Add PostHog error tracking
Use this skill to add PostHog error tracking that captures and monitors exceptions in your application. Use it after implementing features or reviewing PRs to ensure errors are tracked with full stack traces and source maps. If PostHog is not yet installed, this skill also covers initial SDK setup. Supports any platform or language.
Supported platforms: React, Next.js, Web (JavaScript), Node.js, Python, PHP, Ruby, Ruby on Rails, Go, Elixir, Angular, Svelte, Nuxt, React Native, Flutter, iOS, Android, and Hono.
Instructions
Follow these steps IN ORDER:
STEP 1: Analyze the codebase and detect the platform.
Look for dependency files (package.json, pubspec.yaml, Podfile, Package.swift, requirements.txt, go.mod, Gemfile, composer.json, mix.exs, etc.) to determine the language and framework.
Look for lockfiles (pnpm-lock.yaml, package-lock.json, yarn.lock, bun.lockb, go.sum, pubspec.lock, Podfile.lock, Package.resolved, mix.lock) to determine the package manager.
- Check for existing PostHog setup (SDK initialization, env vars, etc.). If PostHog is already installed and initialized, skip to STEP 4.
STEP 2: Research instrumentation. (Skip if PostHog is already set up.) 2.1. Find the reference file below that matches the detected platform — it is the source of truth for SDK initialization, exception autocapture, and framework-specific error tracking patterns. Read it now. 2.2. If no reference matches, fall back to your general knowledge and web search. Use posthog.com/docs as the primary search source.
STEP 3: Install and initialize the PostHog SDK. (Skip if PostHog is already set up.)
- Add the PostHog SDK package for the detected platform. Do not manually edit package.json — use the package manager's install command.
- Follow the framework reference for where and how to initialize.
STEP 4: Enable exception autocapture.
- Follow the platform reference to enable exception autocapture. This automatically captures unhandled exceptions without additional code.
STEP 5: Add manual error captures.
- Identify error boundaries, catch blocks, and critical user flows where errors should be explicitly captured.
- Add
posthog.captureException()or the platform-equivalent at these locations. - Do not alter the fundamental architecture of existing error handling. Make additions minimal and targeted.
- You must read a file immediately before attempting to write it.
STEP 6: Upload source maps (frontend/mobile only).
- Configure source map uploads so stack traces resolve to original source code, not minified bundles.
- Follow the platform-specific reference for upload configuration (build plugins, CI scripts, etc.).
STEP 7: Set up environment variables.
- Check if the project already has PostHog environment variables configured (e.g. in
.env,.env.local, or framework-specific env files). If valid values already exist, skip this step. - If the PostHog project token is missing, use the PostHog MCP server's
projects-gettool to retrieve the project'sapi_token. If multiple projects are returned, ask the user which project to use. If the MCP server is not connected or not authenticated, ask the user for their PostHog project token instead. - For the PostHog host URL: check the
projects-getMCP response for aregionfield —USmaps tohttps://us.i.posthog.com,EUmaps tohttps://eu.i.posthog.com. If the region is not available from the MCP response or from existing project configuration, ask the user: "Are you on PostHog US Cloud or EU Cloud?" Do not assume US Cloud. - Write these values to the appropriate env file using the framework's naming convention.
- Reference these environment variables in code instead of hardcoding them.
STEP 8: Verify and clean up.
- Check the project for errors. Look for type checking or build scripts in package.json.
- Ensure any components created were actually used.
- Run any linter or prettier-like scripts found in the package.json, but ONLY on the files you have edited or created during this session. Never run formatting or linting across the entire project's codebase.
Reference files
references/react.md- React error tracking installationreferences/web.md- Web error tracking installationreferences/nextjs.md- Next.js error tracking installationreferences/node.md- Node.js error tracking installationreferences/python.md- Python error tracking installationreferences/django.md- Djangoreferences/flask.md- Flaskreferences/php.md- Php error tracking installationreferences/laravel.md- Laravelreferences/ruby.md- Ruby error tracking installationreferences/ruby-on-rails.md- Ruby on rails error tracking installationreferences/ruby-on-rails.md- Ruby on railsreferences/go.md- Go error tracking installationreferences/dotnet.md- .net error tracking installationreferences/dotnet.md- .netreferences/elixir.md- Elixir error tracking installationreferences/angular.md- Angular error tracking installationreferences/svelte.md- Sveltekit error tracking installationreferences/nuxt-3-7.md- Nuxt error tracking installation (v3.7 and above)references/nuxt-3-6.md- Nuxt error tracking installation (v3.6 and below)references/react-native.md- React native error tracking installationreferences/flutter.md- Flutter error tracking installationreferences/ios.md- Ios error tracking installationreferences/android.md- Android error tracking installationreferences/hono.md- Hono error tracking installationreferences/fingerprints.md- Fingerprintsreferences/alerts.md- Send error tracking alertsreferences/monitoring.md- Monitor and search issuesreferences/assigning-issues.md- Assign issues to teammatesreferences/upload-source-maps.md- Upload source mapsreferences/COMMANDMENTS.md- Framework-specific rules the integration must follow
Each platform reference contains SDK-specific installation and manual capture patterns. Find the one matching the user's stack.
Key principles
- Environment variables: Always use environment variables for PostHog keys. Never hardcode them.
- Minimal changes: Add error tracking alongside existing error handling. Don't replace or restructure existing code.
- Autocapture first: Enable exception autocapture before adding manual captures.
- Source maps: Upload source maps so stack traces resolve to original source code, not minified bundles.
- Manual capture for boundaries: Use
captureException()at error boundaries and catch blocks for errors that don't propagate to the global handler.