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1599 Runtime Logging 676a521f
ASecurityThe Hive framework uses a **three-level observability system** for tracking agent execution at different granularities:
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[](https://www.skillsdirectory.com/skills/tools-only-1599-runtime-logging-676a521f)# Runtime Logging System
## Overview
The Hive framework uses a **three-level observability system** for tracking agent execution at different granularities:
- **L1 (Summary)**: High-level run outcomes - success/failure, execution quality, attention flags
- **L2 (Details)**: Per-node completion details - retries, verdicts, latency, attention reasons
- **L3 (Tool Logs)**: Step-by-step execution - tool calls, LLM responses, judge feedback
This layered approach enables efficient debugging: start with L1 to identify problematic runs, drill into L2 to find failing nodes, and analyze L3 for root cause details.
---
## Storage Architecture
### Current Structure (Unified Sessions)
**Default since 2026-02-06**
```
~/.hive/{agent_name}/
└── sessions/
└── session_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS_{uuid}/
├── state.json # Session state and metadata
├── logs/ # Runtime logs (L1/L2/L3)
│ ├── summary.json # L1: Run outcome
│ ├── details.jsonl # L2: Per-node results
│ └── tool_logs.jsonl # L3: Step-by-step execution
├── conversations/ # Per-node EventLoop state
└── data/ # Spillover artifacts
```
**Key characteristics:**
- All session data colocated in one directory
- Consistent ID format: `session_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS_{short_uuid}`
- Logs written incrementally (JSONL for L2/L3)
- Single source of truth: `state.json`
### Legacy Structure (Deprecated)
**Read-only for backward compatibility**
```
~/.hive/{agent_name}/
├── runtime_logs/
│ └── runs/
│ └── {run_id}/
│ ├── summary.json # L1
│ ├── details.jsonl # L2
│ └── tool_logs.jsonl # L3
├── sessions/
│ └── exec_{stream_id}_{uuid}/
│ ├── conversations/
│ └── data/
├── runs/ # Deprecated
│ └── run_start_*.json
└── summaries/ # Deprecated
└── run_start_*.json
```
**Migration status:**
- ✅ New sessions write to unified structure only
- ✅ Old sessions remain readable
- ❌ No new writes to `runs/`, `summaries/`, `runtime_logs/runs/`
- ⚠️ Deprecation warnings emitted when reading old locations
---
## Components
### RuntimeLogger
**Location:** `core/framework/runtime/runtime_logger.py`
**Responsibilities:**
- Receives execution events from GraphExecutor
- Tracks per-node execution details
- Aggregates attention flags
- Coordinates with RuntimeLogStore
**Key methods:**
```python
def start_run(goal_id: str, session_id: str = "") -> str:
"""Initialize a new run. Uses session_id as run_id if provided."""
def log_step(node_id: str, step_index: int, tool_calls: list, ...):
"""Record one LLM step (L3). Appends to tool_logs.jsonl immediately."""
def log_node_complete(node_id: str, exit_status: str, ...):
"""Record node completion (L2). Appends to details.jsonl immediately."""
async def end_run(status: str):
"""Finalize run, aggregate L2→L1, write summary.json."""
```
**Attention flag triggers:**
```python
# From runtime_logger.py:190-203
needs_attention = any([
retry_count > 3,
escalate_count > 2,
latency_ms > 60000,
tokens_used > 100000,
total_steps > 20,
])
```
### RuntimeLogStore
**Location:** `core/framework/runtime/runtime_log_store.py`
**Responsibilities:**
- Manages log file I/O
- Handles both old and new storage paths
- Provides incremental append for L2/L3 (crash-safe)
- Atomic writes for L1
**Storage path resolution:**
```python
def _get_run_dir(run_id: str) -> Path:
"""Determine log directory based on run_id format.
- session_* → {storage_root}/sessions/{run_id}/logs/
- Other → {base_path}/runtime_logs/runs/{run_id}/ (deprecated)
"""
```
**Key methods:**
```python
def ensure_run_dir(run_id: str):
"""Create log directory immediately at start_run()."""
def append_step(run_id: str, step: NodeStepLog):
"""Append L3 entry to tool_logs.jsonl. Thread-safe sync write."""
def append_node_detail(run_id: str, detail: NodeDetail):
"""Append L2 entry to details.jsonl. Thread-safe sync write."""
async def save_summary(run_id: str, summary: RunSummaryLog):
"""Write L1 summary.json atomically at end_run()."""
```
**File format:**
- **L1 (summary.json)**: Standard JSON, written once at end
- **L2 (details.jsonl)**: JSONL (one object per line), appended per node
- **L3 (tool_logs.jsonl)**: JSONL (one object per line), appended per step
### Runtime Log Schemas
**Location:** `core/framework/runtime/runtime_log_schemas.py`
**L1: RunSummaryLog**
```python
@dataclass
class RunSummaryLog:
run_id: str
goal_id: str
status: str # "success", "failure", "degraded", "in_progress"
started_at: str # ISO 8601
ended_at: str | None
needs_attention: bool
attention_summary: AttentionSummary
total_nodes_executed: int
nodes_with_failures: list[str]
execution_quality: str # "clean", "degraded", "failed"
total_latency_ms: int
# ... additional metrics
```
**L2: NodeDetail**
```python
@dataclass
class NodeDetail:
node_id: str
exit_status: str # "success", "escalate", "no_valid_edge"
retry_count: int
verdict_counts: dict[str, int] # {ACCEPT: 1, RETRY: 3, ...}
total_steps: int
latency_ms: int
needs_attention: bool
attention_reasons: list[str]
# ... tool error tracking, token counts
```
**L3: NodeStepLog**
```python
@dataclass
class NodeStepLog:
node_id: str
step_index: int
tool_calls: list[dict]
tool_results: list[dict]
verdict: str # "ACCEPT", "RETRY", "ESCALATE", "CONTINUE"
verdict_feedback: str
llm_response_text: str
tokens_used: int
latency_ms: int
# ... detailed execution state
```
---
## Querying Logs (MCP Tools)
### Tools Location
**MCP Server:** `tools/src/aden_tools/tools/runtime_logs_tool/runtime_logs_tool.py`
Three MCP tools provide access to the logging system:
### L1: query_runtime_logs
**Purpose:** Find problematic runs
```python
query_runtime_logs(
agent_work_dir: str, # e.g., "~/.hive/twitter_outreach"
status: str = "", # "needs_attention", "success", "failure", "degraded"
limit: int = 20
) -> dict # {"runs": [...], "total": int}
```
**Returns:**
```json
{
"runs": [
{
"run_id": "session_20260206_115718_e22339c5",
"status": "degraded",
"needs_attention": true,
"attention_summary": {
"total_attention_flags": 3,
"categories": ["missing_outputs", "retry_loops"]
},
"started_at": "2026-02-06T11:57:18Z"
}
],
"total": 1
}
```
**Common queries:**
```python
# Find all problematic runs
query_runtime_logs(agent_work_dir, status="needs_attention")
# Get recent runs regardless of status
query_runtime_logs(agent_work_dir, limit=10)
# Check for failures
query_runtime_logs(agent_work_dir, status="failure")
```
### L2: query_runtime_log_details
**Purpose:** Identify which nodes failed
```python
query_runtime_log_details(
agent_work_dir: str,
run_id: str, # From L1 query
needs_attention_only: bool = False,
node_id: str = "" # Filter to specific node
) -> dict # {"run_id": str, "nodes": [...]}
```
**Returns:**
```json
{
"run_id": "session_20260206_115718_e22339c5",
"nodes": [
{
"node_id": "intake-collector",
"exit_status": "escalate",
"retry_count": 5,
"verdict_counts": {"RETRY": 5, "ESCALATE": 1},
"attention_reasons": ["high_retry_count", "missing_outputs"],
"total_steps": 8,
"latency_ms": 12500,
"needs_attention": true
}
]
}
```
**Common queries:**
```python
# Get all problematic nodes
query_runtime_log_details(agent_work_dir, run_id, needs_attention_only=True)
# Analyze specific node across run
query_runtime_log_details(agent_work_dir, run_id, node_id="intake-collector")
# Full node breakdown
query_runtime_log_details(agent_work_dir, run_id)
```
### L3: query_runtime_log_raw
**Purpose:** Root cause analysis
```python
query_runtime_log_raw(
agent_work_dir: str,
run_id: str,
step_index: int = -1, # Specific step or -1 for all
node_id: str = "" # Filter to specific node
) -> dict # {"run_id": str, "steps": [...]}
```
**Returns:**
```json
{
"run_id": "session_20260206_115718_e22339c5",
"steps": [
{
"node_id": "intake-collector",
"step_index": 3,
"tool_calls": [
{
"tool": "web_search",
"args": {"query": "@RomuloNevesOf"}
}
],
"tool_results": [
{
"status": "success",
"data": "..."
}
],
"verdict": "RETRY",
"verdict_feedback": "Missing required output 'twitter_handles'. You found the handle but didn't call set_output.",
"llm_response_text": "I found the Twitter profile...",
"tokens_used": 1234,
"latency_ms": 2500
}
]
}
```
**Common queries:**
```python
# All steps for a problematic node
query_runtime_log_raw(agent_work_dir, run_id, node_id="intake-collector")
# Specific step analysis
query_runtime_log_raw(agent_work_dir, run_id, step_index=5)
# Full execution trace
query_runtime_log_raw(agent_work_dir, run_id)
```
---
## Usage Patterns
### Pattern 1: Top-Down Investigation
**Use case:** Debug a failing agent
```python
# 1. Find problematic runs (L1)
result = query_runtime_logs(
agent_work_dir="~/.hive/twitter_outreach",
status="needs_attention"
)
run_id = result["runs"][0]["run_id"]
# 2. Identify failing nodes (L2)
details = query_runtime_log_details(
agent_work_dir="~/.hive/twitter_outreach",
run_id=run_id,
needs_attention_only=True
)
problem_node = details["nodes"][0]["node_id"]
# 3. Analyze root cause (L3)
raw = query_runtime_log_raw(
agent_work_dir="~/.hive/twitter_outreach",
run_id=run_id,
node_id=problem_node
)
# Examine verdict_feedback, tool_results, etc.
```
### Pattern 2: Node-Specific Debugging
**Use case:** Investigate why a specific node keeps failing
```python
# Get recent runs
runs = query_runtime_logs("~/.hive/my_agent", limit=10)
# For each run, check specific node
for run in runs["runs"]:
node_details = query_runtime_log_details(
"~/.hive/my_agent",
run["run_id"],
node_id="problematic-node"
)
# Analyze retry patterns, error types
```
### Pattern 3: Real-Time Monitoring
**Use case:** Watch for issues during development
```python
import time
while True:
result = query_runtime_logs(
agent_work_dir="~/.hive/my_agent",
status="needs_attention",
limit=1
)
if result["total"] > 0:
new_issue = result["runs"][0]
print(f"⚠️ New issue detected: {new_issue['run_id']}")
# Alert or drill into L2/L3
time.sleep(10) # Poll every 10 seconds
```
---
## Integration Points
### GraphExecutor → RuntimeLogger
**Location:** `core/framework/graph/executor.py`
```python
# Executor creates logger and passes session_id
logger = RuntimeLogger(store, agent_id)
run_id = logger.start_run(goal_id, session_id=execution_id)
# During execution
logger.log_step(node_id, step_index, tool_calls, ...)
logger.log_node_complete(node_id, exit_status, ...)
# At completion
await logger.end_run(status="success")
```
### EventLoopNode → RuntimeLogger
**Location:** `core/framework/graph/event_loop_node.py`
```python
# EventLoopNode logs each step
self._logger.log_step(
node_id=self.id,
step_index=step_count,
tool_calls=current_tool_calls,
tool_results=current_tool_results,
verdict=verdict,
verdict_feedback=feedback,
...
)
```
### AgentRuntime → RuntimeLogger
**Location:** `core/framework/runtime/agent_runtime.py`
```python
# Runtime initializes logger with storage path
log_store = RuntimeLogStore(base_path / "runtime_logs")
logger = RuntimeLogger(log_store, agent_id)
# Passes session_id from ExecutionStream
logger.start_run(goal_id, session_id=execution_id)
```
---
## File Format Details
### L1: summary.json
**Written:** Once at end_run()
**Format:** Standard JSON
```json
{
"run_id": "session_20260206_115718_e22339c5",
"goal_id": "twitter-outreach-multi-loop",
"status": "degraded",
"started_at": "2026-02-06T11:57:18.593081",
"ended_at": "2026-02-06T11:58:45.123456",
"needs_attention": true,
"attention_summary": {
"total_attention_flags": 3,
"categories": ["missing_outputs", "retry_loops"],
"nodes_with_attention": ["intake-collector"]
},
"total_nodes_executed": 4,
"nodes_with_failures": ["intake-collector"],
"execution_quality": "degraded",
"total_latency_ms": 86530,
"total_retries": 5
}
```
### L2: details.jsonl
**Written:** Incrementally (append per node completion)
**Format:** JSONL (one JSON object per line)
```jsonl
{"node_id":"intake-collector","exit_status":"escalate","retry_count":5,"verdict_counts":{"RETRY":5,"ESCALATE":1},"total_steps":8,"latency_ms":12500,"needs_attention":true,"attention_reasons":["high_retry_count","missing_outputs"],"tool_error_count":0,"tokens_used":9876}
{"node_id":"profile-analyzer","exit_status":"success","retry_count":0,"verdict_counts":{"ACCEPT":1},"total_steps":2,"latency_ms":5432,"needs_attention":false,"attention_reasons":[],"tool_error_count":0,"tokens_used":3456}
```
### L3: tool_logs.jsonl
**Written:** Incrementally (append per step)
**Format:** JSONL (one JSON object per line)
```jsonl
{"node_id":"intake-collector","step_index":3,"tool_calls":[{"tool":"web_search","args":{"query":"@RomuloNevesOf"}}],"tool_results":[{"status":"success","data":"..."}],"verdict":"RETRY","verdict_feedback":"Missing required output 'twitter_handles'. You found the handle but didn't call set_output.","llm_response_text":"I found the profile...","tokens_used":1234,"latency_ms":2500}
{"node_id":"intake-collector","step_index":4,"tool_calls":[{"tool":"web_search","args":{"query":"@RomuloNevesOf twitter"}}],"tool_results":[{"status":"success","data":"..."}],"verdict":"RETRY","verdict_feedback":"Still missing 'twitter_handles'.","llm_response_text":"Found more info...","tokens_used":1456,"latency_ms":2300}
```
**Why JSONL?**
- Incremental append during execution (crash-safe)
- No need to parse entire file to add one line
- Data persisted immediately, not buffered
- Easy to stream/process line-by-line
---
## Attention Flags System
### Automatic Detection
The runtime logger automatically flags issues based on execution metrics:
| Trigger | Threshold | Attention Reason | Category |
|---------|-----------|------------------|----------|
| High retries | `retry_count > 3` | `high_retry_count` | Retry Loops |
| Escalations | `escalate_count > 2` | `escalation_pattern` | Guard Failures |
| High latency | `latency_ms > 60000` | `high_latency` | High Latency |
| Token usage | `tokens_used > 100000` | `high_token_usage` | Memory/Context |
| Stalled steps | `total_steps > 20` | `excessive_steps` | Stalled Execution |
| Tool errors | `tool_error_count > 0` | `tool_failures` | Tool Errors |
| Missing outputs | `exit_status != "success"` | `missing_outputs` | Missing Outputs |
### Attention Categories
Used by `/hive-debugger` skill for issue categorization:
1. **Missing Outputs**: Node didn't set required output keys
2. **Tool Errors**: Tool calls failed (API errors, timeouts)
3. **Retry Loops**: Judge repeatedly rejecting outputs
4. **Guard Failures**: Output validation failed
5. **Stalled Execution**: EventLoopNode not making progress
6. **High Latency**: Slow tool calls or LLM responses
7. **Client-Facing Issues**: Premature set_output before user input
8. **Edge Routing Errors**: No edges match current state
9. **Memory/Context Issues**: Conversation history too long
10. **Constraint Violations**: Agent violated goal-level rules
---
## Migration Guide
### Reading Old Logs
The system automatically handles both old and new formats:
```python
# MCP tools check both locations automatically
result = query_runtime_logs("~/.hive/old_agent")
# Returns logs from both:
# - ~/.hive/old_agent/runtime_logs/runs/*/
# - ~/.hive/old_agent/sessions/session_*/logs/
```
### Deprecation Warnings
When reading from old locations, deprecation warnings are emitted:
```
DeprecationWarning: Reading logs from deprecated location for run_id=20260101T120000_abc12345.
New sessions use unified storage at sessions/session_*/logs/
```
### Migration Script (Optional)
For migrating existing old logs to new format, see:
- `EXECUTION_STORAGE_REDESIGN.md` - Migration strategy
- Future: `scripts/migrate_to_unified_sessions.py`
---
## Performance Characteristics
### Write Performance
- **L3 append**: ~1-2ms per step (sync I/O, thread-safe)
- **L2 append**: ~1-2ms per node (sync I/O, thread-safe)
- **L1 write**: ~5-10ms at end_run (atomic, async)
**Overhead:** < 5% of total execution time for typical agents
### Read Performance
- **L1 summary**: ~1-5ms (single JSON file)
- **L2 details**: ~10-50ms (JSONL, depends on node count)
- **L3 raw logs**: ~50-500ms (JSONL, depends on step count)
**Optimization:** Use filters (node_id, step_index) to reduce data read
### Storage Size
Typical session with 5 nodes, 20 steps:
- **L1 (summary.json)**: ~2-5 KB
- **L2 (details.jsonl)**: ~5-10 KB (1-2 KB per node)
- **L3 (tool_logs.jsonl)**: ~50-200 KB (2-10 KB per step)
**Total per session:** ~60-215 KB
**Compression:** Consider archiving old sessions after 90 days
---
## Troubleshooting
### Issue: Logs not appearing
**Symptom:** MCP tools return empty results
**Check:**
1. Verify storage path exists: `~/.hive/{agent_name}/`
2. Check session directories: `ls ~/.hive/{agent_name}/sessions/`
3. Verify logs directory exists: `ls ~/.hive/{agent_name}/sessions/session_*/logs/`
4. Check file permissions
### Issue: Corrupt JSONL files
**Symptom:** Partial data or JSON decode errors
**Cause:** Process crash during write (rare, but possible)
**Recovery:**
```python
# MCP tools skip corrupt lines automatically
query_runtime_log_details(agent_work_dir, run_id)
# Logs warning but continues with valid lines
```
### Issue: High disk usage
**Symptom:** Storage growing too large
**Solution:**
```bash
# Archive old sessions
cd ~/.hive/{agent_name}/sessions/
find . -name "session_2025*" -type d -exec tar -czf archive.tar.gz {} +
rm -rf session_2025*
# Or set up automatic cleanup (future feature)
```
---
## References
**Implementation:**
- `core/framework/runtime/runtime_logger.py` - Logger implementation
- `core/framework/runtime/runtime_log_store.py` - Storage layer
- `core/framework/runtime/runtime_log_schemas.py` - Data schemas
- `tools/src/aden_tools/tools/runtime_logs_tool/runtime_logs_tool.py` - MCP query tools
**Documentation:**
- `EXECUTION_STORAGE_REDESIGN.md` - Unified session storage design
- `/.claude/skills/hive-debugger/SKILL.md` - Interactive debugging skill
**Related:**
- `core/framework/schemas/session_state.py` - Session state schema
- `core/framework/storage/session_store.py` - Session state storage
- `core/framework/graph/executor.py` - GraphExecutor integration
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