open-telemetry / open-telemetry/opentelemetry-python

Validate feasibility of supporting new attribute types

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Dominant language
Python
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Description

What

Investigate whether it is possible and acceptable to extend the OTel Python API and SDK with new attribute types.

Guidelines for evolving API/SDK: https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/blob/main/oteps/4485-extending-attributes-to-support-complex-values.md#how

Prototype in OTel Go demonstrating feasibility of adding new attribute types: https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-go/pull/6809

Why

Per https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/issues/4602

Follows https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/pull/4614

The goal is to make sure that PRs like these are acceptable for OTel Python:

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reviewing the OTel Python API and SDK alongside OTEP 4485 and the linked OTel Go prototype. Compare the referenced specification and proto changes, then document whether extending Python attributes is feasible and acceptable, including any constraints or follow-up work.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
api, observability-sre
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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