[theme-reviewers] tracking code in themes

[Trent Lapinski]

Woh.

It is truly a shame you guys have already made the decision to restrict PressTrends use from WordPress.org without any discussion, or reason.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with knowing how many people are using your themes, and what version numbers they are using. In fact, I wish WordPress.org itself provided this kind of data publicly.

There is absolutely no private information that is garnered from PressTrends.

This isn't a privacy issue, and the metrics it does gather are extremely valuable to theme developers.

The only thing PressTrends "tracks" is theme activations of what theme version number of the theme is being activated, the average number of posts, comments, and plugins, and abandonment rates telling you if people have stopped using the theme after 30-days.

I have absolutely no problem disclosing this better in our documentation, but to make it an option that has to be enabled makes the data it does gather pretty much useless.

It enables us to see if our users are upgrading their themes to the latest versions, and gives us insight into those who stop using our themes.

Having to turn PressTrends off by default and then asking users to enable it as a theme option makes the data useless because you will only get activation numbers from people who enable the theme option which means they are already using and configuring your theme.

If this is truly a requirement, this should be in the theme review guidelines.

--Trent Lapinski
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CEO of CyberChimps LLC
trent at cyberchimps.com
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On Mar 8, 2012, at 9:08 AM, Otto wrote:

> On Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 6:12 AM, yulian yordanov <yul.yordanov at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Currently reviewing a theme which has tracking code in its functions from a
>> service called "PressTrends" http://presstrends.io/ This service fetches
>> details about users to theme's author for statistical purposes, but I'm
>> wondering is it's OK for a theme in WP repository?
> 
> This sort of thing will not be allowed in the repository if the code
> is enabled-by-default. It must be explicitly enabled by the user, and
> there must be text nearby this option that explains what data is sent
> and where it is sent to.
> 
> That is the word.
> 
> -Otto
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