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| `key_path` | yes | JSON key path for the metric, location in Service Ping payload. |
| `name` | no | Metric name suggestion. Can replace the last part of `key_path`. |
| `description` | yes | |
| `product_section` | yes | The [section](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/www-gitlab-com/-/blob/master/data/sections.yml). |
| `product_stage` | no | The [stage](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/www-gitlab-com/blob/master/data/stages.yml) for the metric. |
| `product_group` | yes | The [group](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/www-gitlab-com/blob/master/data/stages.yml) that owns the metric. |
| `product_category` | no | The [product category](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/www-gitlab-com/blob/master/data/categories.yml) for the metric. |
| `value_type` | yes | `string`; one of [`string`, `number`, `boolean`, `object`](https://json-schema.org/understanding-json-schema/reference/type.html). |
| `status` | yes | `string`; [status](#metric-statuses) of the metric, may be set to `data_available`, `implemented`, `not_used`, `deprecated`, `removed`, `broken`. |
| `time_frame` | yes | `string`; may be set to a value like `7d`, `28d`, `all`, `none`. |
| `data_source` | yes | `string`; may be set to a value like `database`, `redis`, `redis_hll`, `prometheus`, `system`. |
| `data_category` | yes | `string`; [categories](#data-category) of the metric, may be set to `operational`, `optional`, `subscription`, `standard`. The default value is `optional`.|
| `instrumentation_class` | no | `string`; [the class that implements the metric](metrics_instrumentation.md). |
| `distribution` | yes | `array`; may be set to one of `ce, ee` or `ee`. The [distribution](https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/marketing/strategic-marketing/tiers/#definitions) where the tracked feature is available. |
| `performance_indicator_type` | no | `array`; may be set to one of [`gmau`, `smau`, `paid_gmau`, or `umau`](https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/business-technology/data-team/data-catalog/xmau-analysis/). |
| `tier` | yes | `array`; may contain one or a combination of `free`, `premium` or `ultimate`. The [tier]( https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/marketing/strategic-marketing/tiers/) where the tracked feature is available. |
| `milestone` | no | The milestone when the metric is introduced. |
| `milestone_removed` | no | The milestone when the metric is removed. |
| `introduced_by_url` | no | The URL to the Merge Request that introduced the metric. |
| `repair_issue_url` | no | The URL of the issue that was created to repair a metric with a `broken` status. |
| `options` | no | `object`: options information needed to calculate the metric value. |
| `skip_validation` | no | This should **not** be set. [Used for imported metrics until we review, update and make them valid](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/epics/5425). |
### Metric statuses
Metric definitions can have one of the following statuses:
-`data_available`: Metric data is available and used in a Sisense dashboard.
-`implemented`: Metric is implemented but data is not yet available. This is a temporary
status for newly added metrics awaiting inclusion in a new release.
-`broken`: Metric reports broken data (for example, -1 fallback), or does not report data at all. A metric marked as `broken` must also have the `repair_issue_url` attribute.
-`not_used`: Metric is not used in any dashboard.
-`deprecated`: Metric is deprecated and possibly planned to be removed.
-`removed`: Metric was removed, but it may appear in Service Ping payloads sent from instances running on older versions of GitLab.
### Metric value_type
Metric definitions can have one of the following values for `value_type`:
-`boolean`
-`number`
-`string`
-`object`: A metric with `value_type: object` must have `value_json_schema` with a link to the JSON schema for the object.
In general, we avoid complex objects and prefer one of the `boolean`, `number`, or `string` value types.
An example of a metric that uses `value_type: object` is `topology` (`/config/metrics/settings/20210323120839_topology.yml`),
which has a related schema in `/config/metrics/objects_schemas/topology_schema.json`.
### Metric time_frame
-`7d`: The metric data applies to the most recent 7-day interval. For example, the following metric counts the number of users that create epics over a 7-day interval: `ee/config/metrics/counts_7d/20210305145820_g_product_planning_epic_created_weekly.yml`.
-`28d`: The metric data applies to the most recent 28-day interval. For example, the following metric counts the number of unique users that create issues over a 28-day interval: `config/metrics/counts_28d/20210216181139_issues.yml`.
-`all`: The metric data applies for the whole time the metric has been active (all-time interval). For example, the following metric counts all users that create issues: `/config/metrics/counts_all/20210216181115_issues.yml`.
-`none`: The metric collects a type of data that's not tracked over time, such as settings and configuration information. Therefore, a time interval is not applicable. For example, `uuid` has no time interval applicable: `config/metrics/license/20210201124933_uuid.yml`.
### Metric name
To improve metric discoverability by a wider audience, each metric with
instrumentation added at an appointed `key_path` receives a `name` attribute
filled with the name suggestion, corresponding to the metric `data_source` and instrumentation.
Metric name suggestions can contain two types of elements:
1.**User input prompts**: Enclosed by `<>`, these pieces should be replaced or
removed when you create a metrics YAML file.
1.**Fixed suggestion**: Plaintext parts generated according to well-defined algorithms.
They are based on underlying instrumentation, and should not be changed.
For a metric name to be valid, it must not include any prompt, and no fixed suggestions
should be changed.
### Data category
We use the following categories to classify a metric:
-`operational`: Required data for operational purposes.
-`optional`: Default value for a metric. Data that is optional to collect. This can be [enabled or disabled](../service_ping/index.md#disable-service-ping) in the Admin Area.
-`subscription`: Data related to licensing.
-`standard`: Standard set of identifiers that are included when collecting data.
In the previous example, the prompt is irrelevant, and user can remove it. The second
occurrence corresponds with the `available` scope defined in `Clusters::Concerns::ApplicationStatus`.
It can be used as the right adjective to replace prompt.
The `<with>` represents a suggested conjunction for the suggested name of the joined relation.
The person documenting the metric can use it by either:
- Removing the surrounding `<>`.
- Using a different conjunction, such as `having` or `including`.
#### Metric with `data_source: redis` or `redis_hll`
For metrics instrumented with a Redis-based counter, the suggested name includes
only the single prompt to be replaced by the person working with metrics YAML.
- **Prompt**: `<please fill metric name, suggested format is: {subject}_{verb}{ing|ed}_{object} eg: users_creating_epics or merge_requests_viewed_in_single_file_mode>`
- **Final metric name**: We suggest the metric name should follow the format of
`{subject}_{verb}{ing|ed}_{object}`, such as `user_creating_epics`, `users_triggering_security_scans`,
or `merge_requests_viewed_in_single_file_mode`
#### Metric with `data_source: prometheus` or `system`
For metrics instrumented with Prometheus or coming from the operating system,
the suggested name includes only the single prompt by person working with metrics YAML.
- **Prompt**: `<please fill metric name>`
- **Final metric name**: Due to the variety of cases that can apply to this kind of metric,
no naming convention exists. Each person instrumenting a metric should use their
best judgment to come up with a descriptive name.
### Example YAML metric definition
The linked [`uuid`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/master/config/metrics/license/uuid.yml)
YAML file includes an example metric definition, where the `uuid` metric is the GitLab
The GitLab codebase provides a dedicated [generator](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/master/lib/generators/gitlab/usage_metric_definition_generator.rb) to create new metric definitions.
For uniqueness, the generated file includes a timestamp prefix, in ISO 8601 format.
The generator takes the key path argument and 2 options and creates the metric YAML definition in corresponding location:
-`--ee`, `--no-ee` Indicates if metric is for EE.
-`--dir=DIR` indicates the metric directory. It must be one of: `counts_7d`, `7d`, `counts_28d`, `28d`, `counts_all`, `all`, `settings`, `license`.
The [Redis HLL metrics](index.md#known-events-are-added-automatically-in-service-data-payload) are added automatically to Service Ping payload.
A YAML metric definition is required for each metric. A dedicated generator is provided to create metric definitions for Redis HLL events.
The generator takes `category` and `event` arguments, as the root key will be `redis_hll_counters`, and creates two metric definitions for weekly and monthly timeframes:
