This article discusses the evolving role of observability in organizations, highlighting a significant increase in maturity and the challenges of managing costs. It emphasizes the need for businesses to improve reporting on the impact of observability and the importance of democratizing data across various teams.

This article reviews ten observability tools that platform engineers should consider for 2026, focusing on OpenTelemetry support, cost management, and integration capabilities. It highlights the importance of operational visibility and developer self-service in managing modern distributed systems.

The author reflects on a decade in observability, highlighting the rampant waste in data and the vendor's lack of support for cost management. They reveal that many companies experience significant data waste, leading to inflated bills and operational challenges. The article argues for a shift in how observability is approached, emphasizing understanding over sheer volume of data.