## Thinking Path
> - Paperclip is the open source app people use to manage AI agents for
work
> - The server emits OpenTelemetry spans so operators can trace agent
work
> - Each span needs a service version that identifies the code that
produced it
> - The current service version comes from a static environment value
and can become stale after a rebuild
> - This pull request records the built commit and resolves the service
version from the build stamp, runtime Git, the environment, or an
unknown fallback
> - The benefit is trace data that identifies the correct built commit
during development and deployment
## Linked Issues or Issue Description
**What happened?**
The server used a static `OTEL_SERVICE_VERSION` value for every
OpenTelemetry span. Rebuilds could produce traces with an old commit
value.
**Expected behavior**
The server should report the built commit when a build stamp exists. It
should use runtime Git, the environment value, or `unknown` as fallback.
**Steps to reproduce**
1. Set `OTEL_SERVICE_VERSION` to an old commit value.
2. Build the server at a different commit.
3. Start the server and inspect the OpenTelemetry service version.
4. Confirm that the built commit takes precedence over the old
environment value.
## What Changed
- Add a build script that writes the short Git commit to
`dist/build-info.json`.
- Resolve `service.version` from the build stamp, runtime Git, the
environment, or `unknown`.
- Log the resolved service version once during server startup.
- Add tests for the resolution order and safe behavior without Git.
- Document the resolution order in `doc/observability.md`.
## Verification
- `pnpm --filter @paperclipai/server build`
- `npx vitest run server/src/__tests__/service-version.test.ts`
- `pnpm --filter @paperclipai/server typecheck`
- Confirm that the build stamp contains the short commit.
- Confirm that the stamp wins over the environment value.
- Confirm that a build without Git exits successfully without a stamp.
## Risks
The server now prefers the built commit over `OTEL_SERVICE_VERSION`. A
build without Git uses the existing environment value or `unknown`. The
change needs no schema migration and has a single-commit rollback path.
## Model Used
OpenAI Codex, GPT-5, tool use and code execution. The runtime does not
expose the context window size or reasoning mode.
## Checklist
- [x] I have included a thinking path that traces from project context
to this change
- [x] I have specified the model used (with version and capability
details)
- [x] I have checked ROADMAP.md and confirmed this PR does not duplicate
planned core work
- [x] I have searched GitHub for duplicate or related PRs and linked
them above
- [x] I have either (a) linked existing issues with `Fixes: #` / `Closes
#` / `Refs #` OR (b) described the issue in-PR following the relevant
issue template
- [x] I have not referenced internal/instance-local Paperclip issues or
links (only public GitHub `#NNN` / `github.com/paperclipai/paperclip`
URLs)
- [x] My branch name describes the change (e.g. `docs/...`, `fix/...`)
and contains no internal Paperclip ticket id or instance-derived details
- [x] I have run tests locally and they pass
- [x] I have added or updated tests where applicable
- [x] I have updated relevant documentation to reflect my changes
- [x] I have considered and documented any risks above
- [x] All Paperclip CI gates are green
- [x] Greptile is 5/5 with no open P2s, recommendations, or follow-ups
- [x] I will address all Greptile and reviewer comments before
requesting merge
---------
Co-authored-by: Paperclip <noreply@paperclip.ing>
Nicky Leach