[wp-meta] [Making WordPress.org] #6511: Bring back the active install growth chart

[Making WordPress.org]

#6511: Bring back the active install growth chart
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 Reporter:  markzahra         |       Owner:  (none)
     Type:  enhancement       |      Status:  new
 Priority:  high              |   Milestone:
Component:  Plugin Directory  |  Resolution:
 Keywords:                    |
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Comment (by dmccan):

 Replying to [comment:21 joppuyo]:
 > Replying to [comment:20 dmccan]:
 > > On the general issue of stat availability, as a community member I was
 somewhat put off by the presence of stat aggregators that people need to
 pay for to access.  I get it that the creators of those businesses were
 clever and being good entrepreneurs, but I think that knowledge should be
 available to everyone.  What about the developers of free plugins that
 cannot afford to pay for the secret knowledge? So I support having more
 stats available to everyone.
 > >
 >
 > It was possible to get the accurate active installs count using and API
 provided by wp.org and a basic math formula:
 https://benjaminintal.com/2020/09/12/how-to-get-the-actual-number-of-
 active-installs-of-your-wordpress-plugin/
 >
 > You could do this yourself using a script or even by hand using an Excel
 sheet. I don’t really see how it’s a problem if someone turns this into a
 commercial service, after all, hosting servers isn’t free and plenty of
 companies have built commercial services around the WordPress ecosystem
 (incl. Automattic itself)
 >
 > I guess only issue I see if these kinds of services put unreasonable
 pressure on w.org servers. I’m not familiar with the terms of service of
 the API.

 On reflection, my feeling about the aggregators may have been a reaction
 to the presentation of the teaser data and marketing.

 I see what you mean, that an individual plugin developer could use Excel
 to get the data about their plugin, if the technique was known and
 officially sanctioned.  An individual with Excel wouldn't have access to
 the aggregate data across all of the plugin directory.  I wonder if access
 to the aggregate data enabled manipulation of the directory, like bad use
 of SEO.

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Ticket URL: <https://meta.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/6511#comment:23>
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