This document introduces new features and improvements included in Scuba release 3.8.

New features

Scuba release 3.8 includes the following new features:

  • Boards refresh settings

  • Split-bys for filter properties

  • Sankey flow analysis for all objects

  • Labels in Query API response

  • Customizable landing page

Boards refresh settings

Under the Admin tab, the 3.8 release introduces a Boards refresh settings feature, where admins can optionally prioritize the rate at which dashboards update. The refresh feature offers intervals of 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 1 day, and best effort (lowest priority). In scenarios where many users are viewing the same Boards, the new refresh feature helps with performance and reduces load on the cluster. To manage the tradeoffs of different Board refresh-rate intervals, color-coded status indicators allow admins to observe performance.

Individual Boards have seen additional usability improvements as well. Now, any panel within a Board can be manually refreshed via a new icon in the panel’s bottom rail. Additionally, multiple panels within a Board now load in sequential order from left to right, optimized for above-the-scroll reading order.

Split-bys for filter properties

Boolean filter properties now work in the query builder’s split-by clauses. Previously, these properties could only be used in the query builder’s filter clauses. Using boolean filters in a split-by clause can be useful for conducting light A/B comparisons or experimenting with segment overlap. Scuba’s table view can be particularly useful for these kinds of quick analyses.

Sankey flow analysis for all objects

Sankey flow diagrams now support queries based on Event, Actor, and Flow objects. Previously, this visualization option supported only Flows, due to their specialized, multi-stage nature. Sankey diagrams for any object are useful to visualize the intersection of deduplicated data when employing the split-by clause, or to simply complement existing bar chart functionality.

Labels in Query API response

The Scuba Query API now reflects labels defined via the dashboard’s web UI. For example, previously, dashboard-based queries that split by “song” and by “artist” did not reflect the same names for these dimensions if issued via the API. Instead, the API expected more generic names like “group 1” and “group 2.” With version 3.8, these custom labels are now properly reflected as “song” and “artist,” both in the API call and in the JSON response body.

Customizable landing page

To help organizations provide context and share information, admins can now arrange to post static content to Scuba’s Info section. The beta implementation of this feature accepts Markdown and is read-only to all users. Currently, the only means of updating content is via email with your Scuba technical account manager.