diff --git a/.agents/skills/conventions/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/conventions/SKILL.md
index 583cc13115b..12a5f26edb4 100644
--- a/.agents/skills/conventions/SKILL.md
+++ b/.agents/skills/conventions/SKILL.md
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ pnpm build > build.log 2>&1  # Always redirect
 pnpm typecheck               # Before commit
 pnpm lint                    # Before commit
 ```
+> Secrets: pnpm command lines may be recorded verbatim (opt-in dev metrics) —
+> pass sensitive values via env vars, never inline on the command line.
 
 ## Key Packages
 
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index c20b85e2751..9ab9f4c2485 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -11,6 +11,12 @@ frontend, and extensible node-based workflow engine.
 ## General Guidelines
 
 - Always use pnpm
+- **Secrets on the command line:** if a developer opted into anonymous dev
+  metrics (`scripts/dev-metrics`), pnpm command arguments are recorded. Arguments
+  of secret-carrying words (`config`, `login`, `publish`, `token`) — whether a
+  subcommand or baked into a flag — are dropped, and the home dir is stripped from
+  paths, but other args are sent as-is — so never put secrets in a command. Pass
+  sensitive values via environment variables, which are never captured.
 - When adding comments, keep them concise and to the point - explain the "why"
   in a line or two; don't be overly verbose. Comments should be scoped and
   relevant to the surrounding code, not just to the current task
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 2118b55e695..86fe6c43d7c 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@
     "dev:fe": "run-p start \"dev:fe:editor --filter=@n8n/design-system\"",
     "dev:fe:editor": "turbo run dev --parallel --env-mode=loose --filter=n8n-editor-ui",
     "dev:e2e": "pnpm --filter=n8n-playwright dev --ui",
+    "dev-metrics:opt-in": "node scripts/dev-metrics/setup.mjs --enable",
+    "dev-metrics:status": "node scripts/dev-metrics/setup.mjs --status",
+    "dev-metrics:reset": "node scripts/dev-metrics/setup.mjs --reset",
     "clean": "turbo run clean",
     "reset": "node scripts/ensure-zx.mjs && zx scripts/reset.mjs",
     "format": "turbo run format && node scripts/format.mjs",
diff --git a/scripts/dev-metrics/README.md b/scripts/dev-metrics/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..476226c46e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/dev-metrics/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,188 @@
+# Dev-tooling usage metrics
+
+Opt-in, anonymous telemetry that helps us understand how internal n8n developers
+use their CLIs in the monorepo: **which commands are run, how long they take, and
+roughly how many developers run them each week.**
+
+It is deliberately low-friction: no command to remember and no per-run flags.
+Internal developers are asked **once** (during `pnpm install`) and the answer is
+remembered. Today only `pnpm` is tracked; add another CLI in one line.
+
+## How it works
+
+On opt-in we **replace the tracked binary with a shim in place**: the original
+is moved next to it as `<binary>.n8n-real`, and a shim takes its path. Every
+invocation — interactive, non-interactive, or from an AI agent — hits the shim,
+which runs the real binary, times it, and reports usage. No shell function, no
+rc editing, no PATH-ordering dependence.
+
+```
+pnpm install
+  └─ scripts/prepare.mjs
+       └─ scripts/dev-metrics/setup.mjs   ← asks once (git email @n8n.io; prompts via /dev/tty)
+            └─ on "yes": replace $(command -v pnpm) with a shim,
+                          save the original as pnpm.n8n-real
+
+pnpm <anything>
+  └─ pnpm shim → runs pnpm.n8n-real, then (backgrounded) →
+       track.mjs  (installed copy in ~/.n8n/dev/bin) → RudderStack (n8n-dev)
+```
+
+- Replaced **in place**, so it works regardless of PATH order. If the binary's
+  dir isn't writable it's skipped (rare — corepack pnpm lives in a user-writable
+  dir).
+- `N8N_DEV_SHIM_ACTIVE` guards against double-counting nested calls (e.g.
+  `turbo -> pnpm`) and the tracker's own `<bin> --version` probe.
+- The tracker (`track.mjs`) is **copied to `~/.n8n/dev/bin`** and run from there, so
+  it's independent of which checkout (or none) you're in. Install only overwrites
+  the copy when the checkout's `// n8n-track-version` is newer, so the newest
+  version wins and an older checkout can't downgrade it. It self-scopes: it checks
+  the monorepo root from the command's cwd, so pnpm runs outside any n8n checkout
+  send nothing. pnpm prompts via `/dev/tty` because it pipes lifecycle-script stdio.
+
+| File | Role |
+| --- | --- |
+| `setup.mjs` | Consent prompt; replaces/restores binaries; `--status`/`--enable`/`--disable`/`--reset`. |
+| `shadow-shim.sh` | Shim template (versioned via `# n8n-shadow-shim-version`); rendered per binary with the binary name, saved-real path, and its dir baked in. |
+| `track.mjs` | Builds the anonymous event and POSTs it to RudderStack (fire-and-forget). Copied to `~/.n8n/dev/bin` on install; the shim runs that copy. |
+| `capture-server.mjs` | Local capture stub for testing — logs every event instead of sending it upstream. |
+
+State lives in `~/.n8n/dev/dev-telemetry.json` (separate from n8n's secret `config`):
+
+```json
+{ "schemaVersion": 1, "consent": "granted", "anonId": "<uuid>", "week": "2026-W26" }
+```
+
+## What is sent
+
+Event `dev:cli_command` with `anonymousId` = the weekly anonymous id, and:
+
+| Property | Example | Notes |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `actor` | `human`, `claude-code`, `cursor`, `ci` | Who ran it, inferred from env markers (`CLAUDECODE`, `CURSOR_TRACE_ID`, `CI`/`GITHUB_ACTIONS`); defaults to `human`. |
+| `binary` | `pnpm` | The shadowed CLI. |
+| `binary_version` | `10.32.1` | The CLI's own version, detected at runtime by the tracker via `<bin> --version` (`null` if unknown). |
+| `args` | `["run","build"]`, `["add","left-pad"]` | The command's **argv as an array** (boundaries preserved, incl. quoted/empty args). Parsed/aggregated on the collection side. |
+| `dir` | `packages/cli`, `.` | Where it ran, **relative to the repo root** — never an absolute path. |
+| `duration_ms` | `41230` | Wall-clock duration. |
+| `exit_code` | `0` | The command's exit code. |
+| `os` / `arch` | `darwin` / `arm64` | |
+| `cpu_cores` / `cpu_model` | `10` / `Apple M2 Pro` | Static machine profile — informs tooling defaults (memory caps, turbo concurrency). |
+| `mem_gb` / `mem_free_gb` | `32` / `3.21` | Total RAM class and free RAM at command start (headroom for memory tuning). |
+| `os_version` | `macOS 14.6.1`, `Ubuntu 22.04` | Friendly OS version where cheap; kernel release otherwise. |
+| `node_version`, `repo_version`, `schema_version` | | For segmenting. |
+
+**Sent:** the sanitized argv (`args`), plus the repo-relative `dir`, binary +
+version, timing, exit code, OS, and a static machine profile (CPU/RAM/OS version —
+none of it identifying). **Never sent:** git email, username, absolute paths as a
+field (the `dir` is repo-relative). `args` is sanitized before sending: for
+the first secret-carrying word (`config`, `login`, `publish`, `token`) — whether a
+subcommand or baked into a flag (`--config.//…=SECRET`) — the arg is kept up to the
+word plus up to 4 hint chars, and everything after is dropped (e.g.
+`["--filter","foo","config"]`, `["install","--config.//r"]`). The home dir is
+replaced with `~`. Everything else is sent as-is, so scrub/aggregate on the
+collection side too.
+
+One lifecycle event is also sent: **`dev:metrics_opt_in`**, fired once when a
+developer opts in (the transition into `granted`), under the same anonymous
+weekly `anonymousId` with only the common properties (os/arch/node/repo/schema).
+Opting *out* is deliberately **not** tracked — we don't send telemetry about
+someone who just declined it.
+
+## Privacy & anonymity
+
+- **Opt-in.** Off until an internal developer accepts the prompt. External
+  contributors are never prompted and never tracked.
+- **Anonymous.** The `anonymousId` is a random UUID that **rotates every ISO
+  week**, so individuals cannot be followed across weeks. Weekly unique
+  `anonymousId` counts give "how many developers" without identifying anyone.
+- **Scoped.** Only commands run inside an n8n checkout are considered; the
+  tracker resolves the monorepo root from the command's cwd and sends nothing
+  otherwise.
+- **No IP.** Each event is sent with `context.ip` = `0.0.0.0`, so RudderStack
+  records no caller IP and does no geo-lookup — the weekly id is the only
+  identifier.
+- **Non-disruptive.** The tracker runs detached with a 2s network timeout and
+  swallows all errors; it can never slow or fail your command.
+
+## Tracking another binary
+
+Add it to `SHADOWED_BINARIES` in **setup.mjs** — that's it:
+```js
+const SHADOWED_BINARIES = ['pnpm', 'turbo'];
+```
+The tracker sends its raw argv like any other binary; no per-binary code needed.
+
+Existing installs pick up the new binary on the next `pnpm install` (the granted
+bootstrap re-runs the install, which is idempotent). The shim itself is versioned
+via `# n8n-shadow-shim-version`; shims are re-rendered when their content changes
+(version bump or a moved real binary). Each binary's version is detected per
+command by the backgrounded tracker (`<bin> --version`), so it's always current.
+
+## Managing it
+
+```bash
+pnpm dev-metrics:opt-in                         # opt in + replace binaries with shims
+pnpm dev-metrics:status                         # show consent + per-binary shim status
+pnpm dev-metrics:reset                          # restore binaries + wipe state -> first-run
+node scripts/dev-metrics/setup.mjs --disable    # opt out (records denied) + restore binaries
+export N8N_DEV_TELEMETRY=0                       # runtime kill switch (no sending)
+```
+
+Defaults point at the `n8n-dev` RudderStack workspace (its data plane + HTTP
+source write key, baked into `track.mjs` — client-side keys, safe to ship).
+Override with `N8N_DEV_METRICS_RUDDERSTACK_URL` / `N8N_DEV_METRICS_RUDDERSTACK_KEY`
+(e.g. point the URL at the local stub when testing).
+
+## Testing locally
+
+`track.mjs` reads its data plane from `N8N_DEV_METRICS_RUDDERSTACK_URL`, so you
+can point it at the bundled stub instead of the real one and watch events arrive.
+
+```bash
+# terminal A — start the stub (optionally append raw events to a file)
+node scripts/dev-metrics/capture-server.mjs --port 9999 --out /tmp/events.jsonl
+```
+
+```bash
+# terminal B — drive the tracker directly (fastest; run from inside the repo)
+U=$(mktemp -d); mkdir -p "$U/.n8n/dev"; echo '{"consent":"granted"}' > "$U/.n8n/dev/dev-telemetry.json"
+N8N_USER_FOLDER="$U" \
+N8N_DEV_METRICS_RUDDERSTACK_URL=http://localhost:9999 \
+N8N_DEV_TRACK_BIN=pnpm N8N_DEV_TRACK_MS=1234 N8N_DEV_TRACK_CODE=0 N8N_DEV_TRACK_CWD="$PWD" \
+node scripts/dev-metrics/track.mjs run build   # argv after the script = the command's args
+```
+
+To exercise the **full path** (actually type `pnpm`), point the tracker at the
+stub, opt in, run a command, then restore:
+
+```bash
+export N8N_DEV_METRICS_RUDDERSTACK_URL=http://localhost:9999
+node scripts/dev-metrics/setup.mjs --enable   # replaces pnpm with the shim in place
+pnpm list          # → event appears in terminal A (wait ~1s; it's backgrounded)
+node scripts/dev-metrics/setup.mjs --reset    # restores the real pnpm
+```
+
+Nothing is sent unless **consent is granted** and the command runs **inside an
+n8n checkout**; `N8N_DEV_TELEMETRY=0` disables sending entirely.
+
+`sh scripts/dev-metrics/test/selfcheck.sh` runs the whole enable→run→reset flow
+against a fake binary in a temp dir (never touches your real pnpm).
+
+## Querying
+
+Once the `n8n-dev` RudderStack source is wired to a destination (warehouse /
+analytics tool), query the `dev:cli_command` events there:
+
+- **Most-used commands:** derive a subcommand from `args` (e.g. its first token)
+  and group by it, optionally filtered by `binary`.
+- **How many developers:** unique `anonymousId` per ISO week.
+- **Opt-ins:** unique `anonymousId` on `dev:metrics_opt_in`.
+- **Human vs AI agent:** group any of the above by `actor`.
+- **Which packages:** group by `dir`.
+- **How long commands take:** p50/p90 of `duration_ms`, grouped by the derived
+  subcommand.
+- **Fleet profile:** distribution of `mem_gb` / `cpu_cores`, Apple-Silicon vs
+  Intel vs Linux split via `cpu_model`/`arch`, OS versions via `os_version` — to
+  tune tooling defaults (e.g. `pnpm agent:setup` memory caps and concurrency)
+  against the machines devs actually run.
diff --git a/scripts/dev-metrics/capture-server.mjs b/scripts/dev-metrics/capture-server.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ef435a64e53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/dev-metrics/capture-server.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+/**
+ * Local capture stub for testing dev-metrics events.
+ *
+ * Stands in for the RudderStack data plane so you can see exactly what track.mjs
+ * would send, without touching the real workspace. It accepts any POST (e.g.
+ * `/v1/track`), pretty-prints the event, and replies `{"status":1}`.
+ *
+ * Usage:
+ *   node scripts/dev-metrics/capture-server.mjs [--port 9999] [--out events.jsonl]
+ *
+ * Then point the tracker at it (in the shell that runs pnpm):
+ *   export N8N_DEV_METRICS_RUDDERSTACK_URL=http://localhost:9999
+ *
+ * Reminder: track.mjs only sends when consent is granted
+ * (~/.n8n/dev/dev-telemetry.json) and when run from inside an n8n checkout. See the
+ * "Testing locally" section of this folder's README.
+ */
+import { appendFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { createServer } from 'node:http';
+import { parseArgs } from 'node:util';
+
+let values;
+try {
+	({ values } = parseArgs({
+		options: {
+			port: { type: 'string', default: '9999', short: 'p' },
+			out: { type: 'string' },
+			help: { type: 'boolean', default: false, short: 'h' },
+		},
+		strict: true,
+	}));
+} catch (err) {
+	process.stderr.write(`capture-server: ${err.message}\n`);
+	process.exit(2);
+}
+
+if (values.help) {
+	process.stdout.write(
+		'Usage: node scripts/dev-metrics/capture-server.mjs [--port 9999] [--out events.jsonl]\n',
+	);
+	process.exit(0);
+}
+
+const port = Number(values.port);
+if (!Number.isInteger(port) || port <= 0 || port > 65535) {
+	process.stderr.write('capture-server: --port must be a valid TCP port\n');
+	process.exit(2);
+}
+
+let count = 0;
+
+function logEvent(url, e) {
+	count += 1;
+	console.log(
+		`\n#${count} [${new Date().toISOString()}] POST ${url}  ${e.event ?? '(no event)'}  id=${e.anonymousId}`,
+	);
+	console.log(
+		Object.entries(e.properties ?? {})
+			.map(([k, v]) => `    ${k}: ${JSON.stringify(v)}`)
+			.join('\n'),
+	);
+	if (values.out) appendFileSync(values.out, JSON.stringify({ url, ...e }) + '\n');
+}
+
+createServer((req, res) => {
+	let body = '';
+	req.on('data', (c) => (body += c));
+	req.on('end', () => {
+		try {
+			logEvent(req.url, JSON.parse(body));
+		} catch {
+			console.log(`\n[${new Date().toISOString()}] POST ${req.url}  (non-JSON body)\n  ${body}`);
+		}
+		res.writeHead(200, { 'content-type': 'application/json' });
+		res.end('{"status":1}');
+	});
+}).listen(port, () => {
+	console.log(`Capture stub listening on http://localhost:${port}`);
+	console.log(`  export N8N_DEV_METRICS_RUDDERSTACK_URL=http://localhost:${port}`);
+	if (values.out) console.log(`Appending raw events to ${values.out}`);
+});
diff --git a/scripts/dev-metrics/setup.mjs b/scripts/dev-metrics/setup.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..12f7e936313
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/dev-metrics/setup.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,483 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+/**
+ * Consent + install manager for n8n dev-tooling usage metrics.
+ *
+ * Approach: replace the tracked binaries (e.g. pnpm) with a shim in place, so
+ * every invocation — interactive, non-interactive, or from an AI agent — is
+ * intercepted the same way, with no shell function, rc editing, or PATH-ordering
+ * dependence. The shim runs the real binary, times it, and reports anonymous
+ * usage; the original is preserved next to the shim as `<binary>.n8n-real`.
+ *
+ * Invoked with no arguments from scripts/prepare.mjs during `pnpm install`: the
+ * first time an internal developer (git email @n8n.io) installs interactively,
+ * it asks once (via /dev/tty). The decision persists in ~/.n8n/dev/dev-telemetry.json.
+ *
+ * Manual usage:
+ *   node scripts/dev-metrics/setup.mjs            bootstrap (prompt once)
+ *   node scripts/dev-metrics/setup.mjs --status   show current state
+ *   node scripts/dev-metrics/setup.mjs --enable   opt in + install shims
+ *   node scripts/dev-metrics/setup.mjs --disable  opt out + restore binaries
+ *   node scripts/dev-metrics/setup.mjs --reset    wipe state (for testing)
+ *
+ * Nothing here can break `pnpm install`: prepare.mjs invokes it best-effort and
+ * every failure mode exits cleanly.
+ */
+import { execFileSync, spawn } from 'node:child_process';
+import {
+	accessSync,
+	chmodSync,
+	closeSync,
+	constants,
+	existsSync,
+	mkdirSync,
+	openSync,
+	readFileSync,
+	readSync,
+	renameSync,
+	rmSync,
+	writeFileSync,
+	writeSync,
+} from 'node:fs';
+import { homedir } from 'node:os';
+import { dirname, join } from 'node:path';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+
+const SCRIPT_DIR = dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));
+const SHADOW_SHIM_SRC = join(SCRIPT_DIR, 'shadow-shim.sh');
+const TRACK_SRC = join(SCRIPT_DIR, 'track.mjs');
+const SHIM_MARKER = '# n8n-shadow-shim-version';
+const SAVED_SUFFIX = '.n8n-real';
+
+// Binaries to shadow for usage tracking. Add another CLI here — that's it; the
+// tracker sends its raw argv, no per-binary code needed.
+const SHADOWED_BINARIES = ['pnpm'];
+
+// Dev-metrics state lives under ~/.n8n/dev, namespaced away from n8n's own files.
+function devDir() {
+	const userFolder = process.env.N8N_USER_FOLDER ?? homedir();
+	return join(userFolder, '.n8n', 'dev');
+}
+
+function statePath() {
+	return join(devDir(), 'dev-telemetry.json');
+}
+
+/** Stable copy of the tracker the shim runs — refreshed on each install, so it's
+ * the latest committed version regardless of which checkout you're in. */
+function trackerDest() {
+	return join(devDir(), 'bin', 'track.mjs');
+}
+
+/** Read a `<key>: N` version marker from a file, or null. */
+function readVersion(file, key) {
+	try {
+		const m = readFileSync(file, 'utf8').match(new RegExp(`${key}:\\s*(\\d+)`));
+		return m ? Number(m[1]) : null;
+	} catch {
+		return null;
+	}
+}
+const trackVersion = (file) => readVersion(file, 'n8n-track-version');
+
+function syncTracker() {
+	const dest = trackerDest();
+	// Only overwrite when this checkout's tracker is newer (missing/unversioned
+	// installed copy counts as older), so an older checkout can't downgrade it.
+	if ((trackVersion(TRACK_SRC) ?? 0) > (trackVersion(dest) ?? -1)) {
+		mkdirSync(dirname(dest), { recursive: true });
+		writeFileSync(dest, readFileSync(TRACK_SRC, 'utf8'));
+	}
+	return dest;
+}
+
+function readState() {
+	try {
+		return JSON.parse(readFileSync(statePath(), 'utf8'));
+	} catch {
+		return null;
+	}
+}
+
+function writeState(next) {
+	mkdirSync(devDir(), { recursive: true });
+	const prev = readState() ?? {};
+	writeFileSync(
+		statePath(),
+		JSON.stringify({ schemaVersion: 1, ...prev, ...next }, null, 2) + '\n',
+	);
+}
+
+function gitEmail() {
+	try {
+		return execFileSync('git', ['config', 'user.email'], { encoding: 'utf8' }).trim();
+	} catch {
+		return '';
+	}
+}
+
+function isInternalDev() {
+	return gitEmail().toLowerCase().endsWith('@n8n.io');
+}
+
+// --- Binary replacement -----------------------------------------------------
+
+function isExecutable(path) {
+	try {
+		accessSync(path, constants.X_OK);
+		return true;
+	} catch {
+		return false;
+	}
+}
+
+function isWritableDir(dir) {
+	try {
+		accessSync(dir, constants.W_OK);
+		return true;
+	} catch {
+		return false;
+	}
+}
+
+function isOurShim(path) {
+	try {
+		return readFileSync(path, 'utf8').includes(SHIM_MARKER);
+	} catch {
+		return false;
+	}
+}
+
+const pathDirs = () => (process.env.PATH ?? '').split(':').filter(Boolean);
+
+/** First executable `bin` on PATH (may be our shim). */
+function whichOnPath(bin) {
+	for (const d of pathDirs()) {
+		const p = join(d, bin);
+		if (isExecutable(p)) return p;
+	}
+	return '';
+}
+
+/** The genuine real binary: skips our shims, following an in-place shim to its saved sibling. */
+function resolveRealBinary(bin) {
+	for (const d of pathDirs()) {
+		const p = join(d, bin);
+		if (!isExecutable(p)) continue;
+		if (!isOurShim(p)) return p; // genuine
+		const saved = p + SAVED_SUFFIX;
+		if (isExecutable(saved)) return saved; // in-place shim -> its saved original
+		// stray shim without a saved original: keep looking for the genuine one
+	}
+	return '';
+}
+
+const shimVersion = (file) => readVersion(file, 'n8n-shadow-shim-version');
+
+// Escape a value for a POSIX single-quoted shell string: end the quote, emit a
+// literal quote via double quotes, reopen — so a path with an apostrophe (e.g.
+// /Users/o'brien) can't break out of the assignment in the rendered shim.
+const shq = (s) => s.replaceAll("'", `'"'"'`);
+
+/** Render shadow-shim.sh for `bin` and write it (+chmod) to `file`. The template
+ * wraps each placeholder in single quotes, so every value is escaped for that. */
+function renderShim(file, realExec, bin) {
+	const rendered = readFileSync(SHADOW_SHIM_SRC, 'utf8')
+		.replaceAll('__N8N_BIN__', shq(bin))
+		.replaceAll('__N8N_REAL__', shq(realExec))
+		.replaceAll('__N8N_BINDIR__', shq(dirname(file)))
+		.replaceAll('__N8N_TRACKER__', shq(trackerDest()));
+	writeFileSync(file, rendered);
+	chmodSync(file, 0o755);
+}
+
+function installOne(bin) {
+	const front = whichOnPath(bin);
+
+	// Already shimmed: re-render only if this checkout's template is newer
+	// (missing/unversioned counts as older) — no older checkout can downgrade it.
+	if (front && isOurShim(front)) {
+		if ((shimVersion(SHADOW_SHIM_SRC) ?? 0) > (shimVersion(front) ?? -1)) {
+			const saved = front + SAVED_SUFFIX;
+			const real = existsSync(saved) ? saved : resolveRealBinary(bin);
+			if (real) {
+				const tmp = `${front}.n8n-shim`;
+				renderShim(tmp, real, bin);
+				renameSync(tmp, front); // atomic; the old shim stays valid if this throws
+			}
+		}
+		return { bin, action: 'refreshed', path: front };
+	}
+
+	const real = front; // genuine real (first on PATH), or '' if not on PATH
+	if (!real) return { bin, action: 'missing', path: '' };
+
+	const dir = dirname(real);
+	if (!isWritableDir(dir)) return { bin, action: 'unwritable', path: dir };
+
+	// Fresh in-place install. Build the shim beside the real binary first, then
+	// swap — so a crash never leaves the binary's path empty. If the final swap
+	// fails after the original was moved aside, roll it back so pnpm keeps working.
+	// `real` is genuine here (not our shim), so any existing saved sibling is stale
+	// — e.g. a corepack/pnpm upgrade dropped a fresh binary over the old shim. Move
+	// the current binary aside unconditionally (overwriting the stale copy) so the
+	// shim runs today's binary, never a leftover older one.
+	const saved = real + SAVED_SUFFIX;
+	const tmp = `${real}.n8n-shim`;
+	try {
+		renderShim(tmp, saved, bin); // real is still runnable here
+		renameSync(real, saved);
+		renameSync(tmp, real);
+	} catch {
+		rmSync(tmp, { force: true });
+		if (!existsSync(real) && existsSync(saved)) renameSync(saved, real);
+		return { bin, action: 'error', path: real };
+	}
+	return { bin, action: 'in-place', path: real };
+}
+
+function installBinaries() {
+	syncTracker();
+	const results = SHADOWED_BINARIES.map(installOne);
+	// Remember where shims landed so --disable/--reset can restore them later even
+	// from a different node/corepack version whose bin dir isn't on PATH now.
+	const shims = results.filter((r) => r.action === 'in-place' || r.action === 'refreshed');
+	if (shims.length) {
+		const prev = readState()?.installedShims ?? [];
+		writeState({ installedShims: [...new Set([...prev, ...shims.map((r) => r.path)])] });
+	}
+	return results;
+}
+
+function uninstallBinaries() {
+	// Restore shims we recorded (across node versions) plus any on the current PATH.
+	const recorded = readState()?.installedShims ?? [];
+	const onPath = pathDirs().flatMap((d) => SHADOWED_BINARIES.map((bin) => join(d, bin)));
+	const restored = [];
+	for (const p of new Set([...recorded, ...onPath])) {
+		if (!isOurShim(p)) continue;
+		const saved = p + SAVED_SUFFIX;
+		if (existsSync(saved))
+			renameSync(saved, p); // restore original
+		else rmSync(p, { force: true }); // stray shim with no saved original
+		restored.push(p);
+	}
+	return restored;
+}
+
+// --- Consent / lifecycle ----------------------------------------------------
+
+/** Fire a one-off lifecycle event via the tracker, detached so setup never waits. */
+function fireEvent(event) {
+	try {
+		spawn('node', [join(SCRIPT_DIR, 'track.mjs')], {
+			cwd: SCRIPT_DIR, // inside the repo, so the tracker finds the monorepo root
+			env: { ...process.env, N8N_DEV_EVENT: event },
+			detached: true,
+			stdio: 'ignore',
+		}).unref();
+	} catch {
+		// best-effort; opt-in tracking must never disrupt setup
+	}
+}
+
+function enable() {
+	const firstOptIn = readState()?.consent !== 'granted';
+	writeState({ consent: 'granted' });
+	emit('\n✓ n8n dev metrics enabled. Thanks for helping improve the tooling!\n\n'+
+							'You can opt out of dev metrics at any time by running "pnpm dev-metrics:reset"\n', GREEN);
+	for (const r of installBinaries()) {
+		if (r.action === 'missing') emit(`  ${r.bin}: not found on PATH — skipped.`);
+		else if (r.action === 'unwritable')
+			emit(`  ${r.bin}: ${r.path} not writable — skipped.`);
+		else if (r.action === 'error')
+			emit(`  ${r.bin}: shim install failed — original left in place.`);
+		else if (r.action === 'refreshed')
+			emit(`  ${r.bin}: shim already installed (${r.path}).`);
+		else
+			emit(
+				`  ${r.bin}: replaced ${r.path} with a shim (original -> ${r.bin}${SAVED_SUFFIX}).`,
+			);
+	}
+	if (firstOptIn) fireEvent('dev:metrics_opt_in');
+}
+
+function disable() {
+	writeState({ consent: 'denied' });
+	const restored = uninstallBinaries();
+	emit('✓ n8n dev metrics disabled. Nothing will be sent.', GREEN);
+	emit(`  restored: ${restored.length ? restored.join(', ') : '(nothing was installed)'}`);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Wipe all local state back to genuine first-run (undecided consent): restore
+ * the binaries and delete the consent/id file. Unlike --disable it records no
+ * decision, so the next `pnpm install` prompts again.
+ */
+function reset() {
+	const restored = uninstallBinaries();
+	let stateRemoved = false;
+	try {
+		rmSync(statePath());
+		stateRemoved = true;
+	} catch {
+		// nothing to remove
+	}
+	let trackerRemoved = false;
+	try {
+		rmSync(trackerDest());
+		trackerRemoved = true;
+	} catch {
+		// not installed
+	}
+	emit('✓ n8n dev metrics reset to first-run state (consent undecided).', GREEN);
+	emit(`  state file: ${stateRemoved ? 'removed' : '(none)'}`);
+	emit(`  tracker:    ${trackerRemoved ? 'removed' : '(none)'}`);
+	emit(`  restored:   ${restored.length ? restored.join(', ') : '(nothing)'}`);
+}
+
+function status() {
+	const state = readState();
+	emit(`n8n dev metrics: consent=${state?.consent ?? '(undecided)'}`);
+	emit(`  state file: ${statePath()}`);
+	emit(
+		`  weekly id:  ${state?.anonId ?? '(none yet — assigned on first tracked command)'}${state?.week ? ` (week ${state.week})` : ''}`,
+	);
+	emit(`  shim src:   ${SHADOW_SHIM_SRC} (v${shimVersion(SHADOW_SHIM_SRC) ?? '?'})`);
+	const td = trackerDest();
+	emit(
+		`  tracker:    ${existsSync(td) ? `${td} (v${trackVersion(td) ?? '?'}, src v${trackVersion(TRACK_SRC) ?? '?'})` : '(not installed)'}`,
+	);
+	for (const bin of SHADOWED_BINARIES) {
+		const front = whichOnPath(bin);
+		const shimmed = front && isOurShim(front);
+		emit(
+			`  ${bin}: ${shimmed ? `shimmed @ ${front} (v${shimVersion(front) ?? '?'})` : 'not shimmed'} (real: ${resolveRealBinary(bin) || '?'})`,
+		);
+	}
+	emit(`  git email:  ${gitEmail() || '(unset)'} (internal: ${isInternalDev()})`);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Synchronous Y/n prompt via the controlling terminal. We read /dev/tty
+ * directly (not process.stdin) because pnpm pipes lifecycle-script stdio in
+ * workspaces. A synchronous read avoids leaving a stream handle open that would
+ * keep this process — and therefore the parent `pnpm install` — from exiting.
+ *
+ * The tty is opened non-blocking and polled to a deadline: a terminal that
+ * exists but never sends input (e.g. a pty a wrapper allocated) times out and
+ * leaves the decision unmade, instead of hanging `pnpm install` forever.
+ */
+const PROMPT_TIMEOUT_MS = 30_000;
+
+/** Sleep synchronously without spinning the CPU (to poll the non-blocking tty). */
+function sleepMs(ms) {
+	Atomics.wait(new Int32Array(new SharedArrayBuffer(4)), 0, 0, ms);
+}
+
+const GREEN = '\x1b[32m';
+const RESET = '\x1b[0m';
+
+/** Write a user-facing line to the controlling terminal so it's visible even
+ * when a parent (pnpm) has captured stdout. Falls back to stdout when there's
+ * no tty (CI / non-interactive). Mirrors console.log by appending a newline.
+ * A `color` (ANSI code) is applied only when the destination is a real
+ * terminal and NO_COLOR isn't set, so codes never leak into captured logs. */
+function emit(message, color) {
+	let fd;
+	try {
+		fd = openSync('/dev/tty', constants.O_WRONLY);
+		writeSync(fd, colorize(message, color, true) + '\n');
+	} catch {
+		// no controlling terminal — fall back to stdout (color only if it's a tty)
+		process.stdout.write(colorize(message, color, process.stdout.isTTY) + '\n');
+	} finally {
+		if (fd !== undefined) {
+			try {
+				closeSync(fd);
+			} catch {}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+/** Wrap `text` in an ANSI color when the target supports it and NO_COLOR is unset. */
+function colorize(text, color, toTerminal) {
+	if (!color || !toTerminal || process.env.NO_COLOR) return text;
+	return `${color}${text}${RESET}`;
+}
+
+function promptViaTty(message) {
+	let fd;
+	try {
+		fd = openSync('/dev/tty', constants.O_RDWR | constants.O_NONBLOCK);
+		writeSync(fd, message);
+		const buf = Buffer.alloc(256);
+		const deadline = Date.now() + PROMPT_TIMEOUT_MS;
+		while (Date.now() < deadline) {
+			try {
+				const bytes = readSync(fd, buf, 0, buf.length, null);
+				return buf.toString('utf8', 0, bytes).trim().toLowerCase();
+			} catch (err) {
+				if (err.code !== 'EAGAIN') throw err; // real error, not "no input yet"
+				sleepMs(50); // nothing typed yet — wait and retry until the deadline
+			}
+		}
+		return null; // no answer within the timeout — ask again next time
+	} catch {
+		return null; // no controlling terminal (CI / non-interactive), or read failed
+	} finally {
+		if (fd !== undefined) {
+			try {
+				closeSync(fd);
+			} catch {}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+function bootstrap() {
+	if (process.env.CI || process.env.DOCKER_BUILD) return;
+	if (process.env.N8N_DEV_TELEMETRY === '0') return;
+
+	const state = readState();
+	if (state?.consent) {
+		// Decision made — if granted, re-install (idempotent; self-heals after an
+		// nvm node switch that left the current node's binary un-shimmed).
+		if (state.consent === 'granted') installBinaries();
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if (!isInternalDev()) return; // only internal developers are asked or tracked
+
+	const answer = promptViaTty(
+		'\nn8n collects anonymous usage metrics from internal developers to improve dev tooling.\n' +
+			'Tip: keep secrets in environment variables, not command arguments.\n\n' +
+			'Share anonymous dev metrics? [Y/n] ',
+	);
+	if (answer === null) return; // no terminal — ask again next time
+	if (answer === '' || answer === 'y' || answer === 'yes') enable();
+	else disable();
+}
+
+function main() {
+	const flag = process.argv[2];
+	if (flag === '--status') return status();
+	if (flag === '--enable') return enable();
+	if (flag === '--disable') return disable();
+	if (flag === '--reset') return reset();
+	if (flag === '--help' || flag === '-h') {
+		emit(
+			'Usage: node scripts/dev-metrics/setup.mjs [--status|--enable|--disable|--reset]\n' +
+				'  --status   show consent and per-binary shim status\n' +
+				'  --enable   opt in + replace binaries with shims\n' +
+				'  --disable  opt out (records denied) + restore binaries\n' +
+				'  --reset    wipe all local state back to first-run (for testing)\n' +
+				'  (no args)  bootstrap: prompt once for internal developers',
+		);
+		return;
+	}
+	bootstrap();
+}
+
+// Best-effort: never let setup disrupt `pnpm install`.
+try {
+	main();
+} catch {}
diff --git a/scripts/dev-metrics/shadow-shim.sh b/scripts/dev-metrics/shadow-shim.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5767d6d02bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/dev-metrics/shadow-shim.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# n8n-shadow-shim-version: 1
+#
+# n8n dev metrics — binary shim (template). setup.mjs renders this per shadowed
+# CLI and installs it in place of the real binary (the original is saved next to
+# it as <binary>.n8n-real), filling in the binary name, the saved real binary,
+# and its directory. Because it replaces the binary itself, ANY invocation hits
+# it — interactive, non-interactive, and AI agents alike. It always runs the real
+# binary, never changes its exit code, and reports usage in the background.
+#
+# Tracking is scoped to n8n checkouts and gated on consent (both in track.mjs).
+# N8N_DEV_SHIM_ACTIVE prevents nested calls (turbo -> pnpm, or the tracker's own
+# `<bin> --version` probe) from being counted twice. The real binary is baked in
+# (not derived from $0), so the shim can never re-invoke itself.
+
+__bin='__N8N_BIN__'
+__real='__N8N_REAL__'
+__bindir='__N8N_BINDIR__'
+__tracker='__N8N_TRACKER__' # installed copy of track.mjs, refreshed on each install
+
+# If the baked real binary moved (e.g. corepack/pnpm upgrade), re-resolve it via
+# PATH with our own directory removed — never resolving back to this shim.
+if [ ! -x "$__real" ]; then
+	__cp=$(printf '%s' "${PATH:-}" | tr ':' '\n' | grep -vxF "$__bindir" | paste -sd: -)
+	__real=$(PATH="$__cp" command -v "$__bin" 2>/dev/null)
+	[ -n "$__real" ] || exec env PATH="$__cp" "$__bin" "$@" # last resort, no loop
+fi
+
+# Nested call: run the real binary without tracking, so it isn't counted twice.
+if [ -n "${N8N_DEV_SHIM_ACTIVE:-}" ]; then
+	exec "$__real" "$@"
+fi
+
+# Millisecond clock. GNU date (Linux) has %N; macOS /bin/sh lacks it, so fall
+# back to perl's Time::HiRes (preinstalled on macOS). Whole seconds only if
+# neither exists — ponytail: add gdate/EPOCHREALTIME if such a box ever appears.
+__now_ms() {
+	__t=$(date +%s%N 2>/dev/null)
+	case "$__t" in
+		'' | *[!0-9]*) ;; # not GNU date — fall through
+		*) echo $(( __t / 1000000 )); return ;;
+	esac
+	if command -v perl >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+		__t=$(perl -MTime::HiRes -e 'printf "%d", Time::HiRes::time()*1000' 2>/dev/null)
+		[ -n "$__t" ] && { echo "$__t"; return; }
+	fi
+	echo $(( $(date +%s) * 1000 ))
+}
+
+__start=$(__now_ms)
+N8N_DEV_SHIM_ACTIVE=1 "$__real" "$@"
+__code=$?
+__end=$(__now_ms)
+
+# Run the installed tracker (a stable copy in ~/.n8n/dev, not the checkout's) — it
+# self-scopes to n8n checkouts, so we just hand it the cwd and let it decide.
+if [ -f "$__tracker" ] && command -v node >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+	# Background in a subshell so no "[job] PID" notice reaches the terminal.
+	# Pass argv through as the tracker's own arguments ("$@", not "$*") so quoted
+	# and empty args keep their boundaries.
+	(
+		N8N_DEV_TRACK_BIN="$__bin" \
+			N8N_DEV_TRACK_MS="$(( __end - __start ))" \
+			N8N_DEV_TRACK_CODE="$__code" \
+			N8N_DEV_TRACK_CWD="$PWD" \
+			nohup node "$__tracker" "$@" >/dev/null 2>&1 &
+	)
+fi
+
+exit $__code
diff --git a/scripts/dev-metrics/test/selfcheck.sh b/scripts/dev-metrics/test/selfcheck.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9a63f02d414
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/dev-metrics/test/selfcheck.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# Self-check for the binary-replacement flow (setup.mjs + shadow-shim.sh),
+# against a fake binary in a temp dir — never touches your real pnpm.
+#   sh scripts/dev-metrics/test/selfcheck.sh
+set -e
+SELF=$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)
+SRC=$(cd "$SELF/.." && pwd)          # scripts/dev-metrics (holds setup.mjs etc.)
+REPO=$(cd "$SELF/../../.." && pwd)
+PORT=9944
+EV=$(mktemp)
+
+node "$SRC/capture-server.mjs" --port "$PORT" --out "$EV" >/dev/null 2>&1 &
+SRV=$!
+trap 'kill $SRV 2>/dev/null' EXIT
+sleep 0.4
+
+# Apostrophes in both paths exercise shell escaping of the rendered shim: an
+# unescaped value would make the shim a syntax error and fail the assertions below.
+T=$(mktemp -d); UF="$T/uf-o'brien"; BIN="$T/bin-o'brien"
+mkdir -p "$UF" "$BIN"
+printf '#!/bin/sh\ncase "$1" in --version) echo 9.9.9; exit 0;; esac\necho "REAL $*"\nexit 7\n' > "$BIN/pnpm"
+chmod +x "$BIN/pnpm"
+export N8N_USER_FOLDER="$UF" N8N_DEV_METRICS_RUDDERSTACK_URL="http://localhost:$PORT" PATH="$BIN:$PATH"
+
+fail() { echo "FAIL: $1"; exit 1; }
+
+node "$SRC/setup.mjs" --enable >/dev/null
+grep -q "n8n-shadow-shim-version" "$BIN/pnpm" || fail "shim not installed"
+grep -q "REAL" "$BIN/pnpm.n8n-real" || fail "original not saved"
+
+cd "$REPO"
+rc=0; out=$(sh -c "pnpm build \"$HOME/secretpath\"" 2>&1) || rc=$?
+[ "$rc" -eq 7 ] || fail "exit code not preserved (got $rc)"
+echo "$out" | grep -q "REAL build $HOME/secretpath" || fail "real binary did not run"
+
+N8N_DEV_SHIM_ACTIVE=1 sh -c 'pnpm test' >/dev/null 2>&1 || true   # must not track
+
+# A sensitive subcommand: args up to it are kept, everything after is redacted.
+sh -c 'pnpm --filter foo config set //registry.npmjs.org/:_authToken supersecrettoken' >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+
+# A secret baked into a flag (typo): keep only the flag prefix, drop the value.
+sh -c 'pnpm install --config.//registry.npmjs.org/:_authToken=typosecrettoken' >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+
+node "$SRC/setup.mjs" --enable >/dev/null                        # idempotent
+[ -e "$BIN/pnpm.n8n-real.n8n-real" ] && fail "double-saved on re-enable"
+
+sleep 1
+n=$(grep -c '"event":"dev:cli_command"' "$EV" || true)
+[ "$n" -eq 3 ] || fail "expected 3 events, got $n"
+# Home dir stripped to ~; path arg otherwise sent whole (no truncation).
+grep -qF '"args":["build","~/secretpath"]' "$EV" || fail "home dir not stripped from args"
+# Args up to the subcommand kept, everything after it dropped (secret never seen).
+grep -qF '"args":["--filter","foo","config"]' "$EV" || fail "sensitive subcommand not redacted"
+grep -qF 'supersecrettoken' "$EV" && fail "secret token leaked into event"
+# Inline flag secret: prefix + 4-char hint (".//r") kept, value dropped.
+grep -qF '"args":["install","--config.//r"]' "$EV" || fail "inline flag secret not redacted"
+grep -qF 'typosecrettoken' "$EV" && fail "inline secret leaked into event"
+grep -q '"binary_version":"9.9.9"' "$EV" || fail "version not detected"
+grep -q '"cpu_cores"' "$EV" || fail "machine info not captured"
+
+node "$SRC/setup.mjs" --reset >/dev/null
+grep -q "REAL" "$BIN/pnpm" || fail "original not restored"
+grep -q "n8n-shadow-shim-version" "$BIN/pnpm" && fail "shim left after reset"
+[ -e "$BIN/pnpm.n8n-real" ] && fail ".n8n-real left after reset"
+
+# Regression: a package-manager upgrade (a fresh binary dropped over the shim,
+# with the previous .n8n-real left behind) must re-shim the NEW binary — not
+# silently run the stale sibling and downgrade the developer.
+(
+	B2="$T/bin2-o'brien"; mkdir -p "$B2"
+	printf '#!/bin/sh\necho "OLD $*"\n' > "$B2/pnpm"; chmod +x "$B2/pnpm"
+	export N8N_USER_FOLDER="$T/uf2" N8N_DEV_TELEMETRY=0 PATH="$B2:$PATH"
+	node "$SRC/setup.mjs" --enable >/dev/null
+	printf '#!/bin/sh\necho "NEW $*"\n' > "$B2/pnpm"; chmod +x "$B2/pnpm"  # simulate upgrade
+	node "$SRC/setup.mjs" --enable >/dev/null
+	out=$(pnpm probe 2>&1) || true
+	echo "$out" | grep -q "NEW probe" || fail "upgrade downgraded via stale .n8n-real"
+)
+
+rm -rf "$T" "$EV"
+echo "ALL PASS"
diff --git a/scripts/dev-metrics/track.mjs b/scripts/dev-metrics/track.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bf59ec614b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/dev-metrics/track.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,278 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+/**
+ * Anonymous dev-tooling usage tracker for internal n8n developers.
+ *
+ * Invoked fire-and-forget (backgrounded) by the shim (shadow-shim.sh) that
+ * replaces each tracked binary, after every shadowed command run inside an n8n
+ * checkout. It records the binary, its raw argv, wall-clock duration and exit
+ * code, plus a static machine profile (CPU/RAM/OS), to the `n8n-dev` RudderStack
+ * workspace under a weekly-rotating anonymous id, so we can see which commands
+ * are used, how long they take, roughly how many developers run them each week,
+ * and the specs of the machines they build on.
+ *
+ * Today only `pnpm` is shadowed; add another CLI to SHADOWED_BINARIES in setup.mjs.
+ *
+ * Nothing is sent unless the developer granted consent via
+ * scripts/dev-metrics/setup.mjs (stored in ~/.n8n/dev/dev-telemetry.json).
+ *
+ * Input from the shim: the command's argv as this script's own arguments, plus
+ *   N8N_DEV_TRACK_BIN   the shadowed binary, e.g. "pnpm"
+ *   N8N_DEV_TRACK_MS    wall-clock duration in ms
+ *   N8N_DEV_TRACK_CODE  exit code
+ *   N8N_DEV_TRACK_CWD   directory the command ran in
+ *
+ * The argv is sent as `args` (an array, boundaries preserved) after sanitizing:
+ * on the first secret-carrying word (`config`, `login`, …) — a subcommand or an
+ * inline flag like `--config.x=SECRET` — the arg is kept up to the word plus a
+ * short hint and everything after is dropped. The home dir is replaced with `~`
+ * so paths don't de-anonymize the developer.
+ * `dir` is repo-relative. Errors are swallowed so tracking never disrupts a workflow.
+ */
+// n8n-track-version: 1 — bump on change; setup.mjs never downgrades the installed copy.
+import { execFileSync } from 'node:child_process';
+import { randomUUID } from 'node:crypto';
+import { existsSync, readFileSync, writeFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { cpus, freemem, homedir, release, totalmem } from 'node:os';
+import { dirname, join, parse, relative } from 'node:path';
+
+// Telemetry goes to the `n8n-dev` RudderStack workspace via its HTTP tracking
+// API. Defaults are that workspace's data plane + HTTP source write key — like
+// n8n's product keys these are client-side and safe to ship; override via env.
+// Source resourceId: 3GX55bj9H9f9KpUG8AgMJlfymnf
+const RUDDERSTACK_URL =
+	process.env.N8N_DEV_METRICS_RUDDERSTACK_URL ?? 'https://nnrry.dataplane.rudderstack.com';
+const RUDDERSTACK_KEY =
+	process.env.N8N_DEV_METRICS_RUDDERSTACK_KEY ?? '3GX55Y0O8vJnXnesPItW1BWffbN';
+const EVENT_NAME = 'dev:cli_command';
+const SCHEMA_VERSION = 1;
+const POST_TIMEOUT_MS = 2000;
+
+/** Walk up from `start` to the n8n monorepo root (package.json name === n8n-monorepo). */
+function findMonorepoRoot(start) {
+	let dir = start;
+	const { root } = parse(dir);
+	while (dir && dir !== root) {
+		const pkgPath = join(dir, 'package.json');
+		if (existsSync(pkgPath)) {
+			try {
+				const pkg = JSON.parse(readFileSync(pkgPath, 'utf8'));
+				if (pkg?.name === 'n8n-monorepo') return { dir, pkg };
+			} catch {
+				// ignore unreadable/invalid package.json and keep walking up
+			}
+		}
+		dir = dirname(dir);
+	}
+	return null;
+}
+
+/** Detect the binary's version by running `<bin> --version`; null on failure. */
+function detectBinaryVersion(bin) {
+	try {
+		const out = execFileSync(bin, ['--version'], {
+			encoding: 'utf8',
+			timeout: 3000,
+			stdio: ['ignore', 'pipe', 'ignore'],
+			// Mark as active so this probe passes straight through the shim
+			// instead of triggering another tracked invocation.
+			env: { ...process.env, N8N_DEV_SHIM_ACTIVE: '1' },
+		});
+		const m = out.match(/\d+\.\d+(?:\.\d+)?(?:[-+][\w.]+)?/);
+		return m && m[0].length <= 40 ? m[0] : null;
+	} catch {
+		return null;
+	}
+}
+
+// --- Weekly anonymous id ----------------------------------------------------
+
+/** ISO-8601 week label, e.g. "2026-W26". Used to rotate the anonymous id weekly. */
+function isoWeek(date) {
+	const d = new Date(Date.UTC(date.getUTCFullYear(), date.getUTCMonth(), date.getUTCDate()));
+	const dayNum = (d.getUTCDay() + 6) % 7; // Mon=0 .. Sun=6
+	d.setUTCDate(d.getUTCDate() - dayNum + 3); // shift to the Thursday of this week
+	const firstThursday = new Date(Date.UTC(d.getUTCFullYear(), 0, 4));
+	const firstDayNum = (firstThursday.getUTCDay() + 6) % 7;
+	firstThursday.setUTCDate(firstThursday.getUTCDate() - firstDayNum + 3);
+	const week = 1 + Math.round((d.getTime() - firstThursday.getTime()) / (7 * 24 * 3600 * 1000));
+	return `${d.getUTCFullYear()}-W${String(week).padStart(2, '0')}`;
+}
+
+function statePath() {
+	const userFolder = process.env.N8N_USER_FOLDER ?? homedir();
+	return join(userFolder, '.n8n', 'dev', 'dev-telemetry.json');
+}
+
+function readState() {
+	try {
+		return JSON.parse(readFileSync(statePath(), 'utf8'));
+	} catch {
+		return null;
+	}
+}
+
+/** Ensure the anonymous id matches the current week; rotate (and persist) if not. */
+function currentAnonId(state) {
+	const week = isoWeek(new Date());
+	if (state.week === week && typeof state.anonId === 'string') return state.anonId;
+	const anonId = randomUUID();
+	try {
+		writeFileSync(statePath(), JSON.stringify({ ...state, anonId, week }, null, 2) + '\n');
+	} catch {
+		// best-effort; if we cannot persist we still send under the fresh id
+	}
+	return anonId;
+}
+
+// --- Send -------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/**
+ * Classify who ran the command from well-known agent/CI env markers, so human
+ * and AI-agent usage can be told apart. Defaults to "human".
+ */
+function detectActor() {
+	if (process.env.CLAUDECODE) return 'claude-code';
+	if (process.env.CURSOR_TRACE_ID) return 'cursor';
+	if (process.env.GITHUB_ACTIONS || process.env.CI) return 'ci';
+	return 'human';
+}
+
+/** Human-friendly OS version where it's cheap; kernel release otherwise. */
+function osVersion() {
+	try {
+		if (process.platform === 'darwin') {
+			// ponytail: one tiny spawn for the marketing version; drop to release() if it ever matters.
+			const v = execFileSync('sw_vers', ['-productVersion'], { encoding: 'utf8', timeout: 1000 });
+			return `macOS ${v.trim()}`;
+		}
+		if (process.platform === 'linux') {
+			const m = readFileSync('/etc/os-release', 'utf8').match(/^PRETTY_NAME="?(.+?)"?$/m);
+			if (m) return m[1];
+		}
+	} catch {
+		// fall through to the kernel release
+	}
+	return release();
+}
+
+/** Static machine profile (hardware + OS), for segmenting usage by the fleet's specs. */
+function machineInfo() {
+	const cores = cpus();
+	const gb = (bytes) => Math.round((bytes / 1024 ** 3) * 100) / 100;
+	return {
+		cpu_cores: cores.length || null,
+		cpu_model: cores[0]?.model?.trim().slice(0, 64) ?? null,
+		mem_gb: Math.round(totalmem() / 1024 ** 3), // total RAM class (8/16/32…)
+		mem_free_gb: gb(freemem()), // headroom at command start — the memory-cap signal
+		os_version: osVersion(),
+	};
+}
+
+async function sendEvent(event, anonymousId, properties) {
+	await fetch(`${RUDDERSTACK_URL}/v1/track`, {
+		method: 'POST',
+		headers: {
+			'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+			// RudderStack HTTP API: HTTP Basic auth, username = source write key.
+			Authorization: `Basic ${Buffer.from(`${RUDDERSTACK_KEY}:`).toString('base64')}`,
+		},
+		// context.ip "0.0.0.0" tells RudderStack not to record the caller's IP
+		// (or geo-locate from it) — the id is meant to be the only identifier.
+		body: JSON.stringify({
+			type: 'track',
+			event,
+			anonymousId,
+			properties,
+			context: { ip: '0.0.0.0' },
+		}),
+		signal: AbortSignal.timeout(POST_TIMEOUT_MS),
+	});
+}
+
+// Words whose arguments/values can carry secrets (registry tokens, auth config).
+// Matched as a prefix (leading dashes ignored) so both the positional subcommand
+// `pnpm config set …` and the inline flag `pnpm i --config.//…=SECRET` are caught.
+const REDACTED_SUBCOMMANDS = ['config', 'login', 'publish', 'token'];
+
+// Chars kept after a sensitive word as a hint of what follows. A short secret
+// prefix can leak (e.g. `--token=abc…`) — accepted for the diagnostic hint.
+const HINT_CHARS = 4;
+
+/** Sanitize argv before sending. On the first arg containing a sensitive word
+ * (prefix match, leading dashes ignored) — whether a positional subcommand
+ * `config` or an inline flag `--config.x=SECRET` — keep that arg up to the word
+ * plus up to HINT_CHARS more, then drop everything after. Also replace the home
+ * dir with `~` so absolute paths don't identify the user.
+ * ponytail: prefix match over-redacts an arg merely starting with a word (e.g. a
+ * `configure` script) — losing those args is the safe failure. */
+function sanitizeArgs(args) {
+	const home = homedir();
+	const strip = (a) => (home ? a.replaceAll(home, '~') : a);
+	const out = [];
+	for (const arg of args) {
+		const bare = arg.replace(/^-+/, ''); // ignore leading dashes when matching
+		const word = REDACTED_SUBCOMMANDS.find((w) => bare.startsWith(w));
+		if (!word) {
+			out.push(strip(arg));
+			continue;
+		}
+		const end = arg.length - bare.length + word.length; // through the matched word
+		out.push(arg.slice(0, end + HINT_CHARS));
+		return out; // stop — drop everything after the sensitive word
+	}
+	return out;
+}
+
+async function main() {
+	if (process.env.N8N_DEV_TELEMETRY === '0') return; // runtime kill switch
+
+	const cwd = process.env.N8N_DEV_TRACK_CWD ?? process.cwd();
+	const repo = findMonorepoRoot(cwd);
+	if (!repo) return; // only track commands run inside an n8n checkout
+
+	const state = readState();
+	if (state?.consent !== 'granted') return; // no consent → send nothing
+
+	// Lifecycle events (e.g. opt-in) fired by setup.mjs reuse this sender. They
+	// carry only the common, anonymous properties — no command/binary/duration.
+	const customEvent = process.env.N8N_DEV_EVENT;
+	if (customEvent) {
+		if (!/^dev:[a-z_]+$/.test(customEvent)) return; // only our own event names
+		await sendEvent(customEvent, currentAnonId(state), {
+			actor: detectActor(),
+			os: process.platform,
+			arch: process.arch,
+			node_version: process.versions.node,
+			...machineInfo(),
+			repo_version: repo.pkg?.version ?? null,
+			schema_version: SCHEMA_VERSION,
+		});
+		return;
+	}
+
+	const binary = process.env.N8N_DEV_TRACK_BIN || 'pnpm';
+	const binaryVersion = detectBinaryVersion(binary);
+	const durationMs = Number.parseInt(process.env.N8N_DEV_TRACK_MS ?? '', 10);
+	const exitCode = Number.parseInt(process.env.N8N_DEV_TRACK_CODE ?? '', 10);
+	// Repo-relative dir (e.g. "packages/cli", "." at root) — never an absolute path.
+	const dir = relative(repo.dir, cwd) || '.';
+
+	await sendEvent(EVENT_NAME, currentAnonId(state), {
+		actor: detectActor(),
+		binary,
+		binary_version: binaryVersion,
+		args: sanitizeArgs(process.argv.slice(2)), // redacted/home-stripped (sanitizeArgs)
+		dir,
+		duration_ms: Number.isFinite(durationMs) ? durationMs : null,
+		exit_code: Number.isFinite(exitCode) ? exitCode : null,
+		os: process.platform,
+		arch: process.arch,
+		node_version: process.versions.node,
+		...machineInfo(),
+		repo_version: repo.pkg?.version ?? null,
+		schema_version: SCHEMA_VERSION,
+	});
+}
+
+// Never let tracking surface an error or a non-zero exit to the developer.
+main().catch(() => {});
diff --git a/scripts/prepare.mjs b/scripts/prepare.mjs
index 2ad91f77676..16cc1f4de00 100644
--- a/scripts/prepare.mjs
+++ b/scripts/prepare.mjs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env node
 
-import { execSync } from 'node:child_process';
+import { execFileSync, execSync } from 'node:child_process';
+import { resolve } from 'node:path';
 
 // Skip lefthook install in CI or Docker build
 if (process.env.CI || process.env.DOCKER_BUILD) {
@@ -8,3 +9,14 @@ if (process.env.CI || process.env.DOCKER_BUILD) {
 }
 
 execSync('pnpm lefthook install', { stdio: 'inherit' });
+
+// Opt-in anonymous dev-tooling metrics (internal developers only). Best-effort:
+// must never break `pnpm install`.
+try {
+	// execFileSync (no shell) so a checkout path with spaces still works.
+	execFileSync('node', [resolve(import.meta.dirname, 'dev-metrics', 'setup.mjs')], {
+		stdio: 'inherit',
+	});
+} catch {
+	// ignore — metrics setup is non-essential
+}