What happened to the download counts on the wiki?

[ubu]

Looks like they all got set to zero in the last day or so. This is useful data for plugin/utility authors and potential users. I wonder if it's possible to recover the original counts and "add" them back to the new download count numbers.

[sub]

Where is the download counts normally shown? I wasnt aware there were any.

The only thing I can think of is, the other day we ran out of disk space, so I deleted the old web server logs. Its possible the wiki was parsing these for the information. I wouldnt think so though...sound prtty inefficient. If that is the case though, the info is gone forever.

Maybe blader_se knows?

[ubu]

Where is the download counts normally shown? I wasnt aware there were any.

Neat trick blader_se told me about. If you use "Download:" instead of "Attach:", the wiki keeps a count of the downloads and displays it next to the link. Handy for users who want to see if anybody is actually using a given plugin/utility and also for authors who need an ego boost.

The only thing I can think of is, the other day we ran out of disk space, so I deleted the old web server logs. Its possible the wiki was parsing these for the information. I wouldnt think so though...sound prtty inefficient. If that is the case though, the info is gone forever.

C'est la vie (or "shit happens", for US readers).

Edit: Just noticed the forum post counter just awarded me "Senior Member" status. I guess this calls for a beverage.

[psycik]

Neat trick blader_se told me about. If you use "Download:" instead of "Attach:", the wiki keeps a count of the downloads and displays it next to the link. Handy for users who want to see if anybody is actually using a given plugin/utility and also for authors who need an ego boost.

way hey...ego trip...I'll have to do that to my wiki entries.

[-stattik-]

I wonder if those download counts are triggered by web spiders...

[Fatman_do]

I wonder if those download counts are triggered by web spiders...

Just clicking on the link adds to the count. I was able to "Fix" the number of the legacy version of my skin by clicking and canceling download a number of times. Of course it would have been crazy if it had been too high of a number.

[ubu]

I wonder if those download counts are triggered by web spiders...

The numbers seem consistent with my expectations (ie. higher count for UbuStream which I expected to be relatively popular; lower count for EPGMovieDate which is more of a niche thing). Maybe we should put a plugin on the wiki that nobody in their right mind would download and see if the count stays at zero. Of course there's always the "Springtime for Hitler" factor.

I'd have thought a spider would only be interested in what it could scan without downloading and would skip any links to binary objects such as zip files. But who knows what the NSA might be up to?

[ubu]

I notice the download counts on the wiki got set back to zero once again. I can only reiterate the usefulness of these counts to both users and authors. If they constantly get reset the whole point of keeping a count is compromised.

Since I don't know the source of these "magic" numbers (web logs?, some pm_wiki log?) I don't know what needs to be preserved. Does anybody know why this happens?

[sub]

I notice the download counts on the wiki got set back to zero once again. I can only reiterate the usefulness of these counts to both users and authors. If they constantly get reset the whole point of keeping a count is compromised.

Since I don't know the source of these "magic" numbers (web logs?, some pm_wiki log?) I don't know what needs to be preserved. Does anybody know why this happens?

I dont know where those numbers come from, or why they would be reset, but I havnt done anything on that server in recent weeks.

[ubu]

Why do you worry, just minor download counting record on wiki. If the server gets reset then those counts should change back to zero. That's why I don't bother using that feature for my skins on pmwiki site.

Um... Yes? That's my point. If they get set to zero then it's not a true count any more, is it?

Displaying a download count for each plugin, skin or utility gives the potential user a rough idea of a) the popularity and b) the stability of the component he is about to download. A download count of 300 (together with a fairly recent last date in the update log at the bottom of the page) would suggest that lots of people are happily and successfully using the component. However, a download count of 2 suggests an element of risk since the component has not been widely used and some "issues" may remain undiscovered.

For new GB-PVR users, especially, this is a helpful feature for distinguishing between components that are likely to work "out of the box" and outdated or "experimental" components that are likely to frustrate them.