# How to Properly Use SkyWalking for Tracing in Temporal Java SDK Workflows

**URL:** <https://community.temporal.io/t/how-to-properly-use-skywalking-for-tracing-in-temporal-java-sdk-workflows/17414>\
**Category:** Community Support\
**Tags:** java-sdk, tracing\
**Created:** [May 13, 2025, 2:40pm UTC](https://community.temporal.io/t/how-to-properly-use-skywalking-for-tracing-in-temporal-java-sdk-workflows/17414 "2025-05-13T14:40:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Aswath\_Murugan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.temporal.io/aswath_murugan/32/162_2.png) [@Aswath\_Murugan](https://community.temporal.io/u/Aswath_Murugan)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 2:40pm UTC](https://community.temporal.io/t/how-to-properly-use-skywalking-for-tracing-in-temporal-java-sdk-workflows/17414/1 "2025-05-13T14:40:38Z")

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Hi all,

I’m currently using **Apache SkyWalking** for distributed tracing and integrating it with my Temporal setup (Java SDK). Here’s my current setup:

- I’m using **Temporal Workflows and Activities** written in Java.
- In one of my activities, I’m making an outgoing **REST call** and **manually setting the `sw8` header** for SkyWalking.
- The REST service receives the `sw8` header, but it appears that **SkyWalking modifies it or it doesn’t propagate correctly** through the workflow/activity context.

### Questions:

1. **How can I trace a full Temporal workflow execution using SkyWalking?** That includes linking the entire flow from the workflow method to activities and external REST calls.
2. How should I **handle `sw8` header propagation** inside Temporal workflows and activities, considering SkyWalking’s context might not automatically carry over?
3. Is there a recommended pattern or middleware to integrate **SkyWalking tracing context into Temporal’s execution context**?

Any examples or best practices would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance.