[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 webdevmattcrom):

 I've been chatting with folks publicly and privately about this for the
 past few weeks to formulate my thoughts and make sure I'm not just adding
 to the "noise".

 The core of the issue here is that plugin/theme authors need MORE
 actionable data, not less, and plugin authors are afraid of what this move
 means for them in the long-run. At the same time, the active install
 charts really weren't all that informative in the first place. Having far
 more actionable, real plugin statistics would be far better. Afterall,
 it's the plugin and theme authors that are powering the giant creator
 economy and pushing more and more WordPress adoption.

 **My recommendation is the following:**

 1. We should NOT bring back the charts as they were at all, which would
 mean closing this ticket
 2. We instead start a process of talking publicly and with intention and
 strategy on what it would look like to have real actionable plugin/theme
 stats that authors need.

 **Why is this so important?**
 The consequences of removing active install data is that plugin authors
 have less trust in the long-term viability of .org as a source of
 information for their continued growth. This will mean (and already does
 mean) that companies that fund plugins will be rolling out their own forms
 of telemetry -- which will lead to another "wild west" type situation
 where data is being collected in and through WordPress in a wide variety
 of ways and become another big thing for the small volunteer plugin team
 to strictly police.

 If there was a .org structure for actionable and non-invasive plugin data
 that was more actionable and reliable, then plugin authors wouldn't have
 to re-create this system individually, and they would also have more
 actionable data to grow with. Thinking REALLY big, it would be ideal that
 such a system could even be extended in a privacy-focused manner for
 plugin authors to get specific telemetry about their unique features and
 uses as well.

 Let's close this ticket as "wont fix" and move on to more important and
 longterm strategies that actually benefit the plugin community. The longer
 we haggle over these ineffective charts, the longer it'll take to actually
 start getting real plugin data that is meaningful.

-- 
Ticket URL: <https://meta.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/6511#comment:101>
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