OpenTelemetry Go 2025 Goals

By Tyler Yahn (Splunk) |

As we kick off 2025, the OpenTelemetry Go team has come together to set a roadmap for the year. Our focus is on driving the OpenTelemetry Go project forward while strengthening its integration with the broader OpenTelemetry ecosystem.

Goals

Here’s an overview of our goals, their expected timelines, and the key contributors supporting each initiative.

New Semantic Conventions (Weaver)

  • Priority: First quarter goal
  • Tracking Issue: #5668
  • Sponsor: @MrAlias

Semantic conventions are foundational to OpenTelemetry and the cornerstone of data quality across the ecosystem. The OpenTelemetry community has recently updated the tooling used to generate these conventions into usable code by introducing the weaver project. We plan to integrate this new tooling into the OpenTelemetry Go project and provide updates to the latest versions of semantic conventions.

SDK Self-Observability Signals

This goal aims to enhance the observability of the OpenTelemetry Go SDK itself. We plan to add metrics about the tracing portions of the SDK as a first step, but hope to expand this with more signals measuring all areas of the SDK. Unified semantic conventions across all OpenTelemetry languages will play a critical role in achieving this objective.

Go Runtime Metrics Stabilization

Recently, the Go team updated runtime metrics within the Go language. These updates have been codified in OpenTelemetry semantic conventions, and are provided as opt-in metrics in the runtime package. The Go SIG plans to gather community feedback and transition these metrics to an opt-out model, allowing better observability of Go runtimes.

Logs API Stability

Stabilizing the Logs API is crucial for providing a logging solution that aligns with OpenTelemetry’s overarching goals. Currently, a non-stable “beta” implementation of this API is provided in the log package, along with many bridges to popular logging packages:

The Go SIG plans to continue its effort in developing the upstream specification. Work to stabilize the OpenTelemetry Go implementation depends on this upstream development, including the addition of Events.

otelhttp Stabilization

Stabilizing the otelhttp instrumentation package will ensure seamless HTTP observability and improved integration with the OpenTelemetry ecosystem. Before this can be accomplished, the instrumentation needs to be upgraded to use the latest stable version of semantic conventions. Currently, the otelhttp package supports duplicating semantic conventions as we transition to the newer version. We plan to finish supporting this duplication in all HTTP instrumentation, and then transition to an opt-out model for the latest semantic conventions in all instrumentation packages.

File-Based Configuration

This effort focuses on enabling configuration of the SDK with YAML and JSON files, making it easier for users to adopt and customize OpenTelemetry without relying solely on environment variables or code changes. Currently, the config package provides and implementation of this feature. As file-based configuration is stabilized upstream in the specification, we plan to keep config up-to-date with these changes and provide feedback to its development.

Wrapping Up

The OpenTelemetry Go team has an ambitious but focused set of goals for 2025. These initiatives will enhance the observability landscape, improve developer experience, and strengthen the integration of OpenTelemetry within the broader ecosystem. We’re excited to work with the community to bring these goals to fruition!

We want to hear from you! Let us know what is missing or what you would like to see prioritized by commenting on our tracking GitHub issue.

If you’d like to participate in any of our efforts and become a contributor to the OpenTelemetry Go SIG, join our weekly SIG meetings on Thursday alternating between 09:00 PT and 10:00 PT and our channel #otel-go on CNCF Slack.

Last modified January 23, 2025: Fix go-goals front matter (#6039) (f16349fa)