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Embrace Enhances Observability with Kotlin SDK Donation to OpenTelemetry

In a significant move to advance observability standards, Embrace, a user-focused observability platform, has announced the donation of its Kotlin implementation and Software Development Kit (SDK) to OpenTelemetry. This important contribution is set to improve vendor-neutral observability support across client and server-side applications developed in Kotlin, thereby expanding the platform's capabilities.

What is OpenTelemetry?

OpenTelemetry is an incubating project under the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). It has been developed collaboratively by end users, open source contributors, and vendors with the aim of creating interoperable and portable observability standards. As Kotlin has emerged as the default programming language for modern Android development, the integration of this SDK is timely given the growing use of Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) for sharing code across Android, iOS, web, and server-side applications.

Andrew Tunall, President and Chief Product Officer at Embrace, stated, "OpenTelemetry is becoming the global foundation for observability, and meaningful contributions to that foundation matter." This contribution marks a pivotal moment for the ecosystem, especially as there is increasing community investment in client-side observability.

Enhancing Client-Side Observability

The Kotlin implementation introduces crucial support for client-side environments, thereby addressing unique observability challenges. Development teams are often required to monitor not just application functionality, but also how end-users interact with workflows and the reasons behind fluctuating outcomes in production. While existing Kotlin applications running on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) can leverage OpenTelemetry through Java interoperability, this new implementation accommodates shared logic built with Kotlin Multiplatform that necessitates operating without JVM dependencies.

To cater to these diverse needs, the contributed implementation operates in two distinct modes:

• - Compatibility Mode: This mode facilitates interoperability with the OpenTelemetry Java SDK for Android and JVM targets, allowing engineering teams to utilize pre-existing instrumentation created by the Java community.
• - Regular Mode: This mode presents a re-written version of the OpenTelemetry specification in Kotlin, making it applicable for both JVM and non-JVM targets.

Currently, the implementation supports tracing and logging APIs, providing a framework for modeling user workflows and correlating events across various platforms.

Community Engagement and Future Impact

Embrace has pledged to continually contribute to the maintenance of this implementation alongside the broader OpenTelemetry community. Jamie Lynch, Senior Software Engineer at Embrace and a project maintainer, emphasized the collective strength of OpenTelemetry: "The real power of OpenTelemetry is the standard itself – a shared contract that allows many implementations to evolve and serve different environments." He added, "By contributing a Kotlin Multiplatform implementation, we're investing in a future where frontend teams can build observability on the same open foundations as the backend, while meeting the realities of modern app development."

For developers interested in utilizing or contributing to the OpenTelemetry Kotlin Multiplatform implementation, they can visit the project's GitHub page, explore the Kotlin Special Interest Group (SIG) here, and join discussions in the #otel-kotlin channel on CNCF Slack here.

About Embrace

Embrace is a leader in user-focused observability, connecting technical performance to the end-user experience. Leveraging OpenTelemetry, it provides Real User Monitoring (RUM) across mobile and web, furnishing engineering teams with the necessary visibility and context to expedite issue resolution, optimize performance, and enhance digital experiences. Embrace is an esteemed member of the CNCF and actively contributes to various OpenTelemetry Special Interest Groups (SIGs). Among its clientele are notable entities including AllTrails, BBC, Business Insider, Ford, and The Guardian, underlining its significant footprint in the industry.

Embrace continues to expand its capabilities and reach, making strategic acquisitions and innovations to cater to evolving needs in observability.