AutoGineer summary
Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author
This skill provides guidance and best practices for configuring log ingestion in Next.js applications to send data to PostHog. It emphasizes the use of the OpenTelemetry protocol and structured logging to ensure logs are actionable, searchable, and context-rich. By following these patterns, developers can centralize system logs alongside product analytics and session replays, enabling more efficient debugging and monitoring of production environments.
What it does
- Provides instructions for setting up PostHog log ingestion in Next.js.
- Promotes the use of structured logging over plain text for better queryability.
- Encourages the use of wide events to capture request-level context.
- Outlines best practices for log levels, cardinality, and business context.
- Supports integration with OpenTelemetry for standardized data export.
When to use it
- When you need to centralize system logs from a Next.js application.
- When you want to correlate system logs with user sessions and product analytics.
- When you are implementing or refactoring logging to improve production observability.
- When you need to debug complex request flows using trace and session context.
Advantages
- Enables unified visibility across logs, analytics, and session replays.
- Reduces noise by focusing on request-level wide events.
- Standardizes log data using OpenTelemetry protocols.
- Improves debugging efficiency by linking logs to specific user sessions.
Usage examples
- “How do I set up PostHog logs in my Next.js 15 application?”
- The agent provides the steps to initialize PostHog in instrumentation-client.ts and configure the OTLP exporter.
- “What is the best way to log payment processing in my app?”
- The agent advises against step-by-step code logging, suggesting a single wide event containing relevant metadata like order_id and amount_cents.
Install
Download the skill as a ZIP:
https://autogineer.com/agent-skills/posthog/logs-nextjs/downloadUnzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:
mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip logs-nextjs.zip -d .agents/skills
Documentation by PostHog
PostHog logs for Next.js
This skill helps you add PostHog log ingestion to Next.js applications.
Reference files
references/nextjs.md- Next.js logs installation - docsreferences/start-here.md- Getting started with logs - docsreferences/search.md- Search logs - docsreferences/best-practices.md- Logging best practices - docsreferences/troubleshooting.md- Logs troubleshooting - docsreferences/link-session-replay.md- Link session replay - docsreferences/debug-logs-mcp.md- Debug logs with mcp - docs
Consult the documentation for API details and framework-specific patterns.
Key principles
Environment variables: Always use environment variables for PostHog keys and OpenTelemetry endpoints. Never hardcode them.
Minimal changes: Add log export alongside existing logging. Don't replace or restructure existing logging code.
OpenTelemetry: PostHog logs use the OpenTelemetry protocol. Configure an OTLP exporter pointed at PostHog's ingest endpoint.
Structured logging: Prefer structured log formats with key-value properties over plain text messages.
Framework guidelines
For Next.js 15.3+, initialize PostHog in instrumentation-client.ts for the simplest setup
Files
- ATTRIBUTION.mdAdded by AutoGineer933 B
- LICENSELicence file added by AutoGineer1.0 KiB
- SKILL.md1.3 KiB
- references/best-practices.md19.6 KiB
- references/debug-logs-mcp.md2.2 KiB
- references/link-session-replay.md4.9 KiB
- references/nextjs.md5.5 KiB
- references/search.md2.5 KiB
- references/start-here.md2.4 KiB
- references/troubleshooting.md3.5 KiB
references/search.md
Search logs - Docs
The logs search accepts multiple tokens and quoted phrases to help you find the exact log lines you need.
Space-separated words are combined with implicit AND: the log must contain all positive tokens
Prefix a token with
!to exclude logs that contain that token. You can use multiple negative tokens to exclude several different termsWrap text in double quotes to search for an exact phrase (an exact substring match)
How to use search
Require multiple words
Type: bug frontend
Result: Shows logs that contain both the words bug and frontend anywhere in the line.
Exclude words
Type: error !timeout
Result: Shows logs that contain error but excludes any log that also contains timeout.
Combine require + exclude
Type: api "server error" !403 !timeout
Result: Must contain api and the exact phrase server error, and must not contain 403 or timeout.
Search exact phrases
Type: "failed to connect"
Result: Matches logs that include the substring failed to connect exactly as written.
More examples
| Query | What it finds |
|---|---|
| login timeout | Logs that contain both login and timeout |
| login !debug | Logs that contain login and excludes logs that contain debug |
| "database error" | Logs with the exact phrase database error |
| "payment failed" !trace !debug | Logs that contain the exact phrase payment failed and excludes any that contain trace or debug |
Tips
Special characters: If a token contains spaces or special characters, wrap it in double quotes to treat it as a single search item
Standalone exclamation mark: A standalone
!by itself is ignored — use!followed by text to exclude that textMultiple negative tokens: List multiple
!tokens(e.g.,!debug !trace) to exclude logs that contain any of those tokensPunctuation: Quotes and escapes are handled using shell-like parsing rules, so complex tokens should be quoted if they contain spaces or special characters
Get more from search with structured logs
Search works best when your logs are consistent and structured. Adding key-value context like user_id, endpoint, and status_code to every log line makes filtering faster and more precise. See our logging best practices guide for patterns that make logs easier to search and query.
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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.
Security
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Attribution and licence
- Created by
- PostHog
- Publisher
- PostHog (Official)
- Source
- PostHog/skills · skills/posthog/logs/skills/nextjs · 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 logs-nextjs.zip