December 2015 Summaries

Grafana 2.6.0 has been released, featuring a new Table panel for flexible visualization of time series and logs in a tabular format, along with an updated InfluxDB query editor and support for Elasticsearch pipeline aggregations and multiple Cloudwatch credentials. This release also includes numerous minor fixes and improvements, with further details available in the "What’s New In Grafana v2.6" article and the CHANGELOG.md file. Users can explore the new features on a demo dashboard, and upgrading from any previous 2.x version is straightforward since dashboards maintain backward compatibility. The release is sponsored by companies like Raintank, Squarespace, and Dreamhost, and installations are supported on various Linux distributions and via Docker.

Grafana 2.6 Beta introduces a highly anticipated Table Panel and an enhanced InfluxDB query editor, marking significant advancements in the platform's functionality. The Table Panel is versatile, supporting multiple modes for displaying time series, table, annotation, and raw JSON data, and offers options for date formatting, value coloring, and column styling. It includes various transform options, such as Time series to rows, columns, and aggregations, allowing for flexible data representation. The new InfluxDB editor, inspired by the Graphite query editor, simplifies complex query processes through nested functions and function transformation chains, enhancing flexibility and usability. Notably, the update discontinues support for manually edited JSON queries in Elasticsearch, reflecting a shift towards more streamlined operations. For comprehensive details, users are advised to check the CHANGELOG.md file, as the main documentation has yet to be updated with new features.

Pie charts, often requested by Grafana users, are criticized for their inefficiency in data visualization due to their low data-density, inability to handle more than 2-3 segments effectively, and over-reliance on color, which poses challenges for color-blind users. Despite their popularity in management presentations, pie charts increase cognitive load and are unsuitable for time series data, where bar charts or tables provide clearer insights. Grafana aims to present metrics beautifully and effectively, emphasizing that while pie charts have their place, they should be used judiciously, ensuring that more suitable options like tables or bar charts are considered based on the specific data and context. The company is committed to maximizing data display success and encourages using visualizations that enhance understanding rather than obstruct it.