From fb6df56464bbc6d393a9bede03d022e6833a54f6 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Matt Dodson <47385188+MattDodsonEnglish@users.noreply.github.com> Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:36:12 -0300 Subject: [PATCH] Docs: rewrite data source intro (#61639) * Docs: rewrite data source intro - Include more than just "databases", which was overly narrow - Try to make doc a "TL;DR" of the essential information * docs, link data source to build plugin task * Reduce jargon and sentence length * Link out to different features * Data source, docs turn examples into list And trim language * Better phrasing to introduce query editor Old way implied that Grafana provides all query editors, which isn't true of custom plugins. * use relref for in-repo anchor * remove double "in" Co-authored-by: Eve Meelan <81647476+Eve832@users.noreply.github.com> * Simplify list Co-authored-by: Eve Meelan <81647476+Eve832@users.noreply.github.com> * Restructure intro, clarify plugins and their URLs * Add and configure It's sometimes both. * Apply suggestions from code review Co-authored-by: Christopher Moyer <35463610+chri2547@users.noreply.github.com> * makes prettier Co-authored-by: Eve Meelan <81647476+Eve832@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Christopher Moyer <35463610+chri2547@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Chris Moyer --- docs/sources/datasources/_index.md | 18 ++++++++++++++---- 1 file changed, 14 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-) diff --git a/docs/sources/datasources/_index.md b/docs/sources/datasources/_index.md index 6698bfb804c..cd1bf1dd095 100644 --- a/docs/sources/datasources/_index.md +++ b/docs/sources/datasources/_index.md @@ -8,12 +8,22 @@ weight: 60 # Data sources -Grafana can query and integrate with many different types of databases. This is done by adding a **data source** of the type you want to query or integrate with. -When you have created and configured a data source you are ready to start exploring and visualizing data, either in Explore or in a new Dashboard. A dashboard is composed of [panels]({{< relref "../panels-visualizations/" >}}), each panel contains a set of queries to one or more data sources. +Grafana comes with built-in support for many _data sources_. +If you need other data sources, you can also install one of the many data source plugins. +If the plugin you need doesn't exist, you can develop a custom plugin. -You can also create new a alert rule from a data source query and have Grafana continuously evaluate it and notify you when things change. +Each data source comes with a _query editor_, +which formulates custom queries according to the source's structure. +After you add and configure a data source, you can use it as an input for many operations, including: -You can also query data sources without building a dashboard by using the [Explore]({{< relref "../explore/" >}}) feature. +- Query the data with [Explore]({{< relref "../explore" >}}). +- Visualize it in [panels]({{< relref "../panels-visualizations" >}}). +- Create rules for [alerts]({{< relref "../alerting" >}}). + +This documentation describes how to manage data sources in general, +and how to configure or query the built-in data sources. +For other data sources, refer to the list of [datasource plugins](/grafana/plugins/). +To develop a custom plugin, refer to [Build a plugin]({{< relref "../developers/plugins/" >}}). ## Manage data sources