**Note** [the latest version 0.1.14](https://github.com/Day8/re-frame-trace/releases/tag/0.1.14) ALSO requires the latest version of re-frame itself - `v0.10.3-alpha2`.
Each `re-frame` event and its consequent computation forms a discrete "epoch" which can be analysed and inspected independently of other epochs. As a result, this tool is epoch-oriented.
As it runs, `re-frame` generates detailed "trace data", but much of it will be low level and uninteresting a lot of the time.
`re-frame-trace` is a "dashboard" in the sense that it shows useful, "rolled up" information "at a glance", and allows you to drill down and explore the detail as necessary. All the data you want should ultimately be available, but you shouldn't initially drown in it.
Not only is the underlying trace "just data", but so is much of the observed `re-frame` proecess. Much of what `re-frame` does on your behalf is the move data from one domino to another. You write the dominos (functions) and `re-frame` will flow data through them.
So, yeah, this tool an epoch-oriented, interactive data dashboard for gaining insights and assisting debugging. It is also a work in progress, so this grand descrption runs well ahead of what is delivered right now.
If you are using leiningen, modify `project.clj` in the following ways. When puzzling over the various possible leiningen configurations, it's often helpful to look at a sample [project.clj](https://github.com/technomancy/leiningen/blob/stable/sample.project.clj).
re-frame is instrumented - all important activity generates trace data. `re-frame-trace` consumes this trace data and renders useful visualisations of the `re-frame` process. Currently, re-frame's tracing capabilities are in alpha and are subject to change at any time. We're testing the utility of the the trace by building an app on top.
By default, re-frame tracing is "compiled out", so it won't impose a performance cost in production. The trade-off here is that you need to explicitly enable it in development.
The [preloads](https://github.com/clojure/clojurescript/wiki/Compiler-Options#preloads) option (`:preloads [day8.re-frame.trace.preload]`) has to be set in order to automatically monkeypatch Reagent to add appropriate lifecycle hooks. Yes this is gross, and yes we will try and make a PR to reagent to add proper hooks, once we know exactly what we need. The preload namespace also injects a div containing the devtools panel into the DOM.
