Techniques for monitoring execution of structured query language (SQL) queries. The techniques include: obtaining a SQL query; generating a query plan for the SQL query, the query plan comprising a plurality of operations to be performed by the data processing system including at least a first operation and a second operation; displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) containing a plurality of GUI elements including a first GUI element representing the first operation and a second GUI element representing the second operation; during execution of the SQL query, gathering tracking information for the SQL query including gathering first tracking information for the first operation and second tracking information for the second operation; and displaying, in the GUI, at least some of the first tracking information in association with the first GUI element and at least some of the second tracking information in association with the second GUI element.