A dependency update can change an API that your code or another package relies on. When a pull request updates opentelemetry-api and checks fail, the failure may come from a changed import, an incompatible package combination, or an unrelated CI problem.
The supplied issue identifies a Dependabot remediation pull request concerning breaking changes for an opentelemetry-api bump. It does not provide enough detail to establish the failing error, affected code, or the correct replacement API. The steps below are a general diagnostic guide, not a reproduction of that issue.
What the symptom means
A failing check after a dependency update means that at least one automated job reported a problem with the updated branch. For example, a test or build may fail while the same check passed before the update. The check’s log is essential: without it, the dependency change is a clue, not proof of the cause.
Start with the exact failing job and its first meaningful error. A syntax error, missing symbol, test assertion, and package-resolution error point to different problems. Avoid changing application code until the log helps narrow down which one you have.
Likely causes
- Code uses an API that changed. An import, function, class, or configuration option may no longer match the version installed by CI.
- Related packages are out of step. The project may use several OpenTelemetry packages. Updating one while keeping others at incompatible versions can cause installation or runtime problems. Check each package’s official compatibility guidance rather than assuming every package should have the same version.
- The lockfile does not match the dependency manifest. If the project uses a lockfile, an incomplete or stale update can make local and CI dependency resolution differ.
- The environment differs. CI may use a different runtime, package manager, operating system, or install command from your local setup.
- The failure is unrelated to the update. A flaky test, external service, or other change in the pull request can fail at the same time.
Minimal example of the investigation
This generic example shows how a dependency update can reveal that a project’s code and declared package version no longer agree. It is illustrative pseudocode, not an example of a specific OpenTelemetry API or a tested reproduction.
# Before the update
requirements.txt:
opentelemetry-api==<old-version>
# Application code
from some_package import SomeSymbol
def create_component():
return SomeSymbol()Suppose Dependabot changes the dependency version and CI reports that the imported symbol cannot be found. Do not guess a replacement name. First confirm which package provides the symbol, which version CI installed, and whether the relevant official documentation describes a change for that version.
Safe diagnostic steps
1. Read the failing check’s log
Open the pull request’s failing check and inspect the complete log around the first actionable error. Record:
- Which job failed: installation, linting, type checking, tests, or build.
- The command that failed and its exit status, if shown.
- The first relevant error and the file or package it names.
- The runtime and package-manager versions reported by the job.
Later errors can be consequences of an earlier failure. For example, tests may not be meaningful if dependency installation already failed.
2. Compare the dependency changes
Review the pull request diff, including the manifest and lockfile. Check whether only opentelemetry-api changed or whether related dependencies changed too. Confirm that the lockfile was updated using the project’s normal package-manager workflow.
Use the project’s documented install command and lockfile mode. Avoid regenerating the entire lockfile with a different package-manager version unless the project maintainers intend that change; broad dependency churn can hide the actual cause.
3. Reproduce the project’s install and check commands
Use the same runtime and package-manager versions as CI where possible. Start from a clean checkout or clean environment, then run the repository’s documented installation and test commands. This helps distinguish a dependency-resolution issue from a code-level failure.
Do not claim that a local pass proves the pull request is correct: CI may use a different environment or additional checks. Treat local results as one diagnostic signal.
4. Check official, version-specific guidance
Identify the old and proposed package versions from the pull request. Then consult the OpenTelemetry documentation and the package’s release information for those versions. Verify that any suggested API or migration instruction applies to the language, package, and version in your project.
The issue record does not specify a programming language or package version, so it is not possible to name a particular replacement API responsibly. Do not copy a migration example for another OpenTelemetry language package or release.
5. Make the smallest justified change
If the log and version-matched documentation confirm an API change, update the affected code according to that guidance. If the failure is caused by incompatible dependency versions, adjust the package constraints as recommended by the relevant maintainers. Keep the change focused and include the corresponding lockfile update when the project uses one.
If you cannot establish that the proposed version is compatible with the project, do not force the update through by weakening tests or removing checks. Ask the project maintainers for clarification or defer the dependency update until the compatibility question is resolved.
How to verify the fix
- Review the final diff and confirm that it contains only the intended code and dependency changes.
- Install dependencies using the repository’s documented, lockfile-aware command.
- Run the specific command that failed in CI.
- Run the project’s other relevant tests, lint checks, or build steps.
- Push the change and wait for the pull request’s required checks to complete.
- Confirm that the successful checks ran against the final commit, not an earlier revision.
If a check still fails, compare its new log with the original. A different first error may mean the initial issue was fixed but exposed another problem. If the same error remains, verify that the updated dependency and lockfile are actually being installed in the environment running the check.
Common follow-up questions
Should I pin the old version?
A temporary pin can be a reasonable way to stop an unverified update from moving forward, if the project’s dependency policy allows it. It is not a diagnosis or a permanent fix by itself. Record why the update is being deferred, and check the package’s official release and compatibility guidance before trying again.
Can I fix this by updating every OpenTelemetry package?
Not automatically. Related packages may have their own versioning and compatibility requirements. Identify which packages the project uses, then follow their official guidance for the versions involved. Updating everything at once can make it harder to find which change caused the failure.
References
- Source issue: GitHub issue #7. The supplied record identifies the topic but does not provide the failing log or a confirmed fix.
- OpenTelemetry official documentation. Check the documentation relevant to your language and package version before applying a migration.
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