Nested traces are outdated; observability tools should focus on chat views and failure surfacing

_ScottCondron · x · 2026-09-02

The author argues that nested traces in RAG applications are relics of 2024. Modern observability tools should display user-facing chat views and provide power tools to surface failures, monitor turns, align judges, and offer cross-session insights. Citing a critique, the post notes that expecting domain experts (like lawyers or mechanics) to login and annotate complex JSON traces is unrealistic; self-improving agents require better UX.

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