Coursera

Open Source Observability Stack Essentials

Coursera

Open Source Observability Stack Essentials

Starweaver
Luca Berton

Instructors: Starweaver

Included with Coursera Plus

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

5 hours to complete
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

5 hours to complete
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Explain the roles of metrics, logs, and traces and map Prometheus, Grafana, and OpenTelemetry to each signal in a modern stack.

  • Deploy a minimal local stack (Docker or native): scrape metrics with Prometheus, route telemetry via OTel Collector, and visualize in Grafana.

  • Instrument a sample app with OpenTelemetry, confirm traces/metrics flow end-to-end, and build a basic Grafana dashboard.

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Recently updated!

February 2026

Assessments

1 assignment

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

 logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

There are 3 modules in this course

Familiarize yourself with the three primary observability signals—metrics, logs, and traces—and understand how Prometheus, Grafana, and OpenTelemetry correspond to each. We will comprehensively examine the entire data pathway, clarifying the roles of pull versus push mechanisms and exporters versus receivers. Subsequently, you will set up a small local environment using Docker Compose, which will be reused throughout this course. By the conclusion, you will have established a functional laboratory environment where targets are operationally marked in green, and data flows seamlessly.

What's included

4 videos2 readings1 peer review

Acquire knowledge of the fundamental components of PromQL essential for daily use: rate(), sum by(), label filters, and histogram quantiles—while avoiding typical pitfalls associated with counters and gauges. Subsequently, transform queries into meaningful signals through the development of a clear three-panel Grafana dashboard displaying RPS, error ratio, and 95th percentile latency, all equipped with appropriate units, legends, and variables. Export the dashboard as JSON and configure a noise-aware alert (error rate >5% over 5 minutes) to practice setting thresholds in relation to time windows. The emphasis is on maintaining practical panel organization and creating queries that can be clearly explained.

What's included

3 videos1 reading1 peer review

Implement the demo application with an OpenTelemetry (OTel) Software Development Kit (SDK), establish meaningful resource attributes, and export data via the OpenTelemetry Protocol (OTLP) to a Collector pipeline, which you will configure (receivers → processors → exporters). You will visualize traces using Grafana/Tempo and learn how to navigate from a “hot” metric dashboard directly to the related spans using exemplars. Throughout the process, you will validate the health of the pipeline, incorporate attributes and batching, and practice root-cause analysis on induced failures. The session concludes with next steps including label management, Service Level Objectives (SLOs) and burn rates, as well as retention/export strategies for production environments.

What's included

4 videos1 reading1 assignment2 peer reviews

Instructors

Starweaver
Coursera
548 Courses 998,208 learners

Offered by

Coursera

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Coursera Plus

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Frequently asked questions