Lightstep

Lightstep is an observability platform that focuses on distributed tracing and monitoring solutions for cloud-native applications and microservices architectures. Founded by Ben Sigelman, a key figure in the development of Google's Dapper tracing system, Lightstep has established itself as a significant player in the observability field and now operates as ServiceNow Cloud Observability following its acquisition by ServiceNow.

The platform offers a range of services, including distributed tracing that allows organizations to track requests across various microservices, and support for OpenTelemetry, which is essential for collecting telemetry data. Lightstep also provides service observability through IT Operations Management, enabling businesses to gain visibility into service performance, predict issues, and automate resolutions. Key features include root cause analysis, service level objectives implementation, AI-powered alerting, and integration with ServiceNow's CMDB. Lightstep is particularly suited for organizations managing complex, distributed systems, such as ride-sharing applications.