Update process attribute requirement levels#3461
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lmolkova merged 10 commits intoopen-telemetry:mainfrom Mar 9, 2026
Merged
Update process attribute requirement levels#3461lmolkova merged 10 commits intoopen-telemetry:mainfrom
lmolkova merged 10 commits intoopen-telemetry:mainfrom
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- Set `process.pid` and `process.creation.time` as required (Identity). - Set `process.executable.name` to Required (Description). - Set other process descriptive attributes to Optional (`opt_in`). - Update `docs/resources/process.md` to reflect the new requirement levels. This changes ensures consistent process identification and description across all platforms.
process descriptive attribute `process.executable.name` has been updated to optional as this can change with execve calls
mx-psi
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Feb 23, 2026
ChrsMark
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Feb 24, 2026
exception to process.owner and process.command
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It was decided in the System semconv WG SIG that this PR is to just update the process attribute requirement levels, other work such as moving |
rogercoll
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kamphaus
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Mar 2, 2026
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@open-telemetry/specs-semconv-maintainers this one is approved by the SIG, please take a look. |
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This was referenced Mar 11, 2026
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Related to #864
Changes
process.pidandprocess.creation.timeas required (process Identity).Setprocess.executable.nameto required (Description).opt_in).docs/resource/process.mdto reflect the new requirement levels.This change ensures consistent process identification and description across all platforms.
- The reason that the process identifier entities have been marked asrequiredis they are consistently available across all platforms. These provide a solid way to identify a process.-process.executable.namehas been made required as this is also available across all platforms.- For example:- Linux this is available from either
/proc/(pid)/comm or /proc/(pid)/status.- Windows executable name via: QueryFullProcessImageNameW
- Darwin (macOS): Available via
proc_name(macOS 10.4+).- BSD (FreeBSD): Available via
kinfo_getproc(theki_commfield in thekinfo_procstructure).gopsutil, the tool we use in hostmetricsreceiver scrapers, provides all of the above.Note
Initially, the idea was to make
process.executable.namerequired as this is available across all platforms. However, it was observed that calling execve() can replace the process at a certain PID, meaning the PID stays the same but other attributes such asprocess.executable.namecan change. For this reason, the descriptive attributes for the process have been changed tooptionaland the identity attributes remain required.Important
Pull requests acceptance are subject to the triage process as described in Issue and PR Triage Management.
PRs that do not follow the guidance above, may be automatically rejected and closed.
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