Alternative method to configure NO_WINDOWS_SERVICE

[atoulme]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
The collector uses an environment variable NO_WINDOWS_SERVICE to regulate its behavior on Windows. By default, the collector will run as a windows service. This environment variable disables the behavior.
However, we operate in environments where we cannot set environment variables.

Describe the solution you'd like
We need an alternate way to set this flag, either as command line argument, configuration switch, or other mean.

Describe alternatives you've considered
N/A

Additional context
See https://github.com/signalfx/splunk-otel-collector/issues/2643 for original issue.

[mx-psi]

Tagging as builder since this behavior is dealt with in the builder https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector/blob/v0.73.0/cmd/builder/internal/builder/templates/main_windows.go.tmpl#L30

[atoulme]

Thanks!

I am investigating if we could use godotenv to satisfy this need. Does anyone have reservations with using godotenv?

[bogdandrutu]

Alternative would be to have different binaries? That will also simplify our build a bit I think.

[mx-psi]

I like the different binaries option more, more complicated behavior can be built on top of the binaries. This would be a breaking change, so I think we would need a deprecation plan

[atoulme]

How would it simplify the build to have different binaries? Would we have a different binary for Windows only to run the collector as service?

[bogdandrutu]

Would we have a different binary for Windows only to run the collector as service?

yes, is this common in windows world?

[atoulme]

In the Windows world, it seems to be equally as common to run as a service or interactive. You'll need both.

[cwegener]

yes, is this common in windows world?

No.