The Observability Pipeline: Taming Your Observability Costs

Stop paying to ingest useless data. An observability pipeline (using tools like OpenTelemetry Collector, Vector, or Redpanda Connect) acts as a smart router for your telemetry. We explore how this pattern lets you slash monitoring costs, enforce privacy by design, and break vendor lock-in.

October 21, 2025 · 10 min · Pedro Dias

Beyond the Key: The Power and Peril of End-User IDs

Unique API keys give you application-level identity. But for SaaS platforms, the real chaos comes from users. We dive into the pros and cons of using end-user IDs for abuse monitoring, cost attribution, and the significant privacy risks you must navigate.

October 5, 2025 · 8 min · Pedro Dias

The Hidden Dangers of Sharing API Keys Across Services

Reusing a single API key across multiple applications seems efficient, but it creates a nightmare for observability, rate limiting, and security. This post breaks down why this common anti-pattern is so dangerous and why unique keys are essential for robust systems.

October 3, 2025 · 8 min · Pedro Dias

Beyond the Demo: An Engineer's Short Guide to Choosing Tools, Not Vendors

Choosing a third-party service is an architectural decision, not just a purchase. This is a guide for engineers to navigate the procurement process, separating the technical evaluation from the sales relationship to avoid long-term traps.

September 29, 2025 · 6 min · Pedro Dias

The Datadog Bill You Didn't See Coming: APM's Hidden Costs

Datadog is a powerful observability platform, but its true cost often lies hidden in the interconnectedness of its features. Let’s explore how one decision, like enabling APM, can lead to a cascade of unexpected expenses.

April 15, 2025 · 7 min · Pedro Dias