AppDynamics vs LightStep: What are the differences?

# Introduction
This markdown code highlights the key differences between AppDynamics and LightStep, two popular application monitoring tools.

1. **Architecture**: AppDynamics utilizes an agent-based architecture, where an agent is installed on the monitored application to collect data. On the other hand, LightStep operates using a distributed tracing system without requiring any changes to the application code, making it easier to set up and use.

2. **Scalability**: AppDynamics may face scalability challenges due to the performance impact of agents on the application, especially in large-scale environments. LightStep, with its distributed tracing approach, offers better scalability as it can handle high volume data without heavily impacting the application performance.

3. **Real-time Monitoring**: While both tools offer real-time monitoring capabilities, AppDynamics provides more detailed metrics and insights into the application behavior. LightStep, with its focus on distributed tracing, excels in providing end-to-end visibility into complex distributed systems in real-time.

4. **Complexity Handling**: AppDynamics is more suitable for traditional monolithic applications where tracing dependencies are simpler. LightStep, with its distributed tracing system, is designed to handle the complexities of microservices architectures and cloud-native applications effectively.

5. **Cost**: AppDynamics tends to be more expensive compared to LightStep, especially for large-scale deployments. LightStep offers more flexible and granular pricing models, making it a cost-effective choice for organizations looking for scalability without breaking the bank.

6. **Integration Support**: AppDynamics has a wider range of integrations with various third-party tools and services, allowing for deeper insights and correlations in the application ecosystem. LightStep, while offering essential integrations, may have limitations in terms of breadth compared to AppDynamics.

In Summary, the key differences between AppDynamics and LightStep lie in their architecture, scalability, real-time monitoring capabilities, handling of complexity, cost, and integration support.