fix(cli): persistent anonymous telemetry ID + pass source=CLI in all API calls (#4789)

cli/node/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@mem0/cli",
-  "version": "0.2.2",
+  "version": "0.2.3",
   "description": "The official CLI for mem0 — the memory layer for AI agents",
   "type": "module",
   "bin": {

cli/node/src/backend/platform.ts

@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ export class PlatformBackend implements Backend {
 		if (opts.expires) payload.expiration_date = opts.expires;
 		if (opts.categories) payload.categories = opts.categories;
 		if (opts.enableGraph) payload.enable_graph = true;
+		payload.source = "CLI";
 
 		return (await this._request("POST", "/v1/memories/", {
 			json: payload,
@@ -176,6 +177,7 @@ export class PlatformBackend implements Backend {
 		if (opts.keyword) payload.keyword_search = true;
 		if (opts.fields) payload.fields = opts.fields;
 		if (opts.enableGraph) payload.enable_graph = true;
+		payload.source = "CLI";
 
 		const result = (await this._request("POST", "/v2/memories/search/", {
 			json: payload,
@@ -186,10 +188,9 @@ export class PlatformBackend implements Backend {
 	}
 
 	async get(memoryId: string): Promise<Record<string, unknown>> {
-		return (await this._request("GET", `/v1/memories/${memoryId}/`)) as Record<
+		return (await this._request("GET", `/v1/memories/${memoryId}/`, {
-			string,
+			params: { source: "CLI" },
-			unknown
+		})) as Record<string, unknown>;
-		>;
 	}
 
 	async listMemories(
@@ -227,6 +228,7 @@ export class PlatformBackend implements Backend {
 		});
 		if (apiFilters) payload.filters = apiFilters;
 		if (opts.enableGraph) payload.enable_graph = true;
+		payload.source = "CLI";
 
 		const result = (await this._request("POST", "/v2/memories/", {
 			json: payload,
@@ -245,6 +247,7 @@ export class PlatformBackend implements Backend {
 		const payload: Record<string, unknown> = {};
 		if (content) payload.text = content;
 		if (metadata) payload.metadata = metadata;
+		payload.source = "CLI";
 		return (await this._request("PUT", `/v1/memories/${memoryId}/`, {
 			json: payload,
 		})) as Record<string, unknown>;
@@ -255,7 +258,7 @@ export class PlatformBackend implements Backend {
 		opts: DeleteOptions = {},
 	): Promise<Record<string, unknown>> {
 		if (opts.all) {
-			const params: Record<string, string> = {};
+			const params: Record<string, string> = { source: "CLI" };
 			if (opts.userId) params.user_id = opts.userId;
 			if (opts.agentId) params.agent_id = opts.agentId;
 			if (opts.appId) params.app_id = opts.appId;
@@ -265,10 +268,9 @@ export class PlatformBackend implements Backend {
 			})) as Record<string, unknown>;
 		}
 		if (memoryId) {
-			return (await this._request(
+			return (await this._request("DELETE", `/v1/memories/${memoryId}/`, {
-				"DELETE",
+				params: { source: "CLI" },
-				`/v1/memories/${memoryId}/`,
+			})) as Record<string, unknown>;
-			)) as Record<string, unknown>;
 		}
 		throw new Error("Either memoryId or --all is required");
 	}
@@ -291,6 +293,7 @@ export class PlatformBackend implements Backend {
 			result = (await this._request(
 				"DELETE",
 				`/v2/entities/${entityType}/${entityId}/`,
+				{ params: { source: "CLI" } },
 			)) as Record<string, unknown>;
 		}
 		return result;

cli/node/src/config.ts

@@ -31,10 +31,15 @@ export interface DefaultsConfig {
 	enableGraph: boolean;
 }
 
+export interface TelemetryConfig {
+	anonymousId: string;
+}
+
 export interface Mem0Config {
 	version: number;
 	defaults: DefaultsConfig;
 	platform: PlatformConfig;
+	telemetry: TelemetryConfig;
 }
 
 export function createDefaultConfig(): Mem0Config {
@@ -52,6 +57,9 @@ export function createDefaultConfig(): Mem0Config {
 			baseUrl: DEFAULT_BASE_URL,
 			userEmail: "",
 		},
+		telemetry: {
+			anonymousId: "",
+		},
 	};
 }
 
@@ -80,6 +88,9 @@ export function loadConfig(): Mem0Config {
 		config.defaults.appId = defaults.app_id ?? "";
 		config.defaults.runId = defaults.run_id ?? "";
 		config.defaults.enableGraph = defaults.enable_graph ?? false;
+
+		const telemetry = data.telemetry ?? {};
+		config.telemetry.anonymousId = telemetry.anonymous_id ?? "";
 	}
 
 	// Environment variable overrides
@@ -119,6 +130,9 @@ export function saveConfig(config: Mem0Config): void {
 			base_url: config.platform.baseUrl,
 			user_email: config.platform.userEmail,
 		},
+		telemetry: {
+			anonymous_id: config.telemetry.anonymousId,
+		},
 	};
 
 	fs.writeFileSync(CONFIG_FILE, JSON.stringify(data, null, 2));

cli/node/src/telemetry.ts

@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@
  */
 
 import { spawn } from "node:child_process";
-import { createHash } from "node:crypto";
+import { createHash, randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
 import path from "node:path";
 import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
-import { CONFIG_FILE, loadConfig } from "./config.js";
+import { CONFIG_FILE, loadConfig, saveConfig } from "./config.js";
 import { CLI_VERSION } from "./version.js";
 
 const POSTHOG_API_KEY = "phc_hgJkUVJFYtmaJqrvf6CYN67TIQ8yhXAkWzUn9AMU4yX";
@@ -29,11 +29,34 @@ function isTelemetryEnabled(): boolean {
 	}
 }
 
+/**
+ * Return a persistent per-machine anonymous ID, generating one if needed.
+ *
+ * Stored in ~/.mem0/config.json under `telemetry.anonymous_id` so that
+ * repeat runs on the same machine share one PostHog identity instead of
+ * collapsing into a single shared fallback string.
+ */
+function getOrCreateAnonymousId(): string {
+	const config = loadConfig();
+	if (config.telemetry.anonymousId) {
+		return config.telemetry.anonymousId;
+	}
+
+	const newId = `cli-anon-${randomUUID().replace(/-/g, "")}`;
+	config.telemetry.anonymousId = newId;
+	try {
+		saveConfig(config);
+	} catch {
+		/* ignore persistence failure — still return the generated ID */
+	}
+	return newId;
+}
+
 /**
  * Return a stable anonymous identifier for the current user.
  *
- * Priority: cached user_email (from /v1/ping/) > MD5(api_key) > fallback.
+ * Priority: cached user_email (from /v1/ping/) > MD5(api_key) >
- * Matches the SDK pattern in mem0-ts/src/client/mem0.ts.
+ * persistent per-machine anonymous ID.
  */
 function getDistinctId(): string {
 	try {
@@ -47,7 +70,11 @@ function getDistinctId(): string {
 	} catch {
 		/* ignore */
 	}
-	return "anonymous-cli";
+	try {
+		return getOrCreateAnonymousId();
+	} catch {
+		return `cli-anon-${randomUUID().replace(/-/g, "")}`;
+	}
 }
 
 /**
@@ -69,6 +96,25 @@ export function captureEvent(
 		const config = loadConfig();
 		const distinctId = preResolvedEmail || getDistinctId();
 
+		// Detect anonymous → identified transition. If a stored anonymous_id
+		// exists and we just resolved to a real identity, fire a one-shot
+		// $identify event so PostHog stitches the pre-signup history onto
+		// the authenticated profile. Clear the stored id so we don't re-alias.
+		let anonIdToAlias: string | null = null;
+		if (
+			distinctId &&
+			!distinctId.startsWith("cli-anon-") &&
+			config.telemetry.anonymousId
+		) {
+			anonIdToAlias = config.telemetry.anonymousId;
+			config.telemetry.anonymousId = "";
+			try {
+				saveConfig(config);
+			} catch {
+				/* ignore — alias may double-fire next run, harmless */
+			}
+		}
+
 		const payload = {
 			api_key: POSTHOG_API_KEY,
 			distinct_id: distinctId,
@@ -92,6 +138,7 @@ export function captureEvent(
 			mem0ApiKey: config.platform.apiKey || "",
 			mem0BaseUrl: config.platform.baseUrl || "https://api.mem0.ai",
 			configPath: CONFIG_FILE,
+			anonDistinctIdToAlias: anonIdToAlias,
 		};
 
 		const child = spawn(

cli/node/telemetry-sender.cjs

@@ -94,6 +94,19 @@ async function sendPosthogEvent(posthogHost, payload) {
 	}
 }
 
+async function sendIdentifyEvent(ctx, payload, anonId) {
+	const identifyPayload = {
+		api_key: payload.api_key,
+		event: "$identify",
+		distinct_id: payload.distinct_id,
+		properties: {
+			$anon_distinct_id: anonId,
+			$lib: (payload.properties && payload.properties.$lib) || "posthog-node",
+		},
+	};
+	await sendPosthogEvent(ctx.posthogHost, identifyPayload);
+}
+
 async function main() {
 	const ctx = JSON.parse(process.argv[2]);
 	const payload = ctx.payload;
@@ -102,6 +115,14 @@ async function main() {
 		await resolveAndCacheEmail(ctx, payload);
 	}
 
+	// Fire $identify *after* email resolution so PostHog links the stored
+	// anonymous id directly to the final identity (email, not the api-key
+	// hash). The regular event is sent next so it lands under the merged
+	// profile.
+	if (ctx.anonDistinctIdToAlias) {
+		await sendIdentifyEvent(ctx, payload, ctx.anonDistinctIdToAlias);
+	}
+
 	await sendPosthogEvent(ctx.posthogHost, payload);
 }
 

cli/python/pyproject.toml

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "mem0-cli"
-version = "0.2.2"
+version = "0.2.3"
 description = "The official CLI for mem0 — the memory layer for AI agents"
 readme = "README.md"
 license = "Apache-2.0"

cli/python/src/mem0_cli/__init__.py

@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 """mem0 CLI — the command-line interface for the mem0 memory layer."""
 
-__version__ = "0.2.2"
+__version__ = "0.2.3"

cli/python/src/mem0_cli/backend/platform.py

@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ class PlatformBackend(Backend):
             payload["categories"] = categories
         if enable_graph:
             payload["enable_graph"] = True
+        payload["source"] = "CLI"
 
         return self._request("POST", "/v1/memories/", json=payload)
 
@@ -172,6 +173,7 @@ class PlatformBackend(Backend):
             payload["fields"] = fields
         if enable_graph:
             payload["enable_graph"] = True
+        payload["source"] = "CLI"
 
         result = self._request("POST", "/v2/memories/search/", json=payload)
         return (
@@ -181,7 +183,7 @@ class PlatformBackend(Backend):
         )
 
     def get(self, memory_id: str) -> dict:
-        return self._request("GET", f"/v1/memories/{memory_id}/")
+        return self._request("GET", f"/v1/memories/{memory_id}/", params={"source": "CLI"})
 
     def list_memories(
         self,
@@ -220,6 +222,7 @@ class PlatformBackend(Backend):
             payload["filters"] = api_filters
         if enable_graph:
             payload["enable_graph"] = True
+        payload["source"] = "CLI"
 
         result = self._request("POST", "/v2/memories/", json=payload, params=params)
         return (
@@ -236,6 +239,7 @@ class PlatformBackend(Backend):
             payload["text"] = content
         if metadata:
             payload["metadata"] = metadata
+        payload["source"] = "CLI"
         return self._request("PUT", f"/v1/memories/{memory_id}/", json=payload)
 
     def delete(
@@ -249,7 +253,7 @@ class PlatformBackend(Backend):
         run_id: str | None = None,
     ) -> dict:
         if all:
-            params: dict[str, str] = {}
+            params: dict[str, str] = {"source": "CLI"}
             if user_id:
                 params["user_id"] = user_id
             if agent_id:
@@ -260,7 +264,7 @@ class PlatformBackend(Backend):
                 params["run_id"] = run_id
             return self._request("DELETE", "/v1/memories/", params=params)
         elif memory_id:
-            return self._request("DELETE", f"/v1/memories/{memory_id}/")
+            return self._request("DELETE", f"/v1/memories/{memory_id}/", params={"source": "CLI"})
         else:
             raise ValueError("Either memory_id or --all is required")
 
@@ -285,7 +289,9 @@ class PlatformBackend(Backend):
         # Delete each provided entity via the v2 path-based endpoint
         result: dict = {}
         for entity_type, entity_id in entities.items():
-            result = self._request("DELETE", f"/v2/entities/{entity_type}/{entity_id}/")
+            result = self._request(
+                "DELETE", f"/v2/entities/{entity_type}/{entity_id}/", params={"source": "CLI"}
+            )
         return result
 
     def ping(self, timeout: float | None = None) -> dict:

cli/python/src/mem0_cli/config.py

@@ -39,11 +39,17 @@ class DefaultsConfig:
     enable_graph: bool = False
 
 
+@dataclass
+class TelemetryConfig:
+    anonymous_id: str = ""
+
+
 @dataclass
 class Mem0Config:
     version: int = CONFIG_VERSION
     defaults: DefaultsConfig = field(default_factory=DefaultsConfig)
     platform: PlatformConfig = field(default_factory=PlatformConfig)
+    telemetry: TelemetryConfig = field(default_factory=TelemetryConfig)
 
 
 SHORT_KEY_ALIASES: dict[str, str] = {
@@ -87,6 +93,9 @@ def load_config() -> Mem0Config:
         config.defaults.run_id = defaults.get("run_id", "")
         config.defaults.enable_graph = defaults.get("enable_graph", False)
 
+        telemetry = data.get("telemetry", {})
+        config.telemetry.anonymous_id = telemetry.get("anonymous_id", "")
+
     # Environment variable overrides
     env_key = os.environ.get("MEM0_API_KEY")
     if env_key:
@@ -137,6 +146,9 @@ def save_config(config: Mem0Config) -> None:
             "base_url": config.platform.base_url,
             "user_email": config.platform.user_email,
         },
+        "telemetry": {
+            "anonymous_id": config.telemetry.anonymous_id,
+        },
     }
 
     with open(CONFIG_FILE, "w") as f:

cli/python/src/mem0_cli/telemetry.py

@@ -9,12 +9,14 @@ Disable with: MEM0_TELEMETRY=false
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import contextlib
 import hashlib
 import json
 import os
 import platform
 import subprocess
 import sys
+import uuid
 from typing import Any
 
 POSTHOG_API_KEY = "phc_hgJkUVJFYtmaJqrvf6CYN67TIQ8yhXAkWzUn9AMU4yX"
@@ -26,11 +28,31 @@ def _is_telemetry_enabled() -> bool:
     return val not in ("false", "0", "no")
 
 
+def _get_or_create_anonymous_id() -> str:
+    """Return a persistent per-machine anonymous ID, generating one if needed.
+
+    Stored in ~/.mem0/config.json under `telemetry.anonymous_id` so that
+    repeat runs on the same machine share one PostHog identity instead of
+    collapsing into a single shared fallback string.
+    """
+    from mem0_cli.config import load_config, save_config
+
+    config = load_config()
+    if config.telemetry.anonymous_id:
+        return config.telemetry.anonymous_id
+
+    new_id = f"cli-anon-{uuid.uuid4().hex}"
+    config.telemetry.anonymous_id = new_id
+    with contextlib.suppress(Exception):
+        save_config(config)
+    return new_id
+
+
 def _get_distinct_id() -> str:
     """Return a stable anonymous identifier for the current user.
 
-    Priority: cached user_email (from /v1/ping/) > MD5(api_key) > fallback.
+    Priority: cached user_email (from /v1/ping/) > MD5(api_key) >
-    Matches the SDK pattern in mem0/client/main.py.
+    persistent per-machine anonymous ID.
     """
     try:
         from mem0_cli.config import load_config
@@ -42,7 +64,10 @@ def _get_distinct_id() -> str:
             return hashlib.md5(config.platform.api_key.encode()).hexdigest()
     except Exception:
         pass
-    return "anonymous-cli"
+    try:
+        return _get_or_create_anonymous_id()
+    except Exception:
+        return f"cli-anon-{uuid.uuid4().hex}"
 
 
 def capture_event(
@@ -61,12 +86,27 @@ def capture_event(
 
     try:
         from mem0_cli import __version__
-        from mem0_cli.config import CONFIG_FILE, load_config
+        from mem0_cli.config import CONFIG_FILE, load_config, save_config
         from mem0_cli.state import is_agent_mode
 
         config = load_config()
         distinct_id = pre_resolved_email or _get_distinct_id()
 
+        # Detect anonymous → identified transition. If a stored anonymous_id
+        # exists and we just resolved to a real identity, fire a one-shot
+        # $identify event so PostHog stitches the pre-signup history onto
+        # the authenticated profile. Clear the stored id so we don't re-alias.
+        anon_id_to_alias: str | None = None
+        if (
+            distinct_id
+            and not distinct_id.startswith("cli-anon-")
+            and config.telemetry.anonymous_id
+        ):
+            anon_id_to_alias = config.telemetry.anonymous_id
+            config.telemetry.anonymous_id = ""
+            with contextlib.suppress(Exception):
+                save_config(config)
+
         payload = {
             "api_key": POSTHOG_API_KEY,
             "distinct_id": distinct_id,
@@ -92,6 +132,7 @@ def capture_event(
             "mem0_api_key": config.platform.api_key or "",
             "mem0_base_url": config.platform.base_url or "https://api.mem0.ai",
             "config_path": str(CONFIG_FILE),
+            "anon_distinct_id_to_alias": anon_id_to_alias,
         }
 
         subprocess.Popen(

cli/python/src/mem0_cli/telemetry_sender.py

@@ -27,9 +27,31 @@ def main() -> None:
     if ctx.get("needs_email") and ctx.get("mem0_api_key"):
         _resolve_and_cache_email(ctx, payload)
 
+    # Fire $identify *after* email resolution so PostHog links the stored
+    # anonymous id directly to the final identity (email, not the api-key
+    # hash). The regular event is sent next so it lands under the merged
+    # profile.
+    anon_id = ctx.get("anon_distinct_id_to_alias")
+    if anon_id:
+        _send_identify_event(ctx, payload, anon_id)
+
     _send_posthog_event(ctx["posthog_host"], payload)
 
 
+def _send_identify_event(ctx: dict, payload: dict, anon_id: str) -> None:
+    """Send a PostHog $identify event aliasing anon_id → payload['distinct_id']."""
+    identify_payload = {
+        "api_key": payload["api_key"],
+        "event": "$identify",
+        "distinct_id": payload["distinct_id"],
+        "properties": {
+            "$anon_distinct_id": anon_id,
+            "$lib": payload.get("properties", {}).get("$lib", "posthog-python"),
+        },
+    }
+    _send_posthog_event(ctx["posthog_host"], identify_payload)
+
+
 def _resolve_and_cache_email(ctx: dict, payload: dict) -> None:
     """Call /v1/ping/ to get the user's email, update the payload, and cache it."""
     try:

docs/changelog/sdk.mdx

@@ -1160,6 +1160,17 @@ mode: "wide"
 
 <Tab title="CLI">
 
+<Update label="2026-04-11" description="Python v0.2.3 / Node v0.2.3">
+
+**Bug Fixes:**
+- **Telemetry:** Replaced shared `"anonymous-cli"` fallback with a persistent per-machine random hash (`cli-anon-<uuid>`), so anonymous CLI users are counted individually in PostHog instead of collapsing into one identity ([#4789](https://github.com/mem0ai/mem0/pull/4789))
+- **Telemetry:** Added PostHog `$identify` event on first authenticated run to stitch pre-signup anonymous history onto the authenticated user profile ([#4789](https://github.com/mem0ai/mem0/pull/4789))
+
+**Improvements:**
+- **API:** All API calls now include `source=CLI` in request bodies (POST/PUT) and query params (GET/DELETE) for server-side attribution ([#4789](https://github.com/mem0ai/mem0/pull/4789))
+
+</Update>
+
 <Update label="2026-04-06" description="Python v0.2.2 / Node v0.2.2">
 
 **New Features:**