Telescope, a new open-source web-based log viewer designed specifically for ClickHouse databases, is generating interest among developers seeking simpler log management solutions. Created out of frustration with existing log viewers that either force specific formats or are tied to complex ingestion pipelines, Telescope aims to provide a lightweight and flexible alternative.
Filling a Gap in Log Management Tools
The project creator shared that existing log viewers often didn't display logs in a way that met their needs, leading them to build Telescope from scratch. Unlike many competitors that require specific log formats or are embedded within larger platforms, Telescope focuses solely on providing an intuitive interface for exploring log data stored in ClickHouse databases.
I wasn't happy with existing log viewers - most of them force a specific log format, are tied to ingestion pipelines, or are just a small part of a larger platform. Others didn't display logs the way I wanted.
This sentiment appears to resonate with developers who have struggled with overly complex log management systems. Several community members expressed interest in Telescope as a potential alternative to tools like Loki, which some users found painful to set up and more focused on aggregating events and statistics rather than simply displaying logs.
User Interface Draws Comparisons to Established Tools
Community feedback suggests that Telescope's interface bears similarities to popular tools like Kibana and DataDog, which could ease adoption for teams already familiar with these platforms. One commenter noted that the UI resembles Kibana, making it potentially easier to convince team members to migrate to the new tool. Another user compared it favorably to DataDog's interface but mentioned that Telescope appears less sluggish.
The clean, minimalist design focuses on log data presentation with features like dynamic visualizations, interactive graphs, customizable views, and a time/date selector with support for relative time ranges. This streamlined approach appears to be a deliberate choice to keep the focus on log data analysis without unnecessary distractions.
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| Exploring the user interface of Telescope: A promising new log viewer that aims for simplicity and usability |
Current Limitations and Future Development
While Telescope shows promise, it's currently in beta with several limitations. The tool is primarily focused on displaying logs rather than handling log ingestion, which means it may not be suitable for all use cases. For example, one user inquired about using Telescope to centralize logs from multiple servers without SSH access, but the creator clarified that this isn't currently within the project's scope.
Future development plans include supporting various log sources like Docker and Kubernetes, storing field and query presets, allowing raw SQL WHERE statements for advanced users, supporting custom GROUP BY columns for graphs, and implementing live log trailing. Additional planned features include server-side modifiers, time zone support, and expanded authentication methods beyond the current GitHub integration.
Some community members also raised concerns about the project name potentially causing confusion, as Telescope is already used by a popular Neovim fuzzy finder that dominates search results for the term.
For those interested in exploring Telescope, a live demonstration instance is available at telescope.humanuser.net, with login via GitHub. The project is also available on GitHub for those who want to contribute or run it locally using Docker.
As organizations continue to generate increasing volumes of log data, tools that simplify log exploration and analysis while remaining lightweight and flexible will likely continue to attract attention from developers seeking alternatives to more complex solutions.
Reference: Telescope - web-based log viewer UI