Originally published at orquesta.live/blog/real-time-log-streaming-debugging-ai-2026-05-30
AI development has traditionally been a bit like sending a letter and waiting for a reply. You submit your prompt or code, and after some time, you get a response. But what if you could watch the AI agent's thought process evolve in real-time? This is where real-time log streaming transforms how we interact with AI.
The Problem with Black-Box AI
In conventional AI workflows, developers often face a black-box problem. Submit a prompt, wait, and hope the output aligns with expectations. If it doesn't, you're left with the daunting task of retracing steps to diagnose where things went awry. This can be time-consuming and frustrating, especially when dealing with intricate logic or large codebases.
The absence of visibility into how AI models reach decisions has been one of the primary pain points for developers. It undermines trust in AI-generated code and delays the feedback loop, making iterative improvements cumbersome.
Enter Real-time Log Streaming
Real-time log streaming on Orquesta changes the game by allowing developers to monitor every line of output as their AI agent executes prompts. As each line is streamed, developers can observe, analyze, and intervene if needed—no more waiting for a final outcome to know if things are on track.
This process aligns closely with how we debug traditional code. Imagine debugging without breakpoints or step-by-step execution; you'd be lost. Real-time log streaming applies this principle to AI development.
How It Works
- Live Monitoring: As the AI agent processes commands, each action is displayed in a live terminal interface. This transparency lets you see exactly what the AI is doing, reducing the mystery around AI decision-making.
- Immediate Feedback: By observing the execution in real-time, developers can quickly identify errors or unexpected behavior. This immediacy shortens the debugging cycle and helps maintain the momentum in development.
- Early Error Detection: With the ability to spot issues as they occur, developers can halt execution to modify prompts or logic before more resources are wasted on faulty processes.
Here's a simple illustration of how an AI agent might process a prompt:
$ orquesta run --prompt "Build a REST API for user management"
> Claude CLI: Parsing prompt...
> Claude CLI: Generating code scaffold...
> Claude CLI: Adding authentication layer...
> ERROR: Missing dependency 'bcrypt'
In this example, the error with the missing dependency is immediately visible, allowing the developer to address it right away.
Building Trust in AI-Generated Code
Trust is a critical component when integrating AI into development workflows. Real-time log streaming builds trust by making the AI's actions transparent and understandable. This transparency is particularly valuable when comparing AI-generated code against coding standards or specific team practices enforced through Orquesta's CLAUDE.md sync.
- Transparency: Watching the AI's logic unfold reinforces confidence in the AI's capabilities and limitations.
- Accountability: Each action taken by the AI is a real git commit, ensuring an auditable trail of changes. This visibility helps teams track, review, and understand the evolution of their codebase.
- Collaboration: Teams can collaboratively monitor AI agents, using shared insights to refine prompts and improve outputs collectively.
Conclusion: A Transformative Tool for Developers
Real-time log streaming redefines how we interact with AI agents. It brings the debugging process from a reactive to a proactive stance, where developers can now guide AI in real-time. This shift not only boosts efficiency but also enhances the reliability and trustworthiness of AI-driven solutions.
Incorporating real-time log streaming into your workflow could very well be the change that propels your AI projects to new heights of accuracy and trust. By catching mistakes early and understanding AI behavior, you can deliver more robust and reliable systems.
This is how we built Orquesta—by focusing on transparency, collaboration, and seamless integration into existing development practices, we empower teams to fully harness the potential of AI.
