## Thinking Path
> - Paperclip is the open source app people use to manage AI agents for
work
> - Paperclip reports server and browser errors through optional Sentry
monitoring
> - One environment variable sends both error types to one Sentry
project
> - Operators need separate control for browser and server error data
> - This pull request adds specific variables and keeps the existing
variable as a fallback
> - The benefit is separate monitoring without breaking current
deployments
## Linked Issues or Issue Description
**What existing behavior does this improve?**
The Sentry configuration for server and browser monitoring uses one
environment variable.
**Subsystem affected**
Cross-cutting (multiple of the above)
**Current behavior**
`SENTRY_DSN` supplies the server and browser clients. Both clients
therefore report to the same Sentry project.
**Proposed behavior**
`SENTRY_DSN_FRONTEND` supplies the browser client. `SENTRY_DSN_BACKEND`
supplies the server process. `SENTRY_DSN` remains a fallback for either
component.
**Reason and benefit**
Operators can send browser and server errors to separate Sentry
projects. Operators can also activate only one component.
**Breaking changes**
None. Existing deployments can continue to use `SENTRY_DSN`.
## What Changed
- Add `resolveSentryDsns(env)` and use it in the server and browser
configuration paths.
- Add precedence, empty-string, fallback, and route tests.
- Update the README, observability guide, and stale code comments.
- Log one warning when the server uses the legacy fallback without
exposing a DSN value.
## Verification
- `pnpm vitest run --project server sentry-dsn` — 8 tests pass.
- `pnpm vitest run --project server auth-routes` — 21 tests pass.
- The earlier run of the three targeted suites passed 40 tests.
- `tsc --noEmit` passes for the files in this diff.
- All required GitHub Actions checks pass, including the full
continuous-integration suite.
## Risks
The main risk is an incorrect environment variable precedence rule. Unit
tests cover specific values, empty strings, and legacy fallback
behavior. The existing `SENTRY_DSN` path remains compatible.
## Model Used
OpenAI Codex — GPT-5, current runtime, tool use and code execution.
## 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 (only public GitHub `#NNN` / `github.com/paperclipai/paperclip`
URLs)
- [x] My branch name describes the change (e.g. `docs/...`, `fix/...`)
and contains no internal Paperclip ticket id or instance-derived details
- [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>
Nicky Leach