Should OpenTelemetry SDKs automatically generate a process.runtime.description resource attribute?

Goal

Determine whether the OpenTelemetry Specification should require SDKs to automatically populate a process.runtime.description resource attribute, given that current implementations differ and the spec leaves it optional.

Constraints and Uncertainty

The attribute is not mandated, so some SDKs include it while others omit it, leading to inconsistent resource data across languages. Backends that rely on this attribute for runtime identification may see missing values, and there is no agreed‑upon format for the value (e.g., Java 17.0.12 vs OpenJDK Runtime Environment).

Adding the attribute could improve observability but may introduce overhead or conflict with user‑provided resource attributes.

Questions:

• Should the spec mandate automatic generation of process.runtime.description?
• If mandated, what value format should SDKs use to ensure consistency?
• Should SDKs provide a configuration option to disable or override the attribute?