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docs/library-decisions/2026-05-14-@opentelemetry/api.md

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+---
+package: "@opentelemetry/api"
+version: "^1.9.0"
+tier: core
+decision: approved
+date: 2026-05-14
+deciders: [Danijel Martinek]
+adr: adr-017
+filter-results:
+  license: Apache-2.0
+  types: native
+  maintenance: active
+  boundary-fit: pass
+  shadow-check: pass
+  eu-residency: n/a
+  cve-scan: clean
+  named-consumer: pass
+  socketRisk: clean
+verification-commands:
+  - npm view @opentelemetry/api license
+  - npm view @opentelemetry/api version
+  - pnpm audit --audit-level=moderate
+accepted-cves: []
+---
+
+## Filter: license
+
+<!-- Result: Apache-2.0 -->
+
+`npm view @opentelemetry/api license` returns `Apache-2.0`. Apache-2.0 is on the allowlist.
+
+## Filter: types
+
+<!-- Result: native -->
+
+`@opentelemetry/api` is authored in TypeScript and ships its own `.d.ts` declaration files. No separate `@types/` package is needed.
+
+## Filter: maintenance
+
+<!-- Result: active -->
+
+Actively maintained by the OpenTelemetry community under the CNCF. The 1.x stable API line receives regular releases; the project is a CNCF incubating project with broad industry backing.
+
+## Filter: boundary-fit
+
+<!-- Result: pass -->
+
+ADR-017 §8 explicitly permits `@opentelemetry/api` for use within `core-shared/instrumentation/` without restriction. Feature packages use it via the `ITracer`/`ILogger` interfaces only; they do not import this package directly (ESLint boundary rules, ADR-010).
+
+## Filter: shadow-check
+
+<!-- Result: pass -->
+
+`@opentelemetry/api` is the CNCF-standard instrumentation API. No competing tracing API is present in the workspace. The API package is the stable, zero-dependency interface layer intentionally kept separate from SDK implementations.
+
+## Filter: eu-residency
+
+<!-- Result: n/a -->
+
+`@opentelemetry/api` is a pure instrumentation API with no network communication, telemetry transmission, or data storage. EU residency does not apply.
+
+## Filter: cve-scan
+
+<!-- Result: clean -->
+
+`pnpm audit --audit-level=moderate` reports no advisories against `@opentelemetry/api` at the time of this trace.
+
+## Filter: named-consumer
+
+<!-- Result: pass -->
+
+`packages/core-shared/src/instrumentation/` consumes `@opentelemetry/api` to implement `OtelTracer` and `OtelLogger` (ADR-017). `packages/core-audit` also depends on it for span context propagation in audit records.
+
+## Prompt: replaces
+
+Prior to ADR-017, `core-shared` used Sentry SDK methods directly in `SentryTracer` and `SentryLogger`. `@opentelemetry/api` replaces direct Sentry SDK calls as the instrumentation substrate, allowing vendor swaps via exporter configuration rather than code rewrites.
+
+## Prompt: migration-cost-out
+
+Hard. `@opentelemetry/api` is the instrumentation interface called throughout `core-shared/instrumentation/`. Migrating away means replacing all span creation, context propagation, and log emission with a different API. The interfaces (`ITracer`, `ILogger`, `IMetrics`) in ADR-014 isolate feature packages, but the core instrumentation layer itself is deeply coupled to the OTel API shape.
+
+## Prompt: alternatives-considered
+
+1. **Sentry SDK directly** — Rejected in ADR-017: couples the impl to Sentry forever; vendor swap requires rewriting every `*Tracer`/`*Logger` pair.
+2. **OpenCensus** — CNCF predecessor to OpenTelemetry; reached end-of-life and merged into OpenTelemetry. Not viable.
+
+See ADR-017 for the full decision rationale.