---
title: "Send OpenTelemetry from FastAPI to your Mac"
description: "Install the OpenTelemetry distro, run uvicorn under opentelemetry-instrument, and read the logs, metrics, and traces of your FastAPI app in one window."
source: "https://getloggerhead.com/docs/send-telemetry/fastapi/"
---

# Send OpenTelemetry from FastAPI to your Mac

> Install the OpenTelemetry distro, run uvicorn under opentelemetry-instrument, and read the logs, metrics, and traces of your FastAPI app in one window.

Python needs no code change. The OpenTelemetry distro wraps the process and instruments FastAPI, the HTTP client, and the database driver it finds.

## Before you start

- Loggerhead is open.
- You know the effective port. Open **Collectors → Loggerhead receiver → Connection** and copy the HTTP port. The first workspace uses 4318. See [Ports and the effective port](/docs/getting-started/ports-and-the-effective-port/).

## Step 1: install

```bash
pip install opentelemetry-distro opentelemetry-exporter-otlp
opentelemetry-bootstrap -a install
```

`opentelemetry-bootstrap` reads the packages you already have and installs the matching instrumentation.

## Step 2: set the endpoint

```bash title=".env"
OTEL_SERVICE_NAME=my-api
OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT=http://127.0.0.1:4318
OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_PROTOCOL=http/protobuf
OTEL_LOGS_EXPORTER=otlp
OTEL_PYTHON_LOGGING_AUTO_INSTRUMENTATION_ENABLED=true
OTEL_SEMCONV_STABILITY_OPT_IN=http,database
```

The two `LOGS` lines send your `logging` records as well. Without them Python sends traces and metrics only. The last line asks the instrumentation for the current attribute names, such as `http.request.method` and `db.query.text`. Without it the spans carry the names that OpenTelemetry renamed, and the lint rule "Renamed attribute keys" reports them.

## Step 3: start the app

```bash
opentelemetry-instrument uvicorn main:app --reload
```

Call one endpoint, then open **Traces** in Loggerhead.

## What arrives

| Signal | State |
| --- | --- |
| Traces | Every request, and the calls the instrumentation finds inside it. |
| Metrics | Request duration and count, plus the runtime metrics. |
| Logs | Every `logging` record, with its trace ID, when the two log settings are on. |

## Tag the environment

```bash
OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES=deployment.environment.name=staging
```

See [Workspaces and environments](/docs/getting-started/workspaces-and-environments/).

## Then read it with your agent

1. Open **Logs** in Loggerhead. Click a log line, then click its trace ID in the detail to open the trace.
2. Connect your coding agent once, and it reads the same data. See [Claude Code](/docs/connect-your-ai-tool/claude-code/).