Ilogger vs telemetryclient - A Comprehensive Comparison to Choose the Best Logging Solution for Your Application

Published on August 30, 2023

When it comes to monitoring the performance and health of your software applications, two popular tools that often come to mind are Ilogger and TelemetryClient. Both of these tools offer powerful features for collecting and analyzing data, but they have different approaches and capabilities.

Ilogger is a widely used logging framework that allows developers to record and store various types of application events. It provides a simple and flexible way to capture important information about how your application is behaving, allowing you to troubleshoot issues and gain insights into its performance. With Ilogger, you can easily log events, errors, warnings, and other custom messages, and then analyze them using different log levels and filters.

On the other hand, TelemetryClient is a telemetry tool that focuses on collecting and analyzing data about the behavior and performance of your application in real-time. It offers a comprehensive set of features for tracking and monitoring various metrics, such as response times, request rates, and error rates, allowing you to gain deep insights into how your application is performing across different dimensions.

While both Ilogger and TelemetryClient serve similar purposes of capturing and analyzing data, they have different strengths and use cases. Ilogger is more suited for capturing detailed logs for troubleshooting and debugging purposes, while TelemetryClient is designed for real-time monitoring and analysis of application performance. Depending on your specific needs and requirements, you may choose to use one or the other, or even both in combination to get a comprehensive view of your application's behavior.

In conclusion, when it comes to logging and telemetry tools, both Ilogger and TelemetryClient have their own unique advantages and capabilities. Depending on your specific needs, you can choose the one that best fits your requirements and helps you gain valuable insights into your application's behavior and performance.

What is Ilogger?

Ilogger is an interface provided by the Microsoft.Extensions.Logging namespace in .NET Core. It is a logging abstraction that allows for flexible and consistent logging across different logging providers. ILogger provides a set of methods for writing different levels of log information, such as Debug, Information, Warning, Error, and Critical.

With ILogger, you can easily log messages and exceptions in your application code. It provides a way to centralize and standardize logging across an application, making it easier to manage and troubleshoot issues. ILogger also supports the concept of log scopes, allowing you to group related log entries and provide additional context for understanding the logs.

ILogger is designed to be extensible, allowing you to plug in various logging providers based on your needs. Some common logging providers include console logging, file logging, and Azure Application Insights. This makes it easy to switch between different logging providers without having to modify your application code.

Key features of ILogger:

  1. Level-based logging: ILogger supports different log levels, which allows you to control the verbosity of your logs.
  2. Scopes: ILogger supports the concept of log scopes, which allows you to group related log entries.
  3. Extensibility: ILogger is designed to be extensible, allowing you to plug in different logging providers based on your needs.
  4. Consistency: ILogger provides a consistent interface for logging across different logging providers.

Example usage of ILogger:

Below is an example of how ILogger can be used in a .NET Core application:

public class MyService { private readonly ILogger _logger; public MyService(ILogger logger) { _logger = logger; } public void DoSomething() { _logger.LogInformation("Starting DoSomething method."); try { // Code logic here _logger.LogInformation("DoSomething method completed successfully."); } catch (Exception ex) { _logger.LogError(ex, "An error occurred in the DoSomething method."); } } }

In the above example, ILogger is injected into the MyService class via constructor injection. It is then used to log information at different levels throughout the DoSomething method. This allows for the tracking and troubleshooting of issues in the application.

Conclusion:

Ilogger is a powerful logging interface provided by .NET Core. It provides a consistent and extensible way to log information and exceptions in your application. By using ILogger, you can easily manage and diagnose issues in your application, improving its overall reliability and maintainability.

For more information on how to use ILogger, refer to the official documentation on the Microsoft Docs website.

Tool Features Platforms
Ilogger Level-based logging, log scopes, extensibility .NET Core
TelemetryClient Application insights, telemetry collection .NET Core, Azure

What is TelemetryClient?

The TelemetryClient is a logging and telemetry tool used primarily in software development and monitoring. It is a component of the Microsoft Application Insights platform and is commonly used in conjunction with the Ilogger logging framework.

The TelemetryClient offers developers a simple and intuitive way to collect, track, and analyze data and metrics from their applications. It can capture various types of telemetry data, such as events, traces, exceptions, and performance metrics.

By instrumenting their code with the TelemetryClient, developers can gain valuable insights into the behavior and performance of their applications. They can monitor the usage of their software, identify and troubleshoot issues, and make data-driven decisions to improve the user experience.

The TelemetryClient provides an extensive set of features and capabilities for logging and telemetry, including the ability to send telemetry data to various destinations, such as Application Insights, Azure Monitor, and custom endpoints. It also supports advanced features like sampling, correlation, and telemetry enrichment.

In summary, the TelemetryClient is a powerful tool that enables developers to effectively collect and analyze telemetry data from their applications. It provides valuable insights into the health, performance, and usage of software, helping developers build more robust and efficient applications.

Key Features of Ilogger

Ilogger is a powerful logging tool that provides several key features:

1. Easy Integration: Ilogger can be easily integrated into various applications and frameworks, including ASP.NET Core, to provide comprehensive logging capabilities.

2. Flexible Logging Levels: Ilogger allows developers to specify different logging levels for different parts of their code, enabling them to control the verbosity of log messages based on the importance of the information being logged.

3. Message Formatting: Ilogger provides flexible message formatting options, allowing developers to customize the appearance and structure of log messages to meet their specific requirements.

4. Extensibility: Ilogger supports custom log providers, allowing developers to integrate additional logging functionalities or connect Ilogger with third-party logging services for centralized log management.

5. Performance: Ilogger is designed to have minimal performance impact on applications, allowing developers to log important information without significantly affecting the overall performance of their code.

6. Structured Logging: Ilogger supports structured logging, which allows developers to log structured data and easily query and analyze log messages using tools like Elasticsearch or Splunk.

7. Configurability: Ilogger provides a flexible configuration system, allowing developers to easily configure logging behaviors and destinations without modifying their code. This enables quick and easy changes to logging settings in different environments.

Overall, Ilogger offers a robust set of features that make it an excellent choice for logging in various application scenarios.

Key Features of TelemetryClient

The TelemetryClient is a powerful tool for collecting and analyzing telemetry data in your applications. Here are some key features of TelemetryClient:

1. Real-time Monitoring

TelemetryClient allows you to monitor your application in real-time, giving you valuable insights into how it is performing. You can track various metrics such as response times, request rates, and error rates, allowing you to identify and address any issues quickly.

2. Data Visualization

TelemetryClient provides various data visualization options, such as charts and graphs, to help you analyze and understand the collected telemetry data. This makes it easier to spot trends, patterns, and anomalies, and make informed decisions based on the data.

3. Alerting System

TelemetryClient includes an alerting system that allows you to define custom rules and thresholds for different telemetry metrics. This means you can set up alerts to notify you when certain conditions are met, such as an unusually high error rate or a sudden increase in response times.

4. Integration with ILogger

TelemetryClient seamlessly integrates with ILogger, a popular logging framework, allowing you to combine logging and telemetry data in a unified system. This makes it easier to correlate log events with telemetry data, providing a complete picture of your application's behavior.

Feature Description
Real-time Monitoring Monitor your application in real-time with metrics like response times, request rates, and error rates.
Data Visualization Visualize collected telemetry data using charts and graphs.
Alerting System Set up alerts to notify you when certain conditions are met.
Integration with ILogger Seamlessly integrate with ILogger to combine logging and telemetry data.

Logging with ILogger

In the world of software development, logging plays a critical role in helping developers understand how their applications behave in different scenarios. ILogger is a powerful logging framework in .NET that allows developers to easily log various events and messages.

With ILogger, developers can create different log levels, such as Information, Warning, Error, etc., to categorize their logs based on severity. This enables better organization and filtering of logs, making it easier to identify and troubleshoot issues.

One great advantage of using ILogger is its ability to integrate with various logging providers. These providers can be customized to store logs in different formats, such as text files, databases, or external services. This flexibility allows developers to choose the most suitable logging provider based on their application's needs.

ILogger also supports structured logging, which means that developers can log events along with additional key-value pairs of structured data. This helps in providing more context to the logs and makes it easier to analyze and search for specific log events.

Furthermore, ILogger is highly extensible, allowing developers to create their own custom loggers or extend the existing ones. This makes it possible to integrate with other logging frameworks or services, such as the TelemetryClient, for more advanced telemetry and monitoring capabilities.

In conclusion, ILogger is a powerful logging framework that provides developers with the flexibility and extensibility needed to effectively log events and messages. Its integration capabilities with various logging providers make it a versatile choice for logging in .NET applications.

Logging with TelemetryClient

The TelemetryClient is a powerful tool for logging and monitoring applications. It provides a comprehensive set of features for capturing and analyzing application telemetry, allowing developers to gain deep insights into how their application is performing in real-time.

One of the key benefits of using TelemetryClient for logging is its integration with the ILogger interface. ILogger is a general-purpose logging interface that is widely used in .NET applications. It provides a standardized way to capture log messages and route them to different targets, such as console, file, or database.

By using TelemetryClient with ILogger, developers can easily combine the power of logging with the capabilities of telemetry. They can log not only simple log messages, but also include additional telemetry, such as performance metrics, exceptions, or custom events.

Configuring TelemetryClient with ILogger

To start logging with TelemetryClient, developers need to configure it with an instance of ILogger. This can be done using the AddApplicationInsights extension method in the ASP.NET Core startup class.

Once configured, developers can use the standard ILogger methods, such as LogInformation or LogError, to capture log messages. These messages will be sent to the configured TelemetryClient, which will then process and store them for further analysis.

Benefits of Logging with TelemetryClient

Logging with TelemetryClient offers several benefits over traditional logging solutions:

  • Richer context: TelemetryClient allows developers to include additional context information, such as user or machine ID, in the logged messages. This helps in better understanding the context in which the application is running.
  • Real-time monitoring: TelemetryClient provides real-time monitoring capabilities, allowing developers to see the logs and telemetry data as they are being captured. This can be extremely useful in troubleshooting and debugging issues in production environments.
  • Integration with other Azure services: TelemetryClient seamlessly integrates with other Azure services, such as Azure Monitor or Application Insights. This allows developers to aggregate and analyze the captured telemetry data using powerful analytics tools.
  • Automatic correlation: TelemetryClient automatically adds correlation IDs to the logged messages, allowing developers to trace the flow of a request across different components of the application. This helps in identifying the root cause of issues and understanding the impact of changes.

In conclusion, logging with TelemetryClient offers a powerful and flexible way to capture and analyze application logs and telemetry. By combining the capabilities of ILogger and TelemetryClient, developers can gain deep insights into their applications, monitor them in real-time, and troubleshoot issues effectively.

Advantages of Ilogger

Ilogger is a powerful logging tool that provides several advantages for developers:

Advantage Description
Easy to Use Ilogger offers a simple and intuitive interface, making it easy for developers to log messages and track application behavior.
Extensible Ilogger can be easily extended to support custom log providers and formats, allowing developers to adapt the logging framework to their specific needs.
Flexible Configuration Ilogger provides flexible configuration options, enabling developers to easily configure different log levels, filters, and destinations for their application.
Integration with Dependency Injection Ilogger integrates seamlessly with dependency injection frameworks, making it easy to inject and use loggers throughout an application.
Performance Ilogger is designed to have minimal impact on application performance, ensuring that logging operations do not significantly slow down the application.
Support for Structured Logging Ilogger supports structured logging, allowing developers to log complex data structures and easily search and analyze logs.

Overall, Ilogger provides developers with a robust and versatile logging solution that helps improve application monitoring, debugging, and performance optimization.

Advantages of TelemetryClient

The TelemetryClient is a powerful logging and monitoring tool that offers several advantages over the ILogger. Here are some key advantages:

1. Enhanced Monitoring Capabilities: TelemetryClient provides advanced monitoring and observability features that are not available in ILogger. It allows you to track and monitor application performance, measure response times, and identify bottlenecks in real-time. This can help you optimize your application for better performance and user experience.

2. Customizable Log Messages: TelemetryClient allows you to add custom properties and metrics to your log messages. This enables you to include additional context and metadata in your logs, making it easier to analyze and troubleshoot issues. With ILogger, you have limited flexibility in adding custom information to your logs.

3. Integration with Azure Monitor: TelemetryClient seamlessly integrates with Azure Monitor, Microsoft's cloud-based monitoring and analytics solution. This integration allows you to collect and analyze telemetry data from multiple sources, including logs, metrics, and traces, in a centralized location. It provides powerful visualization and querying capabilities, making it easier to gain insights into your application's performance and behavior.

4. Automatic Data Collection: TelemetryClient can automatically collect and send telemetry data to Azure Monitor without any manual intervention. It captures relevant information such as exceptions, requests, dependencies, and custom events, making it easier to identify and diagnose issues. With ILogger, you need to manually log each event or exception, which can be time-consuming and error-prone.

5. Built-in Analytics Features: TelemetryClient comes with built-in analytics features that allow you to perform real-time analysis of your telemetry data. It provides powerful query language and visualization tools that enable you to slice and dice your data, identify trends, and detect anomalies. This can help you uncover hidden patterns and insights that can drive business decisions and improve overall application performance.

In summary, TelemetryClient offers powerful monitoring and analytics capabilities that go beyond what ILogger can provide. It is a versatile tool that can help you gain deep insights into your application's performance, troubleshoot issues, and optimize user experience.

Disadvantages of Ilogger

While Ilogger is a widely used logging tool in .NET applications, it does have some disadvantages compared to the telemetryclient tool:

1. Limited data collection

Ilogger mainly focuses on logging information about events and errors that occur within an application. It does not provide extensive capabilities for collecting additional telemetry data such as performance metrics, user behavior, or network data.

2. Lack of real-time monitoring

Ilogger does not offer real-time monitoring capabilities, meaning that you cannot observe application behavior and logs in real-time. This can make it challenging to identify and troubleshoot issues as they occur, especially in production environments where real-time monitoring is crucial.

Although Ilogger can be useful for basic logging needs, it may not be suitable for more advanced monitoring and troubleshooting requirements.

Disadvantages of TelemetryClient

While TelemetryClient provides several advantages for capturing and analyzing telemetry data, it also has some disadvantages that users should be aware of:

  • The TelemetryClient library can be quite bulky and may add unnecessary overhead to applications that only require basic logging functionality.
  • Customizing the TelemetryClient can be a complex task, requiring a deep understanding of its internal workings and dependencies.
  • Telemetry data generated by the TelemetryClient may not always be granular enough for certain use cases, making it difficult to capture specific details or metrics.
  • TelemetryClient relies heavily on external services and dependencies for data storage and analysis, which can introduce additional points of failure and complexity.

While TelemetryClient has its advantages, developers should carefully consider their specific requirements and constraints before choosing it as their telemetry tool of choice.

Use Cases for Ilogger

The ILogger interface is a powerful logging tool that is widely used in .NET applications. It provides a flexible and extensible way to log information, allowing developers to easily capture and analyze data about the application's behavior. Here are some use cases for using ILogger:

1. Debugging and Troubleshooting

ILogger can be used to log debug information and troubleshoot issues in an application. Developers can add logging statements at various points in the code to capture relevant information about the application's state. This can help in identifying and fixing bugs, as well as understanding the flow of execution.

2. Performance Monitoring

By using ILogger, developers can log performance-related data such as execution times, resource utilization, and bottlenecks. This information can be used to identify performance issues and optimize the application for better performance. ILogger allows for easy integration with performance monitoring tools, making it a valuable tool in performance tuning.

3. Audit Logging

ILogger can also be used for audit logging, where important actions and events in the application are logged for compliance and security purposes. By logging sensitive operations, such as user authentication, data modifications, and access control, ILogger helps in maintaining an audit trail and ensuring the application's integrity.

ILogger provides a lot of flexibility in terms of output format and destination. Log messages can be easily formatted, filtered, and redirected to different sinks, such as file systems, databases, or cloud-based log management platforms. This makes ILogger suitable for a wide range of logging requirements in different application scenarios.

Use Cases for TelemetryClient

The TelemetryClient is a powerful tool that offers various use cases for monitoring and analyzing application performance. Here are some of the key use cases for TelemetryClient:

1. Application Monitoring: TelemetryClient can be used to monitor the performance and usage of your application. It can collect data on various metrics such as response time, error rate, and throughput. This data can then be analyzed to identify performance bottlenecks and optimize the application.

2. Error Tracking: With TelemetryClient, you can easily track and log errors occurring in your application. It provides detailed information about the error, including the stack trace, exception type, and other contextual data. This helps in identifying and fixing bugs more efficiently.

3. User Analytics: TelemetryClient can collect data on user behavior, such as the pages they visit, actions they perform, and the time spent on each page. This data can be used to gain insights into user preferences, identify patterns, and make data-driven decisions to improve the user experience.

4. Performance Optimization: TelemetryClient can help in optimizing the performance of your application by collecting data on various performance metrics. This data can be used to identify areas of improvement, benchmark against performance targets, and track performance over time.

5. Capacity Planning: TelemetryClient can provide insights into the usage patterns and resource consumption of your application. This information can be used to plan and scale resources effectively, ensuring optimal performance under various load conditions.

6. A/B Testing: TelemetryClient can be used to collect data on different variants of your application and measure the impact on user engagement, conversion rates, and other key metrics. This helps in making informed decisions about which variant performs better and should be adopted.

Overall, TelemetryClient is a versatile tool that can be used for various monitoring, analysis, and optimization purposes in your application. Its integration with ILogger further enhances its capabilities, allowing you to capture detailed logs and metrics for better application insights.

Integration with Other Tools

One of the key factors to consider when comparing Ilogger and TelemetryClient is their integration capabilities with other tools and frameworks.

TelemetryClient has excellent integration capabilities with various popular tools and frameworks. It seamlessly integrates with Azure Monitoring, providing real-time insights and analytics. It can also be integrated with popular logging frameworks like Serilog and NLog, allowing you to consolidate your logging and telemetry data in one place.

Ilogger, on the other hand, also offers integration options with other tools and frameworks, although it may require more configuration and customization compared to TelemetryClient. It has support for integration with popular logging frameworks like log4net and NLog, allowing you to easily send your logs to Ilogger.

Integration with Azure Monitoring

TelemetryClient provides native integration with Azure Monitoring, a powerful monitoring and analytics tool provided by Microsoft. By using TelemetryClient, you can easily send your telemetry data to Azure Monitoring, allowing you to monitor and analyze the performance of your application in real-time.

Integration with Logging Frameworks

Both TelemetryClient and Ilogger offer integration options with popular logging frameworks. TelemetryClient seamlessly integrates with frameworks like Serilog and NLog, allowing you to log your telemetry data along with your regular application logs.

Ilogger, on the other hand, also provides integration capabilities with logging frameworks like log4net and NLog. However, it may require additional configuration and customization to set up the integration.

Data Consolidation

TelemetryClient excels in consolidating telemetry data from multiple sources into a single, unified dashboard. It can collect telemetry data from various applications and services, providing you with a comprehensive view of your entire system's performance.

Ilogger, while not as robust in terms of data consolidation, still allows you to gather and analyze your logs in a centralized location. However, you may need to manually set up data consolidation using additional tools or frameworks.

Features TelemetryClient Ilogger
Integration with Azure Monitoring -
Integration with Logging Frameworks
Data Consolidation

Price Comparison

When it comes to choosing between Ilogger and TelemetryClient, one important factor to consider is the price. Let's take a closer look at how these two logging and telemetry tools compare in terms of cost.

1. Ilogger

Ilogger is an open-source logging library for .NET applications. Since it is free and open-source, there is no direct cost associated with using Ilogger. This makes it a cost-effective choice for many developers.

However, it's worth noting that while Ilogger itself is free, there may still be costs involved in terms of hosting and infrastructure setup, depending on how you choose to set up your logging system.

2. TelemetryClient

TelemetryClient is a part of Microsoft Azure's Application Insights, which is a cloud-based application performance monitoring and logging service. As such, using TelemetryClient comes with a cost.

TelemetryClient pricing is typically based on data volume, with different pricing tiers available based on the number of data points collected and the data retention period. This means that the cost of using TelemetryClient can vary depending on the specific needs and usage patterns of your application.

While TelemetryClient offers advanced features and integrations with other Azure services, it's important to carefully consider your budget and requirements when deciding whether the additional cost of TelemetryClient is worth it for your project.

In conclusion, while Ilogger is a cost-effective choice as an open-source logging library, TelemetryClient's cost is determined by data volume and the specific needs of your application. Consider your budget and requirements carefully when making a decision between these two logging and telemetry tools.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to logging and capturing telemetry in your applications, both ILogger and TelemetryClient have their strengths and weaknesses.

The ILogger interface provides a simple and flexible way to log information, warnings, and errors in your application. It allows you to easily configure and switch between different logging providers, such as console logging, file logging, or third-party logging frameworks. With ILogger, you have fine-grained control over what information gets logged and where it gets logged.

On the other hand, TelemetryClient is part of the Azure Monitor ecosystem and is designed specifically for capturing application telemetry and sending it to Azure. It provides a unified API for capturing different types of telemetry, such as traces, exceptions, and metrics, and integrates seamlessly with other Azure services like Azure Application Insights and Azure Log Analytics. With TelemetryClient, you get built-in support for advanced features like correlation and distributed tracing.

Ultimately, the choice between ILogger and TelemetryClient depends on your specific requirements and the tools and services you are already using in your application. If you need a lightweight logging solution with flexibility and control, ILogger is a great choice. If you are already using Azure Monitor and want a more comprehensive telemetry solution with advanced features, TelemetryClient is the way to go.

Whichever tool you choose, it's important to have a solid logging and telemetry strategy in place to ensure that you can effectively monitor and troubleshoot your applications. Whether you're using ILogger or TelemetryClient, make sure to log the right information at the right level of detail, and use the captured telemetry to gain insights into your application's performance, availability, and usage patterns.

Question and answer:

What is the difference between ILogger and TelemetryClient?

The main difference between ILogger and TelemetryClient is their purpose and functionality. ILogger is a logging tool that allows developers to log messages, events, and exceptions within an application. TelemetryClient, on the other hand, is a telemetry tool that provides more advanced features for monitoring and analyzing application performance, such as capturing custom metrics, distributed tracing, and sending data to external monitoring services.

Which one should I use for logging purposes?

If you only need basic logging functionality, ILogger is a good choice. It provides a simple and efficient way to log messages and exceptions within your application. However, if you require more advanced features like custom metrics, distributed tracing, and external monitoring integration, TelemetryClient would be a better option.

Can I use TelemetryClient for basic logging?

Yes, you can use TelemetryClient for basic logging purposes. It provides similar functionality to ILogger, allowing you to log messages, events, and exceptions. However, keep in mind that TelemetryClient also offers more advanced features for telemetry and monitoring, so it might be overkill if you only need basic logging functionality.

Is ILogger or TelemetryClient more suitable for performance monitoring?

TelemetryClient is more suitable for performance monitoring as it provides advanced features like capturing custom metrics, distributed tracing, and integration with external monitoring services. These features allow you to gather detailed performance data and analyze it to identify bottlenecks and optimize your application. ILogger, on the other hand, is primarily focused on logging messages and exceptions, and does not offer the same level of performance monitoring capabilities.

Are ILogger and TelemetryClient compatible with all programming languages?

ILogger and TelemetryClient are compatible with multiple programming languages. ILogger is a part of the Microsoft.Extensions.Logging framework, which is available for various languages such as C#, JavaScript, and Java. TelemetryClient is a component of the Application Insights SDK, which also supports multiple languages including C#, JavaScript, Java, and Python. However, the specific implementation and usage might vary slightly between different languages.

What is the difference between ILogger and TelemetryClient?

The main difference between ILogger and TelemetryClient is the purpose they serve. ILogger is a logging tool used to record application events and errors, while TelemetryClient is a telemetry tool used to collect and analyze performance and usage data of an application.

Which one is better for monitoring and troubleshooting application issues?

Both ILogger and TelemetryClient are useful for monitoring and troubleshooting application issues, but they serve different purposes. ILogger is more focused on recording events and errors, making it ideal for debugging and troubleshooting specific issues. TelemetryClient, on the other hand, collects and analyzes performance and usage data, providing a broader insight into the overall health and performance of the application.

Can ILogger and TelemetryClient be used together?

Yes, ILogger and TelemetryClient can be used together in an application. They complement each other in terms of functionality and can provide a comprehensive monitoring and diagnostic solution. ILogger can be used to record specific events and errors, while TelemetryClient can be used to collect and analyze performance and usage data.

Are ILogger and TelemetryClient compatible with all programming languages?

ILogger and TelemetryClient are logging and telemetry tools provided by the Microsoft.Extensions.Logging and Microsoft.ApplicationInsights packages, respectively. These packages are primarily designed for .NET applications, so they are compatible with programming languages such as C# and VB.NET. However, there may be similar logging and telemetry tools available for other programming languages as well.

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