# Product Analytics

> Activation, retention, funnels — measuring whether the product works.

Canonical: https://learn.significanthobbies.com/curriculum/concepts/product-analytics

Activation, retention, funnels — measuring whether the product works.

- Difficulty: core
- Tracks: Go-to-Market

## Mental model

Good analytics looks like a small tree: one north-star metric that captures the value users get, two or three input metrics that drive it, and one guardrail you must not regress on. If a PM cannot make a tradeoff from this tree alone, the tree is wrong.



## Primary sources

- [PostHog — Product analytics docs](https://posthog.com/docs/product-analytics) (doc)

## Practice

### Define a north-star metric

Pick a product. Define its north-star metric (one number that captures customer value), 2-3 input metrics that drive it, and a guardrail metric you must not regress.

**Expected evidence:** A tree: north-star → inputs → guardrail, each with a one-sentence rationale.

## Review prompts

- What makes a metric a guardrail rather than an input metric, and why must the tree have one?

## Build evidence

- **Synthesize: Application Engineering** — Turn backend, client, UX, real-time, interactive, analytics, and distribution skills into one complete product. Produce one working system, benchmark, or evidence-backed design that integrates the path.

## Prerequisites

- None assigned.

## Related concepts

- [Landing Pages](https://learn.significanthobbies.com/curriculum/concepts/landing-pages)

## Learning paths

- [12-Week Application Engineering](https://learn.significanthobbies.com/curriculum/roadmaps/application-engineering-12w)