---
title: Telemetry
description: Understand what anonymous usage telemetry ktx collects and how to opt out.
---

**ktx** collects anonymous product-usage telemetry from interactive CLI runs so
maintainers can understand which commands work, where setup fails, and which
parts of the data-agent workflow need improvement.

## Opt out

Telemetry is opt-out and is disabled automatically in CI and non-interactive
CLI runs. Use any of these mechanisms to disable it:

| Mechanism | Effect |
|-----------|--------|
| `export KTX_TELEMETRY_DISABLED=1` | Disables telemetry for the shell and child processes |
| `export DO_NOT_TRACK=1` | Disables telemetry using the standard do-not-track environment variable |
| `CI=1` | Disables telemetry automatically in CI |
| Non-TTY output | Disables telemetry automatically for pipes and scripts |
| Edit `~/.ktx/telemetry.json` and set `"enabled": false` | Disables telemetry persistently for the machine |

There is no `ktx telemetry` command. The first interactive run that can emit
telemetry prints this one-line notice to stderr:

```text
ktx collects anonymous usage data to improve the product. Opt out: set KTX_TELEMETRY_DISABLED=1.
```

## Identity and grouping

**ktx** stores a random install ID in `~/.ktx/telemetry.json`. This ID is the
PostHog `distinctId` and is not tied to your name, email, Git identity, or
account.

For project-level analysis, **ktx** sends a salted SHA-256 project ID derived
from the install ID and absolute project directory. The raw project path is not
sent.

## Events

Phase 1 telemetry emits these events:

| Event | When it fires | Fields |
|-------|---------------|--------|
| `install_first_run` | Once when `~/.ktx/telemetry.json` is created | Common envelope only |
| `command` | Once for a registered Commander action that reaches the action hook | `commandPath`, `durationMs`, `outcome`, `errorClass`, `flagsPresent`, `hasProject`, `projectGroupAttached` |

Common envelope fields are `cliVersion`, `nodeVersion`, `osPlatform`,
`osRelease`, `arch`, `runtime`, and `isCi`.

## Never collected

**ktx** telemetry never collects:

- Argv values, file paths, hostnames, or environment variable values
- `ktx.yaml` contents, connection passwords, API keys, or tokens
- Schema names, table names, column names, SQL text, or query results
- Error messages or stack traces
- Git remote URLs, Git user email, OS user, or hostname

## Storage and retention

Telemetry is sent to the GTX PostHog project. Raw event data is retained for
90 days in PostHog. Aggregated counts may be retained indefinitely.