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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-1.3-conclude.md

title: PostHog Setup - Conclusion description: Review and fix any errors in the PostHog integration implementation

Use the PostHog MCP to create a new dashboard named "Analytics basics" based on the events created here. Make sure to use the exact same event names as implemented in the code. Populate it with up to five insights, with special emphasis on things like conversion funnels, churn events, and other business critical insights.

Search for a file called .posthog-events.json and read it for available events. Do not spawn subagents.

Create the file posthog-setup-report.md. It should include a summary of the integration edits, a table with the event names, event descriptions, and files where events were added, along with a list of links for the dashboard and insights created. Follow this format:

<wizard-report> # PostHog post-wizard report

The wizard has completed a deep integration of your project. [Detailed summary of changes]

[table of events/descriptions/files]

Next steps

We've built some insights and a dashboard for you to keep an eye on user behavior, based on the events we just instrumented:

[links]

Agent skill

We've left an agent skill folder in your project. You can use this context for further agent development when using Claude Code. This will help ensure the model provides the most up-to-date approaches for integrating PostHog.

</wizard-report>

Upon completion, remove .posthog-events.json.

Status

Status to report in this phase:

  • Configured dashboard: [insert PostHog dashboard URL]

  • Created setup report: [insert full local file path]

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
Also distributed in
PostHog/skills

AutoGineer is not affiliated with or endorsed by PostHog or PostHog.

Download ZIP

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