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Apache SkyWalking

ANALYTICS
Velocity0.0

Observability platform for distributed systems and microservices

skywalking.apache.org ↗

SkyWalking is rebuilding its own foundations — its own database, its own runtime, and now GenAI traces

observabilitybanyandbgenai-tracingapmbreaking-changes
◆Current state
Apache SkyWalking ships roughly one major a year. 10.4.0 added GenAI observability, replaced the Groovy-dependent runtime with a new OAL V2 engine, and became compatible with Grafana Tempo. Before it, 10.3.0 landed a new trace model in BanyanDB, and 10.2.0 removed the H2 storage option permanently while deepening BanyanDB support.
◆Where it's heading
Two rewrites are running at once. Storage is consolidating onto BanyanDB, SkyWalking's purpose-built database, with alternatives being removed rather than deprecated. The query and aggregation layer is moving off Groovy onto a typed, immutable OAL V2 engine with real error locations. GenAI observability arriving on top of that suggests the foundations work was clearing room for new telemetry types.
◆Prediction
Expect the next major to extend GenAI observability and continue narrowing supported storage backends toward BanyanDB, with further OAL V2 migration on the way.

◆Recent moves

  1. 4mo ago

    10.4.0 - GenAI Observability, Groovy-Free Runtime and Grafana Tempo Compatible

    ⚡ SPARK

    10.4.0 pairs a new telemetry domain — GenAI observability — with an OAL V2 engine that replaces string-based filters and Groovy-era behaviour with immutable ASTs, typed enums and precise error locations. Grafana Tempo compatibility opens it to teams already standardised elsewhere.

    View source ↗
  2. 7mo ago

    10.3.0 - New Trace Model in BanyanDB

    A new trace model in BanyanDB, presented with deployment evidence at around 200 services. This is the release where SkyWalking's own storage engine is claimed to be ready for large-scale use rather than being the experimental option.

    View source ↗
  3. 1y ago

    10.2.0 - No H2, More BanyanDB

    ⚡ SPARK

    10.2.0 removed H2 storage permanently and added BanyanDB 0.8.0 support, closing off the easy default that small deployments relied on. It also added doc_values only for Elasticsearch fields that need sorting or aggregation.

    View source ↗