Squash¶
Squash is an HTTP filter which enables Envoy to integrate with Squash microservices debugger. Code: https://github.com/solo-io/squash, API Docs: https://squash.solo.io/
Overview¶
The main use case for this filter is in a service mesh, where Envoy is deployed as a sidecar. Once a request marked for debugging enters the mesh, the Squash Envoy filter reports its ‘location’ in the cluster to the Squash server - as there is a 1-1 mapping between Envoy sidecars and application containers, the Squash server can find and attach a debugger to the application container. The Squash filter also holds the request until a debugger is attached (or a timeout occurs). This enables developers (via Squash) to attach a native debugger to the container that will handle the request, before the request arrive to the application code, without any changes to the cluster.
Configuration¶
- v2 API reference
- This filter should be configured with the name envoy.squash.
How it works¶
When the Squash filter encounters a request containing the header ‘x-squash-debug’ it will:
- Delay the incoming request.
- Contact the Squash server and request the creation of a DebugAttachment
- On the Squash server side, Squash will attempt to attach a debugger to the application Envoy proxies to. On success, it changes the state of the DebugAttachment to attached.
- Wait until the Squash server updates the DebugAttachment object’s state to attached (or error state)
- Resume the incoming request