Operations

Usage metering

Usage metering tracks API usage and cost.

Quick definition

Usage metering tracks API usage and cost.

  • Category: Operations
  • Focus: performance and reliability
  • Used in: Reducing time-to-first-token with streaming.

What it means

It supports billing and budgeting. In operations workflows, usage metering often shapes performance and reliability.

How it works

Operations covers latency, throughput, and cost. Systems often use caching, batching, and monitoring to scale reliably.

Why it matters

Operational choices impact cost, latency, and reliability.

Common use cases

  • Reducing time-to-first-token with streaming.
  • Managing costs with token budgets and caching.
  • Tracking usage and errors with logs and metrics.

Example

Measure tokens per user.

Pitfalls and tips

Ignoring limits can cause timeouts or rate limiting. Set budgets and monitor usage to avoid surprises.

In BoltAI

In BoltAI, this shows up in performance, logging, or usage views.