Arkadiy Vertleyb wrote:

Eric Niebler wrote:

...

I suggest we stop tracking the download counts and remove the "top downloads" page until the numbers can be made reliable. As they are, the download counters are meaningless and misleading.

I don't know if this kind of popularity contest is a good idea in the first place. First, it is not even accurate: it highly depends on how often the new version of file is uploaded. Second, all it may do is to help popular libraries to become even more popular.

However, as I said before, I think the download counter is a very useful tool. It helps the library author to estimate the amount of interest to the library, that sometimes cannot be determined by the response on the mailing list. And this usefulness is not affected by occasional drop of the counter.

So, I would suggest removing the "most popular" page, but leaving the counter -- it's very useful.

Then the counter should be changed from "total downloads" to "downloads per day" or some such. Currently, it gives a false impression. Right now, the download counter for xpressive stands at a whopping 3. What potential user in their right mind would trust code that has apparently been downloaded only 3 times. It's off-putting. And yes, the "top downloads" page must go. -- Eric Niebler Boost Consulting www.boost-consulting.com