[CMake-Promote] Usage Statistics

[Brandon J. Van Every]

Miguel A. Figueroa-Villanueva wrote:

> While reading about the google searches for finding CMake 
> users/blogs/etc, I just started thinking that it might be a good idea 
> to quantify the results of this effort. What I mean is that statistics 
> should be gathered on how usage of CMake increases, which communities 
> are using it, and why?
>
> I know this is easier said than done. I suppose that things like 
> downloads per time interval can probably be easily obtained, but other 
> things might be harder.


It would be best to survey the extant "What's popular?" websites that 
already implement such metrics for various technologies.  For instance, 
there are a few for programming languages.  If we're lucky, maybe all we 
have to do is get CMake listed somewhere on the web crawls, and then 
mirror the results.

The invasive suggestions below are not necessary to the exercise of 
collecting CMake statistics:

> Of course, having a registration process for download and/or use would 
> give useful feedback, but then CMake would become the enemy ;) At 
> least, I would probably not have downloaded and used CMake if that was 
> a requirement.


Yeah, that idea is DOA.

>
> However, maybe an optional and simple query for *non-personal* 
> information before the download like:
>
> -How did you hear about us?
> -How are you planning to use CMake?
> -...


No.  This is DOA.  Recall the legions of hardcore Techie Unix Autoconf 
users you'd like to have give CMake a chance.  They won't if you put any 
such thing in their way.  They will actively hate you.  The right place 
to put this kind of thing is in an "About..." or "cmake.org" contact 
button within CMakeSetup, and maybe in CCmake although I'm not sure of 
Unix conventions and sensibilities here.  Anyways, if the user wants to 
bug you, they'll push the button.

>
> Well, this is more of a brainstorming than a proposal, since I don't 
> feel entirely comfortable with even this type of query and I think 
> most Techies wouldn't like it. It kind of gives the look of a 
> "marketing/commercial" effort...


"Negative Marketing" is entirely possible to achieve, if one is not 
careful and conscientious about one's approaches.  That is, people 
consuming less of a product than they would have, if one hadn't opened 
one's mouth to begin with.


Cheers,
Brandon Van Every
"The pioneer is the one with the arrows in his back."
                          - anonymous entrepreneur