Make the release process fully happen within GitHub Actions

[mx-psi]

We want to automate the release process using Github Actions. We can do this step by step:

Releasing opentelemetry-collector:

• Have automated make update-otel runs opentelemetry-collector-contrib#37679
• Automate release Step 2: deciding whether a release for stable modules is needed
  • I think this is not really doable and does not bring a lot of value today (since an important amount of modules are 1.0 now)
• Step 3 is automated
  • Automate halting merging in core with a CI check #11707
• Automate release Step 4: pushing release branch
  • This may not be possible because of GHA permissions
• [admin] Make opentelemetrybot push tags for us #7630
  • This may not be possible because of GHA permissions
• Step 6 is not applicable
• [release] Autopopulate release notes in Github release #10191

Releasing opentelemetry-collector-contrib:

• Automate contrib release Step 1: Bumping version #12294
• Step 2 is automated
  • Automate halting merging in contrib with a CI check opentelemetry-collector-contrib#36848
• Automate contrib release Step 3: pushing release branch
  • This may not be possible because of GHA permissions
• Automate contrib release Step 4: pushing tags
  • This may not be possible because of GHA permissions
• Step 5 is not applicable
• [release] Autopopulate release notes in Github release opentelemetry-collector-contrib#37703

Producing the artifacts:

• Automate artifact release Steps 1, 2 & 3: [chore] add update version automation workflow for artifacts release opentelemetry-collector-releases#684
• Automate artifact release Step 4, 5 & 6: pushing tags
  • This may not be possible because of GHA permissions
• Automate artifact release Step 7: ensuring new artifacts are available

[jackgopack4]

I can pick up open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-releases#684 again soon, there were just a lot of back-and-forth about specific ways to accomplish each step of the task.

[jackgopack4]

Producing the artifacts:

Automate artifact release Steps 1, 2 & 3 (and 4) are merged in as of open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-releases#684 and docs: #12005

[mx-psi]

@jackgopack4 Nice! Updated the list above