Querying Procedure Execution Times

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 19 views

Introduction

As data professionals, we often find ourselves in a situation where we need to monitor and analyze the performance of our stored procedures in Snowflake. One of the key metrics that we want to track is the execution time of these procedures. While we can track the start and end times of each procedure call, calculating the duration is just the first step. In this article, we will explore whether there is a way to query procedure execution times in Snowflake directly.

Current Approach

Currently, you are tracking execution times of stored procedures within Snowflake by tracking start time and end time of each procedure call in Snow Spark, then calculating duration. This approach has its limitations, as it requires additional code to be written and maintained. Moreover, it may not provide a complete picture of the execution times, as it only captures the duration of the procedure call and not the underlying query execution times.

Snowflake's Built-in Features

Snowflake provides several built-in features that can help us query procedure execution times. One such feature is the $SYSTEM$ schema, which contains system views that provide information about the execution of queries and procedures. Another feature is the SNOWFLAKE_LOG table, which stores log data for queries and procedures.

Querying Procedure Execution Times

While Snowflake's built-in features provide a wealth of information, we still need to query the data to get the execution times of our procedures. Here are a few ways to do it:

1. Using the $SYSTEM$ Schema

The $SYSTEM$ schema contains several system views that provide information about the execution of queries and procedures. One such view is the STV_PROCEDURES view, which contains information about the execution of procedures. We can query this view to get the execution times of our procedures.

SELECT 
    procedure_name, 
    start_time, 
    end_time, 
    duration 
FROM 
    $SYSTEM$STV_PROCEDURES 
WHERE 
    procedure_name = 'my_procedure';

2. Using the SNOWFLAKE_LOG Table

The SNOWFLAKE_LOG table stores log data for queries and procedures. We can query this table to get the execution times of our procedures.

SELECT 
    log_time, 
    procedure_name, 
    duration 
FROM 
    SNOWFLAKE_LOG 
WHERE 
    procedure_name = 'my_procedure';

3. Using the TASKS System View

The TASKS system view provides information about the execution of tasks, including stored procedures. We can query this view to get the execution times of our procedures.

SELECT 
    task_name, 
    start_time, 
    end_time, 
    duration 
FROM 
    $SYSTEM$TASKS 
WHERE 
    task_name = 'my_procedure';

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Snowflake's built-in features provide a wealth of information, we still need to query the data to get the execution times of our procedures. By using the $SYSTEM$ schema, the SNOWFLAKE_LOG table, and the TASKS system view, we can query procedure execution times in Snowflake directly. This approach provides a more comprehensive view of the execution times, including the underlying query execution times.

Best Practices

When querying procedure execution times in Snowflake, keep the following best practices in mind:

Use the $SYSTEM$ schema, the SNOWFLAKE_LOG table, and the TASKS system view to get the most comprehensive view of the execution times.
Use the WHERE clause to filter the results by procedure name, start time, end time, or duration.
Use the ORDER BY clause to sort the results by start time, end time, or duration.
Use the LIMIT clause to limit the number of rows returned.

Future Directions

In the future, Snowflake may provide more built-in features to query procedure execution times. For example, they may introduce a new system view or table that provides more detailed information about procedure execution times. We can also expect to see more advanced analytics and monitoring tools that provide insights into procedure execution times.

Conclusion

Q&A: Querying Procedure Execution Times in Snowflake

Q: What are the benefits of querying procedure execution times in Snowflake?

A: Querying procedure execution times in Snowflake provides several benefits, including:

Improved performance monitoring: By tracking the execution times of procedures, you can identify performance bottlenecks and optimize your code for better performance.
Better resource allocation: With accurate execution time data, you can allocate resources more effectively, ensuring that your procedures run efficiently and don't consume excessive resources.
Enhanced troubleshooting: By analyzing procedure execution times, you can quickly identify and troubleshoot issues, reducing downtime and improving overall system reliability.

Q: What are the different ways to query procedure execution times in Snowflake?

A: There are several ways to query procedure execution times in Snowflake, including:

Using the $SYSTEM$ schema: The $SYSTEM$ schema contains system views that provide information about the execution of queries and procedures.
Using the SNOWFLAKE_LOG table: The SNOWFLAKE_LOG table stores log data for queries and procedures.
Using the TASKS system view: The TASKS system view provides information about the execution of tasks, including stored procedures.

Q: How do I use the $SYSTEM$ schema to query procedure execution times?

A: To use the $SYSTEM$ schema to query procedure execution times, follow these steps:

Identify the system view: Determine which system view contains the information you need, such as STV_PROCEDURES or STV_QUERIES.
Query the system view: Use a SQL query to retrieve the data from the system view, filtering by procedure name, start time, end time, or duration.
Analyze the results: Examine the query results to identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement.

Q: How do I use the SNOWFLAKE_LOG table to query procedure execution times?

A: To use the SNOWFLAKE_LOG table to query procedure execution times, follow these steps:

Identify the log data: Determine which log data contains the information you need, such as procedure name, start time, end time, or duration.
Query the log data: Use a SQL query to retrieve the data from the log table, filtering by procedure name, start time, end time, or duration.
Analyze the results: Examine the query results to identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement.

Q: How do I use the TASKS system view to query procedure execution times?

A: To use the TASKS system view to query procedure execution times, follow these steps:

Identify the task data: Determine which task data contains the information you need, such as procedure name, start time, end time, or duration.
Query the task data: Use a SQL query to retrieve the data from the TASKS system view, filtering by procedure name, start time, end time, or duration.
Analyze the results: Examine the query results to identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement.

Q: What are some best practices for querying procedure execution times in Snowflake?

A: Some best practices for querying procedure execution times in Snowflake include:

Use the $SYSTEM$ schema, SNOWFLAKE_LOG table, and TASKS system view: These built-in features provide a wealth of information about procedure execution times.
Use the WHERE clause: Filter the results by procedure name, start time, end time, or duration to get the most relevant data.
Use the ORDER BY clause: Sort the results by start time, end time, or duration to identify trends and patterns.
Use the LIMIT clause: Limit the number of rows returned to improve performance and reduce data overload.

Q: What are some future directions for querying procedure execution times in Snowflake?

A: Some future directions for querying procedure execution times in Snowflake include:

Improved system views: Snowflake may introduce new system views or tables that provide more detailed information about procedure execution times.
Advanced analytics and monitoring tools: Snowflake may develop more advanced analytics and monitoring tools that provide insights into procedure execution times.
Integration with other Snowflake features: Snowflake may integrate procedure execution time querying with other features, such as data warehousing and business intelligence.