Tracing HTTP Requests with Gos net/http/httptrace

▤ Summary

This article explains how Go's net/http/httptrace package lets developers inspect HTTP request stages such as DNS resolution, connection setup, TLS handshake, and first-byte timing. It shows how to attach a ClientTrace to context and keep tracing composable across middleware and concurrent requests. It then walks through two practical implementations: a curl-style CLI for timing breakdowns and a reusable RoundTripper that logs request performance automatically. It also highlights connection reuse, trace composition, and how to measure total request duration by wrapping the response body. The piece closes by positioning this tracing approach as a lightweight alternative to heavier APM tools.

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