What is TICKscript?
Introduction to TICKscript
TICKscript is the domain-specific language (DSL) used by Kapacitor, the data processing and alerting engine in the TICK Stack. It allows users to define data processing tasks, streaming analytics, alerting, and automated responses to time-series data stored in InfluxDB.
For more information Visit this: An Introduction to TICK stack for IoT
With TICKscript, users can create sophisticated workflows for anomaly detection, event handling, and metric transformations.
Key Features of TICKscript
- Event-driven processing for real-time analytics.
- Streaming and batch processing of time-series data.
- Custom alerting and notification rules integrated with Slack, Email, Webhooks, and more.
- Data transformation through functions like windowing, aggregation, and filtering.
- Conditional logic to trigger specific actions.
- Machine learning integration for predictive analytics.
Basic Structure of a TICKscript
A TICKscript consists of a sequence of commands defining how data should be processed. The fundamental structure follows:
stream
|from()
.measurement('cpu')
.groupBy('host')
|alert()
.crit(lambda: "usage_idle" < 10)
.log('/var/log/cpu_alerts.log')
Explanation:
stream: Specifies that the script processes real-time data.from(): Selects data from thecpumeasurement.groupBy('host'): Groups data by host.alert(): Defines alert conditions.crit(lambda: "usage_idle" < 10): Triggers an alert if CPU idle usage is below 10%.log(): Saves alerts to a log file.
TICKscript Data Processing Modes
TICKscript supports two modes for handling data:
1. Streaming Mode
- Operates on real-time data as it arrives.
- Useful for continuous monitoring and live alerting.
- Example:
stream |from() .measurement('temperature') |alert() .crit(lambda: "value" > 80) .slack()
2. Batch Mode
- Processes historical data at fixed intervals.
- Useful for scheduled reports and trend analysis.
- Example:
batch |query('SELECT mean("value") FROM "temperature"') .period(10m) .every(5m) |alert() .crit(lambda: "mean" > 80) .email('admin@example.com')
TICKscript Functions
TICKscript provides a variety of functions for transforming and analyzing time-series data:
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
alert() |
Triggers notifications based on conditions. |
deadman() |
Detects missing data from a source. |
eval() |
Evaluates expressions and transformations. |
log() |
Logs data to a file. |
httpPost() |
Sends data to an external API. |
join() |
Combines multiple data streams. |
window() |
Groups data into time intervals. |
mean(), sum(), max() |
Aggregation functions. |
Example: Advanced Alerting with TICKscript
Here’s an advanced example using event thresholds and multi-channel notifications:
stream
|from()
.measurement('disk_usage')
|alert()
.crit(lambda: "usage_percent" > 90)
.message('Disk usage on {{ index .Tags "host" }} is at {{ index .Fields "usage_percent" }}%')
.log('/var/log/disk_alerts.log')
.email('admin@example.com')
.slack()
This script:
- Monitors
disk_usage. - Triggers a critical alert if usage exceeds 90%.
- Logs the alert.
- Sends notifications via email and Slack.
Integration with External Services
TICKscript can integrate with various external tools for alerting and automation:
- Slack:
|alert().slack() - Email:
|alert().email('admin@example.com') - Webhook:
|alert().post('http://webhook.url') - InfluxDB Writeback:
|influxDBOut().measurement('alerts')
Conclusion
TICKscript is a powerful scripting language for real-time data processing, alerting, and automation in the TICK Stack. With its flexibility and extensive functions, it provides an efficient way to monitor and respond to time-series data dynamically.
Whether you’re monitoring IoT sensors, cloud infrastructure, or financial metrics, TICKscript helps in creating intelligent alerting pipelines and automated responses.
How to learn TICK Script
Visit this official Docs : https://docs.influxdata.com/kapacitor/v1.5/tick/syntax/
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