, analyzing, and storing metrics, tracing, and logging data.Read 4 Oct 2026 · skywalking.apache.org
Telemetry
The platform brings traces, metrics, logs, and profiling together to help users understand services.Read 4 Oct 2026 · skywalking.apache.org

Plans and prices

Apache SkyWalking Free Open-source observability platform; self-hosted deployment Read 4 Oct 2026 · skywalking.apache.org

Every Apache SkyWalking plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free, self-hosted observability platform.
  • Combines traces, metrics, logs, and profiling.
  • Includes AI agent and model-call observability.
  • Docker instructions cover Linux, macOS, WSL, and Windows.

Limits

  • Horizon UI support is partial for SkyWalking v10.
  • The GraalVM distribution is marked experimental.

Who it suits

SkyWalking suits teams that want a self-hosted view of cloud-native services and AI workload telemetry. Its language agents and integrations may be useful to teams working across the listed technologies.

Verdict

Apache SkyWalking combines broad cloud-native telemetry with tools for inspecting AI workloads, but it requires self-hosted deployment. Check the Horizon UI version compatibility and experimental status of the GraalVM distribution.

Where Specifiction places it

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