Active Support Instrumentation

1 Introduction to instrumentation

The instrumentation API provided by Active Support allows developers to provide hooks which other developers may hook into. There are several of these within the Rails framework. With this API, developers can choose to be notified when certain events occur inside their application or another piece of Ruby code.

For example, there is a hook provided within Active Record that is called every time Active Record uses an SQL query on a database. This hook could be subscribed to, and used to track the number of queries during a certain action. There's another hook around the processing of an action of a controller. This could be used, for instance, to track how long a specific action has taken.

You are even able to create your own events inside your application which you can later subscribe to.

2 Subscribing to an event

Subscribing to an event is easy. Use ActiveSupport::Notifications.subscribe with a block to listen to any notification.

The block receives the following arguments:

The name of the event
Time when it started
Time when it finished
A unique ID for the instrumenter that fired the event
The payload (described in future sections)

ActiveSupport::Notifications.subscribe "process_action.action_controller" do |name, started, finished, unique_id, data|
  # your own custom stuff
  Rails.logger.info "#{name} Received! (started: #{started}, finished: #{finished})" # process_action.action_controller Received (started: 2019-05-05 13:43:57 -0800, finished: 2019-05-05 13:43:58 -0800)
end

If you are concerned about the accuracy of started and finished to compute a precise elapsed time then use ActiveSupport::Notifications.monotonic_subscribe. The given block would receive the same arguments as above but the started and finished will have values with an accurate monotonic time instead of wall-clock time.

ActiveSupport::Notifications.monotonic_subscribe "process_action.action_controller" do |name, started, finished, unique_id, data|
  # your own custom stuff
  Rails.logger.info "#{name} Received! (started: #{started}, finished: #{finished})" # process_action.action_controller Received (started: 1560978.425334, finished: 1560979.429234)
end

Defining all those block arguments each time can be tedious. You can easily create an ActiveSupport::Notifications::Event from block arguments like this:

ActiveSupport::Notifications.subscribe "process_action.action_controller" do |*args|
  event = ActiveSupport::Notifications::Event.new *args

  event.name      # => "process_action.action_controller"
  event.duration  # => 10 (in milliseconds)
  event.payload   # => {:extra=>information}

  Rails.logger.info "#{event} Received!"
end

You may also pass a block that accepts only one argument, and it will receive an event object:

ActiveSupport::Notifications.subscribe "process_action.action_controller" do |event|
  event.name      # => "process_action.action_controller"
  event.duration  # => 10 (in milliseconds)
  event.payload   # => {:extra=>information}

  Rails.logger.info "#{event} Received!"
end

Most times you only care about the data itself. Here is a shortcut to just get the data.

ActiveSupport::Notifications.subscribe "process_action.action_controller" do |*args|
  data = args.extract_options!
  data # { extra: :information }
end

You may also subscribe to events matching a regular expression. This enables you to subscribe to multiple events at once. Here's how to subscribe to everything from ActionController.

ActiveSupport::Notifications.subscribe /action_controller/ do |*args|
  # inspect all ActionController events
end

3 Rails framework hooks

Within the Ruby on Rails framework, there are a number of hooks provided for common events. These are detailed below.

3.1 Action Controller

3.1.1 write_fragment.action_controller

Key	Value
`:key`	The complete key

{
  key: 'posts/1-dashboard-view'
}

3.1.2 read_fragment.action_controller

Key	Value
`:key`	The complete key

{
  key: 'posts/1-dashboard-view'
}

3.1.3 expire_fragment.action_controller

Key	Value
`:key`	The complete key

{
  key: 'posts/1-dashboard-view'
}

3.1.4 exist_fragment?.action_controller

Key	Value
`:key`	The complete key

{
  key: 'posts/1-dashboard-view'
}

3.1.5 start_processing.action_controller

Key	Value
`:controller`	The controller name
`:action`	The action
`:params`	Hash of request parameters without any filtered parameter
`:headers`	Request headers
`:format`	html/js/json/xml etc
`:method`	HTTP request verb
`:path`	Request path

{
  controller: "PostsController",
  action: "new",
  params: { "action" => "new", "controller" => "posts" },
  headers: #<ActionDispatch::Http::Headers:0x0055a67a519b88>,
  format: :html,
  method: "GET",
  path: "/posts/new"
}

3.1.6 process_action.action_controller

Key	Value
`:controller`	The controller name
`:action`	The action
`:params`	Hash of request parameters without any filtered parameter
`:headers`	Request headers
`:format`	html/js/json/xml etc
`:method`	HTTP request verb
`:path`	Request path
`:request`	The `ActionDispatch::Request`
`:response`	The `ActionDispatch::Response`
`:status`	HTTP status code
`:view_runtime`	Amount spent in view in ms
`:db_runtime`	Amount spent executing database queries in ms

{
  controller: "PostsController",
  action: "index",
  params: {"action" => "index", "controller" => "posts"},
  headers: #<ActionDispatch::Http::Headers:0x0055a67a519b88>,
  format: :html,
  method: "GET",
  path: "/posts",
  request: #<ActionDispatch::Request:0x00007ff1cb9bd7b8>,
  response: #<ActionDispatch::Response:0x00007f8521841ec8>,
  status: 200,
  view_runtime: 46.848,
  db_runtime: 0.157
}

3.1.7 send_file.action_controller

Key	Value
`:path`	Complete path to the file

Additional keys may be added by the caller.

3.1.8 send_data.action_controller

ActionController does not add any specific information to the payload. All options are passed through to the payload.

3.1.9 redirect_to.action_controller

Key	Value
`:status`	HTTP response code
`:location`	URL to redirect to
`:request`	The `ActionDispatch::Request`

{
  status: 302,
  location: "http://localhost:3000/posts/new",
  request: #<ActionDispatch::Request:0x00007ff1cb9bd7b8>
}

3.1.10 halted_callback.action_controller

Key	Value
`:filter`	Filter that halted the action

{
  filter: ":halting_filter"
}

3.1.11 unpermitted_parameters.action_controller

Key	Value
`:keys`	The unpermitted keys
`:context`	Hash with the following keys: `:controller`, `:action`, `:params`, `:request`

3.2 Action Dispatch

3.2.1 process_middleware.action_dispatch

Key	Value
`:middleware`	Name of the middleware

3.3 Action View

3.3.1 render_template.action_view

Key	Value
`:identifier`	Full path to template
`:layout`	Applicable layout

{
  identifier: "/Users/adam/projects/notifications/app/views/posts/index.html.erb",
  layout: "layouts/application"
}

3.3.2 render_partial.action_view

Key	Value
`:identifier`	Full path to template

{
  identifier: "/Users/adam/projects/notifications/app/views/posts/_form.html.erb"
}

3.3.3 render_collection.action_view

Key	Value
`:identifier`	Full path to template
`:count`	Size of collection
`:cache_hits`	Number of partials fetched from cache

:cache_hits is only included if the collection is rendered with cached: true.

{
  identifier: "/Users/adam/projects/notifications/app/views/posts/_post.html.erb",
  count: 3,
  cache_hits: 0
}

3.3.4 render_layout.action_view

Key	Value
`:identifier`	Full path to template

{
  identifier: "/Users/adam/projects/notifications/app/views/layouts/application.html.erb"
}

3.4 Active Record

3.4.1 sql.active_record

Key	Value
`:sql`	SQL statement
`:name`	Name of the operation
`:connection`	Connection object
`:binds`	Bind parameters
`:type_casted_binds`	Typecasted bind parameters
`:statement_name`	SQL Statement name
`:cached`	`true` is added when cached queries used

The adapters will add their own data as well.

{
  sql: "SELECT \"posts\".* FROM \"posts\" ",
  name: "Post Load",
  connection: #<ActiveRecord::ConnectionAdapters::SQLite3Adapter:0x00007f9f7a838850>,
  binds: [#<ActiveModel::Attribute::WithCastValue:0x00007fe19d15dc00>],
  type_casted_binds: [11],
  statement_name: nil
}

3.4.2 instantiation.active_record

Key	Value
`:record_count`	Number of records that instantiated
`:class_name`	Record's class

{
  record_count: 1,
  class_name: "User"
}

3.5 Action Mailer

3.5.1 deliver.action_mailer

Key	Value
`:mailer`	Name of the mailer class
`:message_id`	ID of the message, generated by the Mail gem
`:subject`	Subject of the mail
`:to`	To address(es) of the mail
`:from`	From address of the mail
`:bcc`	BCC addresses of the mail
`:cc`	CC addresses of the mail
`:date`	Date of the mail
`:mail`	The encoded form of the mail
`:perform_deliveries`	Whether delivery of this message is performed or not

{
  mailer: "Notification",
  message_id: "4f5b5491f1774_181b23fc3d4434d38138e5@mba.local.mail",
  subject: "Rails Guides",
  to: ["users@rails.com", "dhh@rails.com"],
  from: ["me@rails.com"],
  date: Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:18:09 +0100,
  mail: "...", # omitted for brevity
  perform_deliveries: true
}

3.5.2 process.action_mailer

Key	Value
`:mailer`	Name of the mailer class
`:action`	The action
`:args`	The arguments

{
  mailer: "Notification",
  action: "welcome_email",
  args: []
}

3.6 Active Support

3.6.1 cache_read.active_support

Key	Value
`:key`	Key used in the store
`:store`	Name of the store class
`:hit`	If this read is a hit
`:super_operation`	`:fetch` is added when a read is used with `#fetch`

3.6.2 cache_generate.active_support

This event is only used when #fetch is called with a block.

Key	Value
`:key`	Key used in the store
`:store`	Name of the store class

Options passed to fetch will be merged with the payload when writing to the store

{
  key: "name-of-complicated-computation",
  store: "ActiveSupport::Cache::MemCacheStore"
}

3.6.3 cache_fetch_hit.active_support

This event is only used when #fetch is called with a block.

Key	Value
`:key`	Key used in the store
`:store`	Name of the store class

Options passed to fetch will be merged with the payload.

{
  key: "name-of-complicated-computation",
  store: "ActiveSupport::Cache::MemCacheStore"
}

3.6.4 cache_write.active_support

Key	Value
`:key`	Key used in the store
`:store`	Name of the store class

Cache stores may add their own keys

{
  key: "name-of-complicated-computation",
  store: "ActiveSupport::Cache::MemCacheStore"
}

3.6.5 cache_delete.active_support

Key	Value
`:key`	Key used in the store
`:store`	Name of the store class

{
  key: "name-of-complicated-computation",
  store: "ActiveSupport::Cache::MemCacheStore"
}

3.6.6 cache_exist?.active_support

Key	Value
`:key`	Key used in the store
`:store`	Name of the store class

{
  key: "name-of-complicated-computation",
  store: "ActiveSupport::Cache::MemCacheStore"
}

3.7 Active Job

3.7.1 enqueue_at.active_job

Key	Value
`:adapter`	QueueAdapter object processing the job
`:job`	Job object

3.7.2 enqueue.active_job

Key	Value
`:adapter`	QueueAdapter object processing the job
`:job`	Job object

3.7.3 enqueue_retry.active_job

Key	Value
`:job`	Job object
`:adapter`	QueueAdapter object processing the job
`:error`	The error that caused the retry
`:wait`	The delay of the retry

3.7.4 perform_start.active_job

Key	Value
`:adapter`	QueueAdapter object processing the job
`:job`	Job object

3.7.5 perform.active_job

Key	Value
`:adapter`	QueueAdapter object processing the job
`:job`	Job object

3.7.6 retry_stopped.active_job

Key	Value
`:adapter`	QueueAdapter object processing the job
`:job`	Job object
`:error`	The error that caused the retry

3.7.7 discard.active_job

Key	Value
`:adapter`	QueueAdapter object processing the job
`:job`	Job object
`:error`	The error that caused the discard

3.8 Action Cable

3.8.1 perform_action.action_cable

Key	Value
`:channel_class`	Name of the channel class
`:action`	The action
`:data`	A hash of data

3.8.2 transmit.action_cable

Key	Value
`:channel_class`	Name of the channel class
`:data`	A hash of data
`:via`	Via

3.8.3 transmit_subscription_confirmation.action_cable

Key	Value
`:channel_class`	Name of the channel class

3.8.4 transmit_subscription_rejection.action_cable

Key	Value
`:channel_class`	Name of the channel class

3.8.5 broadcast.action_cable

Key	Value
`:broadcasting`	A named broadcasting
`:message`	A hash of message
`:coder`	The coder

3.9 Active Storage

3.9.1 service_upload.active_storage

Key	Value
`:key`	Secure token
`:service`	Name of the service
`:checksum`	Checksum to ensure integrity

3.9.2 service_streaming_download.active_storage

Key	Value
`:key`	Secure token
`:service`	Name of the service

3.9.3 service_download_chunk.active_storage

Key	Value
`:key`	Secure token
`:service`	Name of the service
`:range`	Byte range attempted to be read

3.9.4 service_download.active_storage

Key	Value
`:key`	Secure token
`:service`	Name of the service

3.9.5 service_delete.active_storage

Key	Value
`:key`	Secure token
`:service`	Name of the service

3.9.6 service_delete_prefixed.active_storage

Key	Value
`:prefix`	Key prefix
`:service`	Name of the service

3.9.7 service_exist.active_storage

Key	Value
`:key`	Secure token
`:service`	Name of the service
`:exist`	File or blob exists or not

3.9.8 service_url.active_storage

Key	Value
`:key`	Secure token
`:service`	Name of the service
`:url`	Generated URL

3.9.9 service_update_metadata.active_storage

Key	Value
`:key`	Secure token
`:service`	Name of the service
`:content_type`	HTTP Content-Type field
`:disposition`	HTTP Content-Disposition field

The only ActiveStorage service that provides this hook so far is GCS.

3.9.10 preview.active_storage

Key	Value
`:key`	Secure token

3.9.11 transform.active_storage

3.9.12 analyze.active_storage

Key	Value
`:analyzer`	Name of analyzer e.g., ffprobe

3.10 Railties

3.10.1 load_config_initializer.railties

Key	Value
`:initializer`	Path to loaded initializer from `config/initializers`

3.11 Rails

3.11.1 deprecation.rails

Key	Value
`:message`	The deprecation warning
`:callstack`	Where the deprecation came from

4 Exceptions

If an exception happens during any instrumentation the payload will include information about it.

Key	Value
`:exception`	An array of two elements. Exception class name and the message
`:exception_object`	The exception object

5 Creating custom events

Adding your own events is easy as well. ActiveSupport::Notifications will take care of all the heavy lifting for you. Simply call instrument with a name, payload and a block. The notification will be sent after the block returns. ActiveSupport will generate the start and end times and add the instrumenter's unique ID. All data passed into the instrument call will make it into the payload.

Here's an example:

ActiveSupport::Notifications.instrument "my.custom.event", this: :data do
  # do your custom stuff here
end

Now you can listen to this event with:

ActiveSupport::Notifications.subscribe "my.custom.event" do |name, started, finished, unique_id, data|
  puts data.inspect # {:this=>:data}
end

You also have the option to call instrument without passing a block. This lets you leverage the instrumentation infrastructure for other messaging uses.

ActiveSupport::Notifications.instrument "my.custom.event", this: :data

ActiveSupport::Notifications.subscribe "my.custom.event" do |name, started, finished, unique_id, data|
  puts data.inspect # {:this=>:data}
end

You should follow Rails conventions when defining your own events. The format is: event.library. If your application is sending Tweets, you should create an event named tweet.twitter.

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