PRD: OpenTelemetry Integration for FlowForge CLI

[charleslbryant]

PRD: OpenTelemetry Integration for FlowForge CLI

Overview

Add comprehensive OpenTelemetry-based monitoring to FlowForge CLI to track efficiency metrics, performance patterns, and usage analytics. This will enable users to optimize their Claude Code interactions and help the FlowForge team understand usage patterns for product improvements.

Background: FlowForge is intrinsically tied to Claude Code, and users want to track the efficiency of their AI-powered workflow automation to maximize performance and reduce resource utilization.

Jobs-to-be-Done

• Performance Optimization: Users want to understand which FlowForge usage patterns are most efficient with Claude Code
• Resource Management: Users need visibility into token usage, API call patterns, and session efficiency
• Process Improvement: Users want to identify bottlenecks in their workflow automation processes
• Scaling Preparation: Users need metrics to understand costs and optimization opportunities before scaling usage

User Journey

1. Installation: User enables telemetry with clear consent and privacy controls
2. Normal Usage: User continues using FlowForge commands while metrics are collected transparently
3. Analysis: User runs telemetry commands to view efficiency metrics and recommendations
4. Optimization: User adjusts their workflow patterns based on telemetry insights
5. Continuous Improvement: User monitors ongoing efficiency improvements over time

Requirements

Core Telemetry Infrastructure

• OpenTelemetry SDK integration in .NET implementation
• Configuration system for telemetry endpoints and settings via environment variables
• Metrics collection framework with zero performance impact when disabled
• Optional telemetry with explicit user consent (opt-in by default)

FlowForge-Specific Metrics

• Workflow generation success/failure rates and time-to-completion
• n8n API call latencies and success rates
• Command execution times and usage patterns
• Template usage statistics and effectiveness

Claude Code Integration Metrics

• Token usage per workflow generation session
• Prompt complexity vs success rate correlation
• Claude Code session efficiency tracking (iterations, context switches)
• AI reasoning time vs workflow complexity metrics

User Experience Features

• forge telemetry status command to show current configuration
• forge telemetry enable/disable commands with privacy controls
• forge telemetry report command for personal efficiency dashboard
• Local metrics storage option for privacy-sensitive environments

Export and Integration Options

• OTLP endpoint support for enterprise monitoring systems
• Prometheus metrics export for observability stacks
• Console output mode for debugging and development
• JSON export for custom analysis and reporting

Success Criteria

• Users can identify their most/least efficient FlowForge usage patterns
• Zero measurable performance impact when telemetry is disabled
• Clear privacy controls with transparent data collection policies
• 90% of enabled users find telemetry insights actionable for optimization
• Integration follows OpenTelemetry standards for compatibility

Dependencies & Risks

• Dependencies:
  • OpenTelemetry .NET SDK
  • Existing FlowForge service architecture
  • Configuration management system
• Risks:
  • Performance impact on CLI operations
  • Privacy concerns around AI usage tracking
  • Complexity of correlating FlowForge actions with Claude Code sessions
• Assumptions:
  • Users want visibility into their AI automation efficiency
  • OpenTelemetry provides sufficient granularity for FlowForge metrics

Roadmap Priority

• Priority: Next (after current workflow management commands)
• Timeline: Q3 2025
• Effort: 2-3 sprint cycles

User Stories (Future CRDs)

CRD-3.1: Basic Telemetry Infrastructure

As a FlowForge user, I want to enable optional telemetry so that I can track my workflow automation efficiency.

CRD-3.2: Efficiency Dashboard

As a FlowForge user, I want to see a local dashboard of my usage patterns so that I can optimize my automation workflows.

CRD-3.3: Enterprise Integration

As an enterprise user, I want to export FlowForge telemetry to my monitoring system so that I can track team automation efficiency.

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This PRD enables data-driven optimization of AI-powered workflow automation, supporting FlowForge's vision of making automation as simple as having a conversation.