Analytics & Privacy Controls
FXCanvas includes optional analytics and crash reporting to help improve the application. This guide explains what data is collected, how it's used, and how you can control your privacy settings.
Overview
FXCanvas uses Countly analytics to:
- Crash Reporting: Automatically capture and report application crashes to help developers fix bugs
- Usage Analytics: Understand how features are used to improve the application
- Performance Monitoring: Track performance metrics to identify and fix bottlenecks
Important: Analytics is disabled by default. You must explicitly opt-in to enable data collection.
First-Run Consent
When you first launch FXCanvas, you'll see a consent dialog asking if you want to enable analytics:
- Read the explanation of what data is collected
- Choose your preference:
- Enable Analytics: Opt-in to help improve FXCanvas
- Disable Analytics: No data will be collected
- You can change this later in Settings at any time
Privacy Levels
FXCanvas offers three privacy levels:
Disabled (Level 0)
- No data collection whatsoever
- Crash reports are not sent
- No usage statistics collected
- Application functions normally
Anonymous (Level 1) - Default
- Basic anonymous analytics
- Crash reports with anonymized data
- Show names are hashed (not readable)
- No personally identifiable information
- No file paths or user content
Detailed (Level 2)
- Full analytics with your consent
- Crash reports with full context
- Show names included (for debugging)
- Detailed performance metrics
- Extended breadcrumb information
What Data Is Collected
Crash Reports (when enabled)
| Data | Anonymous | Detailed |
|---|---|---|
| Error message | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stack trace | ✓ | ✓ |
| Application version | ✓ | ✓ |
| Operating system | ✓ | ✓ |
| CPU/GPU info | ✓ | ✓ |
| Memory usage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Show name | Hashed | Full name |
| Active effects count | ✓ | ✓ |
| Recent actions (breadcrumbs) | Limited | Full |
Usage Analytics (when enabled)
| Data | Anonymous | Detailed |
|---|---|---|
| Feature usage counts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Session duration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Effect/source popularity | ✓ | ✓ |
| Performance metrics | Basic | Detailed |
| User actions | Limited | Full |
What Is NEVER Collected
- Your name, email, or contact information
- IP addresses (anonymized by Countly)
- File contents or show data
- Passwords or credentials
- Personal files or documents
- Screenshots or recordings
Configuring Privacy Settings
Accessing Settings
- Open FXCanvas
- Go to Settings (gear icon or menu)
- Select the Analytics & Privacy tab
Available Options
Enable Analytics
Master toggle for all analytics collection.
- On: Analytics and crash reporting active (based on other settings)
- Off: No data collection at all
Enable Crash Reporting
Toggle specifically for crash reports.
- Can be enabled independently from general analytics
- Recommended to leave on to help fix bugs
Privacy Level
Choose your comfort level:
- Disabled: No data collection
- Anonymous: Basic anonymous data (recommended)
- Detailed: Full data with your consent
Enable Breadcrumbs
Toggle for action history tracking.
- Breadcrumbs help developers understand what led to a crash
- Can be disabled if you prefer not to share action history
Saving Settings
Settings are saved automatically and persist across application restarts.
Data Security
Transmission Security
- All data is transmitted over HTTPS (encrypted)
- Data is sent to Countly's secure cloud servers
- No data is stored locally in readable form
Data Retention
- Data is retained for 12 months
- You can request data deletion at any time
- Contact support to request your data
GDPR Compliance
FXCanvas analytics is designed to comply with GDPR:
- Right to Access: You can request a copy of your data
- Right to Erasure: You can request data deletion
- Data Minimization: Only necessary data is collected
- Consent: Explicit opt-in required for analytics
- Transparency: Clear explanation of data collection
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will disabling analytics affect FXCanvas functionality?
A: No. FXCanvas works exactly the same with analytics disabled. Analytics is completely optional.
Q: Can I enable crash reporting but disable other analytics?
A: Yes. Crash reporting and general analytics can be controlled independently.
Q: What happens to my data if I disable analytics?
A: No new data will be collected. Previously collected data remains on Countly servers until the retention period expires (12 months) or you request deletion.
Q: How do I request my data or request deletion?
A: Contact FXCanvas support with your request. Include your approximate usage dates to help locate your data.
Q: Is my show content ever uploaded?
A: No. Show files, presets, and your creative content are never uploaded. Only metadata (like effect counts) may be included in crash reports.
Q: Why should I enable analytics?
A: Analytics helps the development team:
- Fix crashes faster by understanding what caused them
- Improve features that users actually use
- Identify and fix performance issues
- Make better decisions about future development
Q: Can I see what data is being sent?
A: Enable verbose logging in FXCanvas to see analytics operations in the log. Look for messages prefixed with "CountlyAnalyticsService".
Troubleshooting
Analytics Not Working
- Check if enabled: Verify analytics is enabled in Settings
- Check network: Ensure you have internet connectivity
- Check firewall: Allow FXCanvas to access the network
- Check logs: Look for error messages in the log viewer
Privacy Settings Not Saving
- Check permissions: Ensure FXCanvas can write to its data folder
- Restart application: Settings are applied on restart
- Check config file: Located at
data/config/analytics.json
Contact & Support
For questions about privacy or to request your data:
- Email: [support email]
- Website: [support website]
- GitHub: [project repository]
Last Updated: January 2026