[component] Remove deprecated error ErrNilNextConsumer

.chloggen/remove_deprecated_err.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# Use this changelog template to create an entry for release notes.
+
+# One of 'breaking', 'deprecation', 'new_component', 'enhancement', 'bug_fix'
+change_type: breaking
+
+# The name of the component, or a single word describing the area of concern, (e.g. otlpreceiver)
+component: component
+
+# A brief description of the change.  Surround your text with quotes ("") if it needs to start with a backtick (`).
+note: Remove deprecated error `ErrNilNextConsumer`
+
+# One or more tracking issues or pull requests related to the change
+issues: [9322]
+
+# (Optional) One or more lines of additional information to render under the primary note.
+# These lines will be padded with 2 spaces and then inserted directly into the document.
+# Use pipe (|) for multiline entries.
+subtext:
+
+# Optional: The change log or logs in which this entry should be included.
+# e.g. '[user]' or '[user, api]'
+# Include 'user' if the change is relevant to end users.
+# Include 'api' if there is a change to a library API.
+# Default: '[user]'
+change_logs: [api]

component/component.go

@@ -9,12 +9,6 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	// ErrNilNextConsumer can be returned by receiver, or processor Start factory funcs that create the Component if the
-	// expected next Consumer is nil.
-	// Deprecated: [v0.96.0] The next consumer is now checked as part of the creation of the pipelines.
-	// This error will be removed in a future release.
-	ErrNilNextConsumer = errors.New("nil next Consumer")
-
 	// ErrDataTypeIsNotSupported can be returned by receiver, exporter or processor factory funcs that create the
 	// Component if the particular telemetry data type is not supported by the receiver, exporter or processor.
 	ErrDataTypeIsNotSupported = errors.New("telemetry type is not supported")