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PostHog

Web Source code Package

PostHog is an open-source product analytics platform with session replay, feature flags, A/B testing, surveys, and heatmaps. This destination forwards walkerOS events to PostHog via the official posthog-js SDK, translating events into posthog.capture(...) calls, resolving identity and group assignments, and handling consent opt-in/opt-out. All built-in PostHog features (session replay, feature flags, surveys, heatmaps, exception capture) are available through SDK init passthrough.

Where this fits

PostHog is a web destination in the walkerOS flow:

Installation

npm install @walkeros/web-destination-posthog
import { startFlow } from '@walkeros/collector';
import { destinationPostHog } from '@walkeros/web-destination-posthog';

await startFlow({
destinations: {
  posthog: {
    code: destinationPostHog,
    config: {
      settings: {
        apiKey: 'phc_XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX',
        api_host: 'https://eu.i.posthog.com',
      },
    },
  },
},
});

Configuration

This destination uses the standard destination config wrapper (consent, data, env, id, ...). For the shared fields see destination configuration. Package-specific fields live under config.settings and are listed below.

Settings

PropertyTypeDescriptionMore
apiKey*stringYour PostHog project API key (starts with "phc_"). Find it in your PostHog project settings under "Project API Key" (like phc_a1b2c3d4e5f6789012345678abcdef12).
api_hoststringPostHog API host. Defaults to https://us.i.posthog.com. Use https://eu.i.posthog.com for the EU region.
ui_hoststringURL of the PostHog UI host, used by toolbar and replay player. Default: null.
persistenceWhere to persist user identity. Default: "localStorage+cookie".
person_profilesWhen to create person profiles. "identified_only" (default) creates profiles only after identify() is called.
autocapturebooleanEnable PostHog's autocapture of clicks, form submits, and pageviews. Default: false (walkerOS sources handle capture).
capture_pageviewboolean | stringWhether PostHog should auto-capture pageview events. Default: false (walkerOS sources handle this).
capture_pageleaveboolean | stringWhether PostHog should auto-capture pageleave events. Default: false.
capture_heatmapsbooleanEnable heatmap data capture. Default: true (PostHog default).
capture_exceptionsbooleanEnable automatic exception capture. Default: false.
disable_surveysbooleanDisable PostHog surveys. Default: false.
disable_session_recordingbooleanDisable session recording. Default: false.
advanced_disable_flagsbooleanDisable feature flag loading. Default: false.
cookieless_mode'always' | 'on_reject'"always" never uses cookies/localStorage. "on_reject" falls back to cookieless when consent is rejected.
debugbooleanEnable PostHog SDK debug logging. Default: false.
session_recordinganySession Replay options (SessionRecordingOptions). Masking, blocking, sampling. See PostHog docs for full list.
bootstrapanySSR bootstrap data. { distinctID?, featureFlags? } — pre-populates identity and flag values to avoid first-render flicker.
identifyanywalkerOS mapping value resolving to an identity object. Keys: distinctId, $set, $set_once. Resolved on first push and re-fired when distinctId changes.
groupanywalkerOS mapping value resolving to a group object. Keys: type, key, properties. Resolved on first push and re-fired when type/key changes.
* Required fields

Mapping

Per-event rules under config.mapping. For the standard rule fields (consent, condition, data, batch, name, policy) see mapping.

PropertyTypeDescriptionMore
identifyanyPer-event identity mapping. Resolves to an object with any of: distinctId, $set, $set_once. Omitting distinctId routes to setPersonProperties() (no identity change).
groupanyGroup assignment. Resolves to { type, key, properties? } → posthog.group(type, key, properties).
resetanyLogout trigger. Resolves to a truthy value → posthog.reset() (clears distinctId and regenerates an anonymous one). Typically used with silent: true on a user logout rule.

Examples

Consent granted

A walker consent command with analytics granted calls posthog.opt_in_capturing to resume capture.

Event
{
  "analytics": true
}
Out
posthog.opt_in_capturing()

Consent revoked

A walker consent command with analytics denied calls posthog.opt_out_capturing to stop capture and replay.

Event
{
  "analytics": false
}
Out
posthog.opt_in_capturing();

posthog.opt_out_capturing()

Default capture

A walker event becomes a PostHog capture call with the event name and empty properties.

Event
{
  "name": "product view",
  "data": {
    "id": "ers",
    "name": "Everyday Ruck Snack",
    "color": "black",
    "size": "l",
    "price": 420
  },
  "context": {
    "shopping": [
      "detail",
      0
    ]
  },
  "globals": {
    "pagegroup": "shop"
  },
  "custom": {
    "completely": "random"
  },
  "user": {
    "id": "us3r",
    "device": "c00k13",
    "session": "s3ss10n"
  },
  "nested": [],
  "consent": {
    "functional": true
  },
  "id": "e9d7acad8cf24607",
  "trigger": "load",
  "entity": "product",
  "action": "view",
  "timestamp": 1700000100,
  "timing": 3.14,
  "source": {
    "count": 1,
    "trace": "0a1b2c3d4e5f60718293a4b5c6d7e8f9",
    "type": "collector",
    "schema": "4"
  }
}
Out
posthog.capture("product view", {})

Destination identify

Destination-level identify calls posthog.identify with the user id before firing the default capture.

Event
{
  "name": "page view",
  "data": {
    "domain": "www.example.com",
    "title": "walkerOS documentation",
    "referrer": "https://www.walkeros.io/",
    "search": "?foo=bar",
    "hash": "#hash",
    "id": "/docs/"
  },
  "context": {
    "dev": [
      "test",
      1
    ]
  },
  "globals": {
    "pagegroup": "docs"
  },
  "custom": {
    "completely": "random"
  },
  "user": {
    "id": "us3r",
    "device": "c00k13",
    "session": "s3ss10n"
  },
  "nested": [
    {
      "entity": "child",
      "data": {
        "is": "subordinated"
      }
    }
  ],
  "consent": {
    "functional": true
  },
  "id": "81dc65dc20319358",
  "trigger": "load",
  "entity": "page",
  "action": "view",
  "timestamp": 1700000104,
  "timing": 3.14,
  "source": {
    "count": 1,
    "trace": "0a1b2c3d4e5f60718293a4b5c6d7e8f9",
    "type": "collector",
    "schema": "4"
  }
}
Out
posthog.identify("us3r");

posthog.capture("page view", {})

Include data

Destination-level include flattens the event data section into prefixed PostHog capture properties.

Event
{
  "name": "product view",
  "data": {
    "id": "ers",
    "name": "Everyday Ruck Snack",
    "color": "black",
    "size": "l",
    "price": 420
  },
  "context": {
    "shopping": [
      "detail",
      0
    ]
  },
  "globals": {
    "pagegroup": "shop"
  },
  "custom": {
    "completely": "random"
  },
  "user": {
    "id": "us3r",
    "device": "c00k13",
    "session": "s3ss10n"
  },
  "nested": [],
  "consent": {
    "functional": true
  },
  "id": "f40ce3c80355eccd",
  "trigger": "load",
  "entity": "product",
  "action": "view",
  "timestamp": 1700000102,
  "timing": 3.14,
  "source": {
    "count": 1,
    "trace": "0a1b2c3d4e5f60718293a4b5c6d7e8f9",
    "type": "collector",
    "schema": "4"
  }
}
Out
posthog.capture("product view", {
  "data_id": "ers",
  "data_name": "Everyday Ruck Snack",
  "data_color": "black",
  "data_size": "l",
  "data_price": 420
})

Group assignment

A company update assigns the user to a PostHog group and sets group properties via posthog.group.

Event
{
  "name": "company update",
  "data": {
    "company_id": "company_123",
    "company_name": "Acme",
    "plan": "enterprise",
    "size": 50
  },
  "context": {
    "dev": [
      "test",
      1
    ]
  },
  "globals": {
    "lang": "elb"
  },
  "custom": {
    "completely": "random"
  },
  "user": {
    "id": "us3r",
    "device": "c00k13",
    "session": "s3ss10n"
  },
  "nested": [
    {
      "entity": "child",
      "data": {
        "is": "subordinated"
      }
    }
  ],
  "consent": {
    "functional": true
  },
  "id": "730347c424f98845",
  "trigger": "test",
  "entity": "company",
  "action": "update",
  "timestamp": 1700000108,
  "timing": 3.14,
  "source": {
    "count": 1,
    "trace": "0a1b2c3d4e5f60718293a4b5c6d7e8f9",
    "type": "collector",
    "schema": "4"
  }
}
Mapping
{
  "silent": true,
  "settings": {
    "group": {
      "map": {
        "type": {
          "value": "company"
        },
        "key": "data.company_id",
        "properties": {
          "map": {
            "name": "data.company_name",
            "plan": "data.plan",
            "employee_count": "data.size"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
Out
posthog.group("company", "company_123", {
  "name": "Acme",
  "plan": "enterprise",
  "employee_count": 50
})

Order complete

An order complete captures order data and globals as prefixed properties for revenue analysis in PostHog.

Event
{
  "name": "order complete",
  "data": {
    "id": "0rd3r1d",
    "currency": "EUR",
    "shipping": 5.22,
    "taxes": 73.76,
    "total": 555
  },
  "context": {
    "shopping": [
      "complete",
      0
    ]
  },
  "globals": {
    "pagegroup": "shop"
  },
  "custom": {
    "completely": "random"
  },
  "user": {
    "id": "us3r",
    "device": "c00k13",
    "session": "s3ss10n"
  },
  "nested": [
    {
      "entity": "product",
      "data": {
        "id": "ers",
        "name": "Everyday Ruck Snack",
        "color": "black",
        "size": "l",
        "price": 420
      },
      "context": {
        "shopping": [
          "complete",
          0
        ]
      },
      "nested": []
    },
    {
      "entity": "product",
      "data": {
        "id": "cc",
        "name": "Cool Cap",
        "size": "one size",
        "price": 42
      },
      "context": {
        "shopping": [
          "complete",
          0
        ]
      },
      "nested": []
    },
    {
      "entity": "gift",
      "data": {
        "name": "Surprise"
      },
      "context": {
        "shopping": [
          "complete",
          0
        ]
      },
      "nested": []
    }
  ],
  "consent": {
    "functional": true
  },
  "id": "531f548d11ca5cd3",
  "trigger": "load",
  "entity": "order",
  "action": "complete",
  "timestamp": 1700000109,
  "timing": 3.14,
  "source": {
    "count": 1,
    "trace": "0a1b2c3d4e5f60718293a4b5c6d7e8f9",
    "type": "collector",
    "schema": "4"
  }
}
Mapping
{
  "include": [
    "data",
    "globals"
  ]
}
Out
posthog.capture("order complete", {
  "data_id": "0rd3r1d",
  "data_currency": "EUR",
  "data_shipping": 5.22,
  "data_taxes": 73.76,
  "data_total": 555,
  "globals_pagegroup": "shop"
})

Set person properties

A profile update calls setPersonProperties to enrich the PostHog profile without changing identity.

Event
{
  "name": "profile update",
  "data": {
    "name": "Jane Doe",
    "avatar_url": "https://example.com/avatar.png"
  },
  "context": {
    "dev": [
      "test",
      1
    ]
  },
  "globals": {
    "lang": "elb"
  },
  "custom": {
    "completely": "random"
  },
  "user": {
    "id": "us3r",
    "device": "c00k13",
    "session": "s3ss10n"
  },
  "nested": [
    {
      "entity": "child",
      "data": {
        "is": "subordinated"
      }
    }
  ],
  "consent": {
    "functional": true
  },
  "id": "746809e675a0c1f8",
  "trigger": "test",
  "entity": "profile",
  "action": "update",
  "timestamp": 1700000106,
  "timing": 3.14,
  "source": {
    "count": 1,
    "trace": "0a1b2c3d4e5f60718293a4b5c6d7e8f9",
    "type": "collector",
    "schema": "4"
  }
}
Mapping
{
  "settings": {
    "identify": {
      "map": {
        "$set": {
          "map": {
            "name": "data.name",
            "avatar": "data.avatar_url"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
Out
posthog.setPersonProperties({
  "name": "Jane Doe",
  "avatar": "https://example.com/avatar.png"
}, null);

posthog.capture("profile update", {})

Rule include overrides

A per-rule include replaces the destination-level include so this event forwards only globals.

Event
{
  "name": "order complete",
  "data": {
    "id": "0rd3r1d",
    "currency": "EUR",
    "shipping": 5.22,
    "taxes": 73.76,
    "total": 555
  },
  "context": {
    "shopping": [
      "complete",
      0
    ]
  },
  "globals": {
    "pagegroup": "shop"
  },
  "custom": {
    "completely": "random"
  },
  "user": {
    "id": "us3r",
    "device": "c00k13",
    "session": "s3ss10n"
  },
  "nested": [
    {
      "entity": "product",
      "data": {
        "id": "ers",
        "name": "Everyday Ruck Snack",
        "color": "black",
        "size": "l",
        "price": 420
      },
      "context": {
        "shopping": [
          "complete",
          0
        ]
      },
      "nested": []
    },
    {
      "entity": "product",
      "data": {
        "id": "cc",
        "name": "Cool Cap",
        "size": "one size",
        "price": 42
      },
      "context": {
        "shopping": [
          "complete",
          0
        ]
      },
      "nested": []
    },
    {
      "entity": "gift",
      "data": {
        "name": "Surprise"
      },
      "context": {
        "shopping": [
          "complete",
          0
        ]
      },
      "nested": []
    }
  ],
  "consent": {
    "functional": true
  },
  "id": "ba761cc4ff0df985",
  "trigger": "load",
  "entity": "order",
  "action": "complete",
  "timestamp": 1700000103,
  "timing": 3.14,
  "source": {
    "count": 1,
    "trace": "0a1b2c3d4e5f60718293a4b5c6d7e8f9",
    "type": "collector",
    "schema": "4"
  }
}
Mapping
{
  "include": [
    "globals"
  ]
}
Out
posthog.capture("order complete", {
  "globals_pagegroup": "shop"
})

User login identify

A user login fires PostHog identify with $set and $set_once person properties, skipping the capture.

Event
{
  "name": "user login",
  "data": {
    "user_id": "new-user-123",
    "email": "user@acme.com",
    "plan": "premium",
    "company": "Acme",
    "source": "organic"
  },
  "context": {
    "dev": [
      "test",
      1
    ]
  },
  "globals": {
    "lang": "elb"
  },
  "custom": {
    "completely": "random"
  },
  "user": {
    "id": "us3r",
    "device": "c00k13",
    "session": "s3ss10n"
  },
  "nested": [
    {
      "entity": "child",
      "data": {
        "is": "subordinated"
      }
    }
  ],
  "consent": {
    "functional": true
  },
  "id": "855ffdbae6cf66aa",
  "trigger": "test",
  "entity": "user",
  "action": "login",
  "timestamp": 1700000105,
  "timing": 3.14,
  "source": {
    "count": 1,
    "trace": "0a1b2c3d4e5f60718293a4b5c6d7e8f9",
    "type": "collector",
    "schema": "4"
  }
}
Mapping
{
  "silent": true,
  "settings": {
    "identify": {
      "map": {
        "distinctId": "data.user_id",
        "$set": {
          "map": {
            "email": "data.email",
            "plan": "data.plan",
            "company": "data.company"
          }
        },
        "$set_once": {
          "map": {
            "first_login": "timestamp",
            "signup_source": "data.source"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
Out
posthog.identify("new-user-123", {
  "email": "user@acme.com",
  "plan": "premium",
  "company": "Acme"
}, {
  "first_login": 1700000105,
  "signup_source": "organic"
})

User logout reset

A user logout calls posthog.reset to clear the distinct id and generate a new anonymous one.

Event
{
  "name": "user logout",
  "data": {
    "string": "foo",
    "number": 1,
    "boolean": true,
    "array": [
      0,
      "text",
      false
    ]
  },
  "context": {
    "dev": [
      "test",
      1
    ]
  },
  "globals": {
    "lang": "elb"
  },
  "custom": {
    "completely": "random"
  },
  "user": {
    "id": "us3r",
    "device": "c00k13",
    "session": "s3ss10n"
  },
  "nested": [
    {
      "entity": "child",
      "data": {
        "is": "subordinated"
      }
    }
  ],
  "consent": {
    "functional": true
  },
  "id": "860df16f3607fb9d",
  "trigger": "test",
  "entity": "user",
  "action": "logout",
  "timestamp": 1700000107,
  "timing": 3.14,
  "source": {
    "count": 1,
    "trace": "0a1b2c3d4e5f60718293a4b5c6d7e8f9",
    "type": "collector",
    "schema": "4"
  }
}
Mapping
{
  "silent": true,
  "settings": {
    "reset": true
  }
}
Out
posthog.reset()

Built-in features

All these PostHog features work via standard posthog-js init options, with no destination wiring required:

  • Session replay: settings.session_recording: { maskAllInputs: true, ... }
  • Feature flags: settings.bootstrap: { featureFlags: { ... } } for SSR
  • Surveys: automatic; settings.disable_surveys: true to opt out
  • Heatmaps: settings.capture_heatmaps: true
  • Exception capture: settings.capture_exceptions: true
  • Cookieless mode: settings.cookieless_mode: 'always' | 'on_reject'
  • Person profiles: settings.person_profiles: 'identified_only' (PostHog default, privacy-friendly) or 'always'

walkerOS sets three defaults that differ from PostHog's built-ins: autocapture: false, capture_pageview: false, capture_pageleave: false, because walkerOS sources handle event capture. Override them explicitly if you want PostHog's autocapture on.

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