LQ.org statistics?

Hi!

Very much inspired by this thread, I was wondering if LQ.org could have a statistics page. Things like user location, amount of user registered, amount of active users, total number of posts, statistics about the distribution the user is using and other things like that. Maybe even something fancy done with graphics ^_^.

Many found interesting just for the simple statistic showing the date of most users online. Perhaps giving more things like this would give many geeks (like me) something to do/read during coffee break at LQ.org ^_^.

I believe a few things would have to be changed, such as location would have to be a drop-down box with pre-selected choices, same for distribution. However, this kind of information could be hidden and leave the location and distribution to be displayed just as it is now. Maybe this could be a profile-feature for the current and future users.

Is that a bad idea? Is there any drawbacks by doing so besides requiring some more coding from Jeremy? Does anybody else thing this would be interesting?

I think it would be interesting, though it might be better done separately from the forums database: a sortof voluntary census, if you will.

A couple of comments. Amount of user registered, amount of active users, total number of posts and things like that are all available on the forum home page, for example:

Threads: 464,336 | Posts: 2,341,228 Registered Members: 258,250 | Registered Today: 168

There are some other statistics of this nature scattered throughout the site. The social networking features recently added should make it much easier for you to find things like members using the same distribution as you (just click on a distro in a member profile). As far as hard numbers on items like distro and location, as you noticed since it's a free form text entry, it would be nearly impossible. The limitations of a drop down box in this context pretty much preclude it from being an option. Thanks for the feedback.

--jeremy

Perhaps use a combo box with the most common entries and "other" with free form text. It'd be like a Members Choice award all the time!

With respect to user location, there is something called "clustr maps" that I think are pretty cool. My understanding is that they tally visitors by IP, and displays the counts graphically on a global map.

This is an example which you can see in the right hand column of the www.rrhobbs.com website, which uses it. (You'll need to scroll down)

I don't know about performance impact or cost, but it is pretty cool IMHO

Ah yes.. beautiful usefull statistics.. hehe

Thanks all for the replies. I found the link posted by J.W. really cool too, besides being a nice work-around the drop down box as jeremy explained. I like statistics and they are good to see the increase/decrease to Linux in different locations, it could be cool ^_^

Cheers!

For those interested, I've made an LQ Frappr map:

http://www.frappr.com/linuxquestionsorg

--jeremy

So that's 4 of us on there Come on, jump in - the water's lovely

hmm, thats scary. From the map and the satellite pics I can be outside the very house you say you live at within 5 or 6 hours, xavierp! I'm not stalking you or anything, you were just closest to where I am.

I think I've made one too many enemies to put my location up there, lol.

It should be noted that you are just entering your city, not your actual address.

--jeremy

Well, have added myself.....good to see a representation from europe, America and downunder.....will be good when more peep get on board

Might pay to put a "sticky" link to the frapper site in the "general" forum

hello

nice idea there jeremy. but i wonder, won't the map get messy when too many people make their places on it?

hmmm.. maybe not. maybe it will be cool. and fun!

Originally Posted by konsolebox hello nice idea there jeremy. but i wonder, won't the map get messy when too many people make their places on it? hmmm.. maybe not. maybe it will be cool. and fun!

Zoom in.