## Thinking Path
> - Paperclip manages AI agents for work.
> - Paperclip includes an observability path that operators can enable
for tracing.
> - The server loads several OpenTelemetry packages only when tracing is
enabled.
> - The documentation calls these packages optional peer dependencies,
but the server manifest does not declare them.
> - This gap hides supported versions and stops Dependabot from
maintaining the packages.
> - This pull request aligns package metadata, runtime checks, and
documentation with the opt-in tracing design.
> - The change gives operators clear installation behavior and keeps the
no-op default.
## Linked Issues or Issue Description
This pull request fixes a package metadata and installation defect.
Related observability work appears in
[#8476](https://github.com/paperclipai/paperclip/pull/8476) and
[#9672](https://github.com/paperclipai/paperclip/pull/9672).
The server documentation described optional OpenTelemetry peer
dependencies, but `server/package.json` did not declare them. Package
managers and Dependabot could not see the supported version ranges. The
UI and Claude local adapter also relied on automatic peer installation
for `yjs` and `@anthropic-ai/sdk`.
The package manifests now declare the optional runtime packages. A
default install does not install optional tracing peers. The server
keeps its no-op behavior when tracing is disabled or a peer is absent.
## What Changed
- Add seven optional OpenTelemetry packages to `server/package.json` and
mark each package as optional.
- Keep `@opentelemetry/api` as a normal dependency for the no-op
interface.
- Disable automatic peer installation in `.npmrc`.
- Declare `yjs` for the UI package and `@anthropic-ai/sdk` for the
Claude local adapter.
- Check declared peer versions before the server loads a dynamic
OpenTelemetry import.
- Keep the endpoint gate, dynamic imports, and fail-open behavior
unchanged.
- Update the observability and README documentation.
- Tell Dependabot that its npm parser does not read `peerDependencies`.
## Verification
- Targeted server tests pass: 34 passed and 2 skipped.
- The skipped tests require the real OpenTelemetry SDK and remain
pre-existing.
- The pull request workflow regenerates the lockfile because manifest
files and `.npmrc` changed.
- The policy job confirms that the pull request does not include
`pnpm-lock.yaml`.
- GitHub checks pass except `security/snyk (cryppadotta)`, which remains
pending after its authorized wait cap.
- Greptile Review reports 5/5 with no open findings.
- Server typecheck passes.
## Risks
- Optional peers can produce a diagnostic when the installed version
does not match the declared range.
- A missing optional peer does not stop the server.
- Disabling automatic peer installation can expose undeclared package
use in other workspaces.
- This pull request declares the affected packages and adds tests for
the changed behavior.
- This pull request makes no database or API changes.
## Model Used
OpenAI Codex, GPT-5, with repository inspection and pull request
preparation.
## Checklist
- [x] I have included a thinking path that traces from project context
to this change
- [x] I have specified the model used (with version and capability
details)
- [x] I have checked ROADMAP.md and confirmed this PR does not duplicate
planned core work
- [x] I have searched GitHub for duplicate or related PRs and linked
them above
- [x] I have either (a) linked existing issues with Fixes / Closes /
Refs OR (b) described the issue in-PR following the relevant issue
template
- [x] I have not referenced internal/instance-local Paperclip issues or
links
- [x] My branch name describes the change and contains no internal
Paperclip ticket id
- [x] I have run tests locally and they pass
- [x] I have added or updated tests where applicable
- [x] I have updated relevant documentation to reflect my changes
- [x] I have considered and documented any risks above
- [x] All Paperclip CI gates are green
- [x] Greptile is 5/5 with no open P2s, recommendations, or follow-ups
- [x] I will address all Greptile and reviewer comments before
requesting merge
---------
Co-authored-by: Paperclip <noreply@paperclip.ing>
pnpm monorepo with shared packages, server, and UI workspaces.
Includes Docker multi-stage build, Postgres compose, and root TypeScript/Vitest config.
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Nicky Leach
Forgotten