Add `client_address` Into Standalone Spans

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Problem Statement

In the recent pull request #4047 on the Relay repository, we initiated the process of extracting user information from standalone spans. However, to fully leverage this functionality, it is essential to include the client_address in the data section of a span from the SDKs. This is a crucial step towards supporting the subregion selector in the web vitals module, as outlined in issue #75230 on the Sentry repository.

The inclusion of client_address in standalone spans is a significant development, as it enables the extraction of user information and facilitates the selection of subregions. This, in turn, enhances the overall user experience and provides valuable insights into the performance of web applications.

Solution Brainstorm

To address the requirement of including client_address in standalone spans, we propose the addition of a new property to the span.data section. This property, client_address, will be set to either the client itself or {{auto}} if we want Relay to derive it. This approach is analogous to the existing mechanism under the user section of a transaction.

Benefits of Including client_address in Standalone Spans

The inclusion of client_address in standalone spans offers several benefits, including:

  • Enhanced User Information: By extracting user information from standalone spans, we can gain a deeper understanding of user behavior and preferences.
  • Improved Subregion Selection: The subregion selector in the web vitals module relies on the inclusion of client_address in standalone spans. This enables the selection of subregions based on user location, leading to improved performance and user experience.
  • Better Performance Insights: The inclusion of client_address in standalone spans provides valuable insights into the performance of web applications, enabling developers to identify and address performance bottlenecks.

Technical Implementation

To implement the inclusion of client_address in standalone spans, we will need to modify the SDKs to send the client_address in the data section of a span. This will involve the following steps:

  1. Add client_address property to span.data: We will add a new property to the span.data section, client_address, which will be set to either the client itself or {{auto}} if we want Relay to derive it.
  2. Modify SDKs to send client_address: We will modify the SDKs to send the client_address in the data section of a span.
  3. Test and Validate: We will thoroughly test and validate the implementation to ensure that it meets the requirements and does not introduce any regressions.

Conclusion

The inclusion of client_address in standalone spans is a crucial step towards enhancing user information and supporting the subregion selector in the web vitals module. By adding a new property to the span.data section and modifying the SDKs to send the client_address, we can provide valuable insights into user behavior and preferences, leading to improved performance and user experience.

Future Work

In the future, we plan to explore the following areas:

  • Extending client_address to other span types: We will investigate the possibility of extending the client_address property to other span types, such as transactions and events.
  • Improving subregion selection: We will work on improving the subregion selection mechanism to provide more accurate and relevant results.
  • Enhancing user information: We will continue to enhance the extraction of user information from standalone spans to provide more valuable insights into user behavior and preferences.

References

Q: What is the purpose of adding client_address to standalone spans?

A: The primary purpose of adding client_address to standalone spans is to support the subregion selector in the web vitals module. This feature enables the selection of subregions based on user location, leading to improved performance and user experience.

Q: How will client_address be used in standalone spans?

A: client_address will be sent in the data section of a span from the SDKs. This will enable the extraction of user information and facilitate the selection of subregions.

Q: What are the benefits of including client_address in standalone spans?

A: The inclusion of client_address in standalone spans offers several benefits, including:

  • Enhanced User Information: By extracting user information from standalone spans, we can gain a deeper understanding of user behavior and preferences.
  • Improved Subregion Selection: The subregion selector in the web vitals module relies on the inclusion of client_address in standalone spans. This enables the selection of subregions based on user location, leading to improved performance and user experience.
  • Better Performance Insights: The inclusion of client_address in standalone spans provides valuable insights into the performance of web applications, enabling developers to identify and address performance bottlenecks.

Q: How will the client_address property be set in standalone spans?

A: The client_address property will be set to either the client itself or {{auto}} if we want Relay to derive it. This approach is analogous to the existing mechanism under the user section of a transaction.

Q: What are the technical requirements for implementing client_address in standalone spans?

A: To implement the inclusion of client_address in standalone spans, we will need to modify the SDKs to send the client_address in the data section of a span. This will involve the following steps:

  1. Add client_address property to span.data: We will add a new property to the span.data section, client_address, which will be set to either the client itself or {{auto}} if we want Relay to derive it.
  2. Modify SDKs to send client_address: We will modify the SDKs to send the client_address in the data section of a span.
  3. Test and Validate: We will thoroughly test and validate the implementation to ensure that it meets the requirements and does not introduce any regressions.

Q: What are the future plans for client_address in standalone spans?

A: In the future, we plan to explore the following areas:

  • Extending client_address to other span types: We will investigate the possibility of extending the client_address property to other span types, such as transactions and events.
  • Improving subregion selection: We will work on improving the subregion selection mechanism to provide more accurate and relevant results.
  • Enhancing user information: We will continue to enhance the extraction of user information from standalone spans to provide more valuable insights into user behavior and preferences.

Q: What are the references for this implementation?

A: The references for this implementation are:

Q: Who should I contact for further information?

A: If you have any further questions or concerns about the implementation of client_address in standalone spans, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are always happy to help and provide additional information.