How to monitor GraphQL apps with Apollo server

Apollo Server is an open-source GraphQL server that connects a GraphQL schema to an HTTP server in Node, and is compatible with frameworks like Express, Hapi, and AWS Lambda. GraphQL's efficiency in data querying has led to its popularity over REST APIs, but it poses monitoring challenges due to its single-operation nature. The New Relic Apollo Server plugin offers enhanced visibility into GraphQL operations by providing detailed insights into resolver-level data and external service calls. By using distributed tracing, users can identify latency sources, whether from the GraphQL operation, resolver functions, or external services. The plugin allows for effective troubleshooting by analyzing error events and transaction views to pinpoint issues, such as errors within resolvers or latency caused by external services. The blog emphasizes the importance of monitoring to ensure accuracy, especially in applications like the example Node app interfacing with NASA’s Near Earth Objects API, where precision in data retrieval is crucial.