[wp-meta] [Making WordPress.org] #6511: Provide helpful plugin stats and insights

[Making WordPress.org]

#6511: Provide helpful plugin stats and insights
------------------------------+----------------------
 Reporter:  markzahra         |       Owner:  (none)
     Type:  feature request   |      Status:  closed
 Priority:  high              |   Milestone:
Component:  Plugin Directory  |  Resolution:  wontfix
 Keywords:                    |
------------------------------+----------------------
Changes (by Cybr):

 * status:  new => closed
 * resolution:   => wontfix


Comment:

 For-profit WordPress® has benefitted from us not knowing anything. It
 appears to aim to prosper from our ignorance forevermore. The following is
 clear to me:

 - We'll never know about the distribution of PHP versions.
 - We'll never know about the distribution of WordPress® versions.
 - We'll never know about the distribution of locales.
 - We'll never know about the abandonment rate of our plugins.
 - We'll never know about the effectiveness of our plugin updates.
 - We'll never know about the compatibility issues with other plugins.
 - We'll never know about the coding errors of our plugins.

 However, [https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/blob/6.6.2/src
 /wp-includes/update.php#L97-L113 for-profit WordPress® knows] almost
 [https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/blob/6.6.2/src/wp-
 includes/update.php#L418-L427 all of this], and for-profit WordPress®
 plugins use WordPress contributors' data to improve their
 [https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/16838 pre-installed],
 [https://meta.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/7707 featured], and for-profit
 WordPress® plugins.

 This data is critical, and it is why many WordPress plugins now have opt-
 out usage tracking on activation and [https://freemius.com/blog/reduce-
 the-abandonment-rate-of-your-wordpress-
 plugin/#capture_user_s_feedback_before_deactivation annoying popups on
 deactivation]. The shadow economy of WordPress® has propelled illicit
 behavior on a previously purportedly free and open platform.

 What's worse, over 1.5 million users have recently been
 [https://wordpress.org/news/2024/09/wp-engine-banned/ blocked] from using
 WordPress®'s plugin update services, creating a blind spot in the data we
 were promised.

 There's no reason to keep this ticket open; it only creates false hope.
 It's been over 2 years since it was created, and it could have been
 resolved in 2 weeks. We've been left in the dark and should accept that
 moving forward. Therefore, I'm closing the ticket and marking its
 resolution as "wontfix."

 WordPress® stagnates when contributors demand a change, yet it asks
 everyone to contribute more.

 This ticket has over 220 watchers and 80 voices, with an overwhelming
 majority eagerly anticipating a change. Is this what we dare call
 [https://wordpress.org/about/ Democratize Publishing]?

-- 
Ticket URL: <https://meta.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/6511#comment:146>
Making WordPress.org <https://meta.trac.wordpress.org/>
Making WordPress.org