[wp-meta] [Making WordPress.org] #4677: Change how 'Active Installations' is calculated on 'Popular' tab

[Making WordPress.org]

#4677: Change how 'Active Installations' is calculated on 'Popular' tab
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 Reporter:  DannyCooper      |      Owner:  (none)
     Type:  defect           |     Status:  new
 Priority:  normal           |  Milestone:
Component:  Theme Directory  |   Keywords:
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 Ref: https://wordpress.org/themes/browse/popular/

 It's generally accepted that the algorithm for the 'Popular' tab is based
 on two variables:

 - Time in Directory
 - Active Installations

 This works well when .org is the primary distribution method, as both
 values start at 0.

 However, some authors/companies have realised you can manipulate the
 algorithm by accumulating installations before uploading your theme.

 So the variables look like this:

 Time in Directory = 1 day
 Active Installations = 10,000

 Because the time in directory is so low compared to the active
 installations, the theme will be given an artificially high position.

 It would be more accurate to include the time it took to accumulate
 **all** the installs. In which case the variables would be:

 - Time Since First Active Install
 - Active Installations

 There are two possible solutions:

 1) Store the number of active installations when a theme enters the
 directory and deduct that amount from any calculations. This would
 effectively reset the current variables to 0 (as they should be).

 Simplified:

 `$value = $time_in_directory * ($active_installations -
 $active_installations_on_entry)`

 2) Replace 'Time in Directory' with 'Time since first active install'. I
 believe this would require storing the value from the Update API.

 Simplified: `$value = $time_since_first_install * $active_installations`

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Ticket URL: <https://meta.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/4677>
Making WordPress.org <https://meta.trac.wordpress.org/>
Making WordPress.org