Configuring the metrics pipeline

The metrics signal was designed to be conceptually similar to the tracing signal. The metrics pipeline consists of the following:

• A MeterProvider to determine how metrics should be generated and provide access to a meter.
• The meter is used to create instruments, which are used to record measurements.
• Views allow the application developer to filter and process metrics produced by the software development kit (SDK).
• A MetricReader, which collects metrics being recorded.
• The MetricExporter provides a mechanism to translate metrics into an output format for various protocols.

There are quite a few components, and a picture always helps me grasp concepts more quickly. The following figure shows us the different elements in the pipeline:

Figure 5.1 – Metrics pipeline

MeterProvider can be associated with a resource to identify the source of metrics produced. We'll see shortly how we can reuse the LocalMachineResourceDetector...