farlogging

Farlogging is a term used to describe the practice of extensively and often unnecessarily recording detailed operational information within software systems. This typically involves logging a high volume of data, including every minor event, variable state, or user interaction. While logging is crucial for debugging, monitoring, and auditing, farlogging goes beyond what is practical or beneficial.

The primary motivation behind farlogging can be a desire to have complete visibility into system behavior, anticipating all possible future debugging needs. Developers might implement it out of caution or a lack of clear logging strategies. In some cases, it can stem from a "better safe than sorry" mentality.

However, farlogging presents several significant drawbacks. The sheer volume of data generated can lead to performance degradation, as the system expends resources on writing and storing logs. Log analysis becomes exponentially more difficult and time-consuming, making it harder to pinpoint actual issues amidst the noise. Storage costs can also become substantial. Furthermore, farlogged data might inadvertently contain sensitive information, creating security and privacy risks if not properly managed and secured. Effective logging practices, in contrast, focus on capturing relevant, actionable information without overwhelming the system or its operators.