When a user finds a bug, they can send a ticket to your support desk. If that ticket includes a recording of the bug, your tech team can fix it fast. They do not need to log into another tool to see what went wrong. Centralized Data
These are converted into a JSON data structure—a \$snapshot_items array—and transmitted as $snapshot events. 2. Ingestion and Storage (Self-Hosted Architecture)
For single sessions or immediate bug investigations, the PostHog App UI provides an native download trigger: Replay recording retention - Docs - PostHog
Locate the toggle and enable Record user sessions . 2. Initialize the SDK with "Replay Only" Parameters
A architecture bridges the gap between deep user insights and completely isolated execution environments. By redirecting the power of PostHog's open-source recording engine into a localized, lightweight footprint, engineering teams can debug applications faster, maintain bulletproof data sovereignty, and run user testing anywhere on earth—completely untethered from the cloud. posthog session replay portable
You must configure posthog-js to prevent it from failing or throwing console errors when the internet is down, and point it to your local loopback address. javascript
High-volume applications generate massive amounts of session replay data. By utilizing a portable gateway or local proxy, you can compress, filter, or selectively discard recordings before they ever leave your local network, drastically reducing your cloud storage and bandwidth bills. Key Use Cases for Portable Session Replay
PostHog's session replay is a powerhouse for understanding user behavior, but for many engineering and product teams, the real value lies in . Whether you need to move data between environments, share insights with stakeholders without a login, or keep permanent records of critical bugs, understanding how to make PostHog session replay "portable" is essential. 1. Direct Export to JSON for Long-term Storage
: PostHog allows enterprise/scale users to export raw recording JSON data to parse and render on external players. 🏗️ Strategy 3: The True "Portable" Alternative (rrweb) When a user finds a bug, they can
Once active, PostHog streams these JSON blobs to your destination bucket in real time or batches. Method 2: Programmatic Export via the PostHog REST API
PostHog's Session Replay is a powerful tool for understanding how users interact with your application. While most users leverage the cloud-hosted version, —meaning you can capture, store, export, and analyze recordings in self-hosted or disconnected environments.
Limit the frequency of mouse movement tracking in your initialization settings to slash storage sizes by up to 40%. Memory Management on Host Devices
Running PostHog (including replay storage) requires managing ClickHouse, Kafka, and Redis. Their Helm chart and Docker Compose help, but it’s heavier than a SaaS-only tool. Centralized Data These are converted into a JSON
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Raw DOM mutations generate massive JSON text arrays. Ensure your export pipeline utilizes Gzip or Brotli compression to minimize storage costs and accelerate playback load times in your custom viewers.
Utilizing PostHog’s frontend SDKs to record sessions locally on a device or client application.
Enter . This approach leverages PostHog’s powerful open-source capabilities to create a flexible, self-contained, or highly adaptable session recording pipeline.
If you cannot run a local proxy server (e.g., in a standalone browser-based offline app), you can customize how posthog-js saves events. By utilizing the browser's IndexedDB via custom middleware or by writing a lightweight wrapper around PostHog’s persistence layer, you can store recording chunks locally until the client detects an active internet connection ( navigator.onLine ). Best Practices for Portable Data Privacy