OpenTelemetry Collector distributions compared: Core, Contrib, OCB, and vendor builds. Which one should you use?

The OpenTelemetry Collector acts as a translation and routing layer that decouples application instrumentation from specific observability backends. Instead of a single version, it offers various distributions, including a minimal "Core" build, a feature-rich "Contrib" library, and customizable versions created via the Collector Builder. Choosing the right distribution allows users to balance the need for specific components against requirements for stability and maintenance.