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Integration Javascript Node

PostHogOfficialCreated by PostHog

  • Skill
  • Tool integration
  • Automation and integrations
  • MIT
  • No issues found
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From the author

PostHog integration for server-side Node.js applications using posthog-node
— the description by PostHog

AutoGineer summary

Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author

This skill provides a systematic, four-phase process for instrumenting PostHog analytics within a Node.js backend. It guides developers through planning event tracking, implementing capture calls in route handlers, configuring error tracking, and identifying users to ensure data consistency across client and server environments. The skill emphasizes minimal code intrusion, the use of environment variables for security, and adherence to established SDK patterns for long-running or short-lived processes.

What it does

  • Provides a step-by-step workflow for PostHog integration.
  • Guides the creation of an event tracking plan via a JSON configuration file.
  • Instructs on implementing server-side event capture for critical business logic.
  • Details the integration of error tracking using posthog.captureException.
  • Defines best practices for user identification and session correlation.
  • Specifies configuration settings for different server execution environments.

When to use it

  • When you need to add server-side analytics to a Node.js application.
  • When you want to track critical backend events like payments or authentication.
  • When you need to correlate client-side and server-side user behavior.
  • When implementing robust error monitoring within your backend routes.

Advantages

  • Ensures consistent event naming and tracking patterns.
  • Promotes secure handling of API keys via environment variables.
  • Reduces implementation errors by providing specific SDK configuration guidelines.
  • Facilitates end-to-end user journey visibility through session correlation.

Usage examples

“Integrate PostHog into my Node.js backend.”
The agent will initiate the four-phase workflow, starting with an analysis of your project structure to create a .posthog-events.json tracking plan.
“How should I track errors in my Express app using PostHog?”
The agent will guide you to implement posthog.captureException within your error handling middleware, ensuring errors are captured with the correct distinct ID.

Install

  1. Download the skill as a ZIP:

    https://autogineer.com/agent-skills/posthog/integration-javascript-node/download

  2. Unzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:

    mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip integration-javascript-node.zip -d .agents/skills

Documentation by PostHog

PostHog integration for JavaScript Node

This skill helps you add PostHog analytics to JavaScript Node applications.

Workflow

Follow these steps in order to complete the integration:

  1. basic-integration-1.0-begin.md - PostHog Setup - Begin ← Start here

  2. basic-integration-1.1-edit.md - PostHog Setup - Edit

  3. basic-integration-1.2-revise.md - PostHog Setup - Revise

  4. basic-integration-1.3-conclude.md - PostHog Setup - Conclusion

Reference files

  • references/node.md - Node.js - docs

  • references/posthog-node.md - PostHog Node.js SDK

  • references/identify-users.md - Identify users - docs

  • references/basic-integration-1.0-begin.md - PostHog setup - begin

  • references/basic-integration-1.1-edit.md - PostHog setup - edit

  • references/basic-integration-1.2-revise.md - PostHog setup - revise

  • references/basic-integration-1.3-conclude.md - PostHog setup - conclusion

The example project shows the target implementation pattern. Consult the documentation for API details.

Key principles

  • Environment variables: Always use environment variables for PostHog keys. Never hardcode them.

  • Minimal changes: Add PostHog code alongside existing integrations. Don't replace or restructure existing code.

  • Match the example: Your implementation should follow the example project's patterns as closely as possible.

Framework guidelines

  • posthog-node is the Node.js server-side SDK package name – do NOT use posthog-js on the server

  • Include enableExceptionAutocapture: true in the PostHog constructor options

  • Add posthog.capture() calls in route handlers for meaningful user actions – every route that creates, updates, or deletes data should track an event with contextual properties

  • Add posthog.captureException(err, distinctId) in the application's error handler (e.g., Express error middleware, Fastify setErrorHandler, Koa app.on('error'))

  • In long-running servers, the SDK batches events automatically – do NOT set flushAt or flushInterval unless you have a specific reason to

  • For short-lived processes (scripts, CLIs, serverless), set flushAt to 1 and flushInterval to 0 to send events immediately

  • Reverse proxy is NOT needed for server-side Node.js – only client-side JavaScript needs a proxy to avoid ad blockers

  • Remember that source code is available in the node_modules directory

  • Check package.json for type checking or build scripts to validate changes

Identifying users

Identify users during login and signup events. Refer to the example code and documentation for the correct identify pattern for this framework. If both frontend and backend code exist, pass the client-side session and distinct ID using X-POSTHOG-DISTINCT-ID and X-POSTHOG-SESSION-ID headers to maintain correlation.

Error tracking

Add PostHog error tracking to relevant files, particularly around critical user flows and API boundaries.

Files

references/basic-integration-1.0-begin.md

title: PostHog Setup - Begin description: Start the event tracking setup process by analyzing the project and creating an event tracking plan

We're making an event tracking plan for this project.

Before proceeding, find any existing posthog.capture() code. Make note of event name formatting.

From the project's file list, select between 10 and 15 files that might have interesting business value for event tracking, especially conversion and churn events. Also look for additional files related to login that could be used for identifying users, along with error handling. Read the files. If a file is already well-covered by PostHog events, replace it with another option. Do not spawn subagents.

Look for opportunities to track client-side events.

IMPORTANT: Server-side events are REQUIRED if the project includes any instrumentable server-side code. If the project has API routes (e.g., app/api/**/route.ts) or Server Actions, you MUST include server-side events for critical business operations like:

  • Payment/checkout completion

  • Webhook handlers

  • Authentication endpoints

Do not skip server-side events - they capture actions that cannot be tracked client-side.

Create a new file with a JSON array at the root of the project: .posthog-events.json. It should include one object for each event we want to add: event name, event description, and the file path we want to place the event in. If events already exist, don't duplicate them; supplement them.

Track actions only, not pageviews. These can be captured automatically. Exceptions can be made for "viewed"-type events that correspond to the top of a conversion funnel.

As you review files, make an internal note of opportunities to identify users and catch errors. We'll need them for the next step.

Status

Before beginning a phase of the setup, you will send a status message with the exact prefix '[STATUS]', as in:

[STATUS] Checking project structure.

Status to report in this phase:

  • Checking project structure

  • Verifying PostHog dependencies

  • Generating events based on project

Upon completion, continue with: basic-integration-1.1-edit.md

Requirements and compatibility

Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta

“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.

Needs: Needs Node.js

Security

No issues found by our static scan· No issues found

A static scan is not a guarantee. Skills are third-party content: review a skill before you let an agent use it.

Attribution and licence

Created by
PostHog
Publisher
PostHog (Official)
Source
PostHog/skills · skills/posthog/integration/skills/javascript_node · commit a5d30e7
Licence
MIT License (redistribution allowed)
  • LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from LICENSE)
  • ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
Synced
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PostHog/skills

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Download ZIP

The ZIP holds the skill’s files, its licence files and an ATTRIBUTION.md. Download integration-javascript-node.zip