The Startup Error Tracking Wake-Up Call
When I started building web applications, I thought error tracking was optional. Boy, was I wrong. Here are the hard lessons I learned about error tracking in startup environments.
The "It Works on My Machine" Problem
In the early days, I relied on my own testing and user reports to catch errors. This approach failed spectacularly when we had our first real traffic spike. Users were experiencing errors I had no idea about.
Critical Mistakes I Made
- Not implementing error tracking from day one
- Relying on console.log for debugging
- Ignoring client-side errors
- Not tracking user context with errors
- Setting up alerts that were either too noisy or too quiet
The JavaScript Error Trap
JavaScript errors are sneaky. They can break your entire user experience without you knowing. I learned this the hard way when users couldn't complete purchases because of an unhandled promise rejection.
JavaScript Error Types That Bite
- Unhandled promise rejections
- Network errors that look like user errors
- Third-party script failures
- Browser compatibility issues
- Memory leaks that cause crashes
The Context Problem
Early on, I was only tracking the error message and stack trace. This wasn't enough. I needed to know:
Essential Context Data
- What user was affected
- What they were trying to do
- What browser and device they were using
- What page they were on
- What actions led to the error
The Alert Fatigue Problem
I set up alerts for every error initially. This was a mistake. I was getting hundreds of notifications a day, most of which weren't actionable. I learned to be selective about what deserves an alert.
Smart Alerting Strategy
Now I only alert on:
Alert-Worthy Conditions
- New error types I haven't seen before
- Error rates above 5% of total requests
- Errors affecting critical user flows
- Errors from specific user segments
- Server errors that could indicate infrastructure issues
The Performance Correlation
One of the biggest insights was realizing that performance issues and errors are often related. Slow page loads lead to timeouts, which lead to errors. Now I track both together.
What I Wish I Knew Earlier
If I could go back and give my past self advice about error tracking:
Key Lessons
- Start with error tracking from day one
- Track both client and server errors
- Include rich context with every error
- Set up proper alerting from the beginning
- Monitor error trends, not just individual errors
- Test your error tracking system regularly