fix(sdk): use sys.orig_argv for process.command to handle python -m invocations

ProcessResourceDetector populated process.command, process.command_line,
and process.command_args from sys.argv. For applications launched via
`python -m <module>`, the interpreter rewrites sys.argv[0] to the
resolved module path, so the ``-m <module>`` portion of the original
invocation is lost and the detector emits misleading telemetry.

Python 3.10+ exposes sys.orig_argv which preserves the original
arguments received by the interpreter. Since the SDK already requires
Python >= 3.10, switch to sys.orig_argv (with a getattr fallback for
safety). This also aligns with the OTel semantic conventions that
reference /proc/<pid>/cmdline for these attributes.

Fixes #4518

Signed-off-by: Ali <alliasgher123@gmail.com>

Author: alliasgher

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
   ([#4907](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-python/issues/4907))
 - Drop Python 3.9 support
   ([#5076](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-python-contrib/pull/5076))
+- `opentelemetry-sdk`: Fix `ProcessResourceDetector` to use `sys.orig_argv` when available so that `process.command`, `process.command_line`, and `process.command_args` reflect the original invocation for `python -m <module>` runs (where `sys.argv[0]` is rewritten to the module path)
+  ([#4518](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-python/issues/4518))
 
 
 ## Version 1.41.0/0.62b0 (2026-04-09)

opentelemetry-sdk/src/opentelemetry/sdk/resources/__init__.py

@@ -380,9 +380,16 @@ def detect(self) -> "Resource":
         _process_pid = os.getpid()
         _process_executable_name = sys.executable
         _process_executable_path = os.path.dirname(_process_executable_name)
-        _process_command = sys.argv[0]
-        _process_command_line = " ".join(sys.argv)
-        _process_command_args = sys.argv
+        # Prefer sys.orig_argv (Python 3.10+), which preserves the original
+        # arguments received by the interpreter. This correctly captures
+        # ``python -m <module>`` invocations where sys.argv is rewritten to
+        # the resolved module path and the ``-m <module>`` information is
+        # lost. sys.orig_argv also aligns with /proc/<pid>/cmdline, which
+        # the OTel semantic conventions reference for these attributes.
+        _process_argv = list(getattr(sys, "orig_argv", sys.argv))
+        _process_command = _process_argv[0] if _process_argv else ""
+        _process_command_line = " ".join(_process_argv)
+        _process_command_args = _process_argv
         resource_info = {
             PROCESS_RUNTIME_DESCRIPTION: sys.version,
             PROCESS_RUNTIME_NAME: sys.implementation.name,

opentelemetry-sdk/tests/resources/test_resources.py

@@ -564,6 +564,10 @@ def test_service_name_env_precedence(self):
         "sys.argv",
         ["uvicorn", "main:app", "--host", "0.0.0.0", "--port", "8000"],
     )
+    @patch(
+        "sys.orig_argv",
+        ["uvicorn", "main:app", "--host", "0.0.0.0", "--port", "8000"],
+    )
     def test_process_detector(self):
         initial_resource = Resource({"foo": "bar"})
         aggregated_resource = get_aggregated_resources(
@@ -618,6 +622,31 @@ def test_process_detector(self):
             tuple(sys.argv),
         )
 
+    @patch("sys.argv", ["/path/to/myapp/__main__.py"])
+    @patch("sys.orig_argv", ["/usr/bin/python", "-m", "myapp"])
+    def test_process_detector_uses_orig_argv_for_python_m(self):
+        """For ``python -m <module>`` invocations sys.argv[0] is rewritten to
+        the resolved module path, losing the ``-m <module>`` information.
+        sys.orig_argv preserves the original invocation and must be preferred.
+        See https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-python/issues/4518.
+        """
+        aggregated_resource = get_aggregated_resources(
+            [ProcessResourceDetector()], Resource({"foo": "bar"})
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual(
+            aggregated_resource.attributes[PROCESS_COMMAND],
+            "/usr/bin/python",
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            aggregated_resource.attributes[PROCESS_COMMAND_LINE],
+            "/usr/bin/python -m myapp",
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            aggregated_resource.attributes[PROCESS_COMMAND_ARGS],
+            ("/usr/bin/python", "-m", "myapp"),
+        )
+
     def test_resource_detector_entry_points_default(self):
         resource = Resource({}).create()