A Year of Stats
Pages
| Author | Topic: A Year of Stats |
|---|---|
|
Law Bringer
Member # 2984
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 18:37
Profile
Homepage
You're probably wondering why it is supposedly a "year" when the first statistics topic was clearly posted in April, and quite a bit less than one year ago. In a moment, you will also wonder why, instead of just posting the goddamn stats, I ramble on and on about old times. In one week, a year ago - on February 24, 2005 - was the first day that I started running the hourly "post monitor" for the General forum. Since then it has - with a break of about two months last summer - run unceasingly and unerringly, querying the boards every hour, on the hour, to find out a) how many posts are on General, b) how many topics are on General and c) how many members have registered. That was my first venture into the world of PHP scripting, incidentally (I tried to make a guestbook back in August 2004, but that was a spectacular failure). This monitor script has seen a lot of changes in the days since it began. It started out using flat text files (comma-separated) to store the numbers, which I would have to laboriously copy into an Excel spreadsheet I was storing locally. Ever so often, I would neglect this for a few weeks on end, and would then have to spend hours updating everything. There was trouble on the Spiderweb end as well - not 48 hours after it started, we had a board crash during which Saunders' account died and a few dozen posts were lost (this has, of course, been dwarfed by the loss of about 40,000 posts last month in the purge) Also, on the server it ran on, there were no cron jobs (scheduled tasks to run at certain intervals), and I had to literally run it myself every hour - or put a code snippet on a high-traffic webpage so it would be triggered by the visitors. Not very reliable. Around August, when I learned a bit about MySQL, I managed to move the whole thing from a flat file to a database table, which made everything a lot less tedious and faster. In October, when I learned how to do dynamically generated images with PHP, I made a neat graph ( www.ermarian.net/stats/ ) for displaying this. Finally, in December I moved it to a new server where I could use cronjobs, and since then I haven't really had to maintain it. Patience, we're almost there. Stats will follow right away. -- Updates: - As I might have posted a couple of weeks ago, there is now a Search Function that allows you to search within all the monthly tables. - There is now a profile page that can display all of a single member's data in a given month; it is reachable from the search results. - A few days ago I found a few old Excel tables - namely for May, June and July 05. These are now in the database. At that point I was only saving member number, name, posts and title, so the other data is missing (or rather, copied from the August table). - The birthday field behaved a bit weirdly for people older than the Unix Era (ie born before 1970), this should be fixed now. If you were born before 1970, check if your birthday is correct in this month's table. - I just noticed I royally screwed up the joining dates this month. Since those don't change, and aren't essential, I just leave them as they are now and then fix them in the next update in March. In other news: Polaris, which was stuck since late November last year without a domain name, has now been given the freshly registered www.polarisboard.net. Be sure to update your bookmarks. :) And now, finally, the stats. I. Joining Rate There are exactly 100 new members. Actually, those would be 101 by now, but the last one joined while I was making the update and didn't get counted. Of these 100, 59 posted. All in all, not bad compared to the recent months, but a noticable drop from January. Monthly Overview: April 2005: 151/87 May 2005: 78/43 June 2005: 147/91 July 2005: 153/88 August 2005: 108/62 September 2005: 91/52 October 2005: 81/43 November 2005: 83/41 December 2005: 85/52 January 2006: 136/86 February 2006: 100/59 II. Activity 268 members have posted since the last update, this includes 59 new members and 209 old ones. Here, too, a downward trend. Monthly Overview: April 2005: 360 (273) May 2005: 262 (219) June 2005: 325 (232) July 2005: 352 (264) August 2005: 293 (231) September 2005: 256 (204) October 2005: 229 (186) November 2005: 234 (193) December 2005: 239 (187) January 2006: 333 (247) February 2006: 268 (209) III. Postage 4555 posts were made this month, which is the third lowest so far. This comes to 153.24 posts per day, 17 posts per member, and 0.572 per member per day. Monthly Overview: April 2005: 7576 | 186 | 21 | 0.47 May 2005: 4723 | 169 | 18 | 0.52 June 2005: 7267 | 251 | 22.4 | 0.77 July 2005: 8691 | 271.6 | 24.7 | 0.77 August 2005: 5917 | 190.9 | 20.1 | 0.65 September 2005: 5412 | 174.6 | 21.1 | 0.68 October 2005: 4477 | 149.3 | 19.5 | 0.65 November 2005: 4389 | 141.6 | 18.8 | 0.61 December 2005: 3958 | 131.9 | 16.6 | 0.55 January 2006: 6580 | 204.3 | 19.8 | 0.61 February 2006: 4555 | 153.24 | 17 | 0.57 IV. Rankings This month's rankings are available here. Amazingly, I "win". Or tie with Dikiyoba, rather. The order in which the first two are positioned is not biased, but rather based on total postcount as a secondary sorting key. Since I have more posts in total, I'm before Diki. Last month, I said I took 8 hours for the stats. Fortunately, this trend is not continuing, this time it was only from midnight to 4:37, and I had time to do other things while it was running. :) [ Thursday, February 16, 2006 18:40: Message edited by: Arancaytar the Grey ] -------------------- Encyclopaedia Ermariana • Forum Archives • Forum Statistics • RSS [Topic / Forum] My Blog • Polaris • I eat novels for breakfast. Polaris is dead, long live Polaris. Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair. Posts: 8752 | Registered: Wednesday, May 14 2003 07:00 |
|
Raven v. Writing Desk
Member # 261
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 18:40
Profile
Homepage
Aran, when you post these topics, how often do you get a reply along the lines of "You're really weird"? Just curious. Don't worry, I don't think you're weird. Mostly. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central Posts: 3560 | Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00 |
|
Law Bringer
Member # 2984
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 19:12
Profile
Homepage
Usually only from the new guys - the others have gotten used to it. :P -------------------- Encyclopaedia Ermariana • Forum Archives • Forum Statistics • RSS [Topic / Forum] My Blog • Polaris • I eat novels for breakfast. Polaris is dead, long live Polaris. Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair. Posts: 8752 | Registered: Wednesday, May 14 2003 07:00 |
|
Law Bringer
Member # 335
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 19:52
Profile
Homepage
If you think of January as a fluke of the new year, the stats are encouraging. Or discouraging, if you're TM. —Alorael, who didn't notice that Aran was posting that much and certainly didn't catch on to Dikiyoba's grasp for power posting. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
|
Law Bringer
Member # 6489
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 19:53
Profile
Homepage
Up 6 places and 19 posts from last month. Not bad, in my opinion. Edit: quote:If he keeps it up, you might have competition in a few years, Alorael. [ Thursday, February 16, 2006 20:00: Message edited by: Tyranicus ] -------------------- "You're drinking liquor because you're thirsty? How nasty is your freaking water?" —Lazarus Spiderweb Chat Room Avernum RP • Summaries • OoC • Roster Shadow Vale - My site, home of the Spiderweb Chat Database, BoA Scenario Database, & the A1 Quest List, among other things. Posts: 1556 | Registered: Sunday, November 20 2005 08:00 |
|
Raven v. Writing Desk
Member # 261
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 20:00
Profile
Homepage
It would be interesting to break the results down by forum. I was surprised by some of the high numbers too, but I've mostly only read General this month, so some of those probably come from other forums. OTOH, last month almost all my posts were in Av4, surely an oddity among the "top" 10. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central Posts: 3560 | Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00 |
|
Law Bringer
Member # 2984
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 20:11
Profile
Homepage
The post statistics monitor I was talking about above so far only grabs the post count on General, but I could easily modify it to count the other boards as well, in the future. In fact, I was planning to do so this weekend. As for actual member/forum statistics, that's currently impossible. I'd need every single thread page and post saved and then identified according to member - and even if I could do this with the archives I have now, it would be a bit of a hassle to restart PPP every month just to count stats... ;) -------------------- Encyclopaedia Ermariana • Forum Archives • Forum Statistics • RSS [Topic / Forum] My Blog • Polaris • I eat novels for breakfast. Polaris is dead, long live Polaris. Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair. Posts: 8752 | Registered: Wednesday, May 14 2003 07:00 |
|
Shaper
Member # 247
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 20:35
Profile
Homepage
Number thirteen yes! As 13 is my soccer jersey number I see the results as a sign. Well maybe a rather unimportant sign. -------------------- The Knight Between Posts. Posts: 2395 | Registered: Friday, November 2 2001 08:00 |
|
? Man, ? Amazing
Member # 5755
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 20:40
Profile
With two of the seven (now 8) replies to this thread, that you created, it's not surprising that you excel in posting. I shall be there someday. Hmm still under 100 posts for me, that's my personal not-to-exceed number. *this message sponsored by pffft, distant cousin to php* -------------------- quote: Posts: 4114 | Registered: Monday, April 25 2005 07:00 |
|
Infiltrator
Member # 2836
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 20:52
Profile
Number 2^2^2! I'm surprised. 24 posts, was it? [ Thursday, February 16, 2006 20:53: Message edited by: The Stew Boy ] Posts: 587 | Registered: Tuesday, April 1 2003 08:00 |
|
Councilor
Member # 6600
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 21:15
Profile
Homepage
Congratulations to all who posted! Especially to Arayncaytar, for being one of the few people to shorten Dikiyoba's name down. Dikiyoba suspects that one reason that Dikiyoba's post count took some people by surprise is the fact that Dikiyoba's posts are spread out over practically every forum. Posts: 4346 | Registered: Friday, December 23 2005 08:00 |
|
Infiltrator
Member # 3040
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 21:17
Profile
quote:What about utilizing the "view recent posts" option in a member's profile? It shows a table of the forums of the last 50 posts. You could probably come up with some way of keeping track of which you've already counted. -------------------- 5.0.1.0.0.0.0.1.0... Posts: 508 | Registered: Thursday, May 29 2003 07:00 |
|
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 21:20
Profile
Homepage
7th... I believe that's two months in a row. (checks) Yep, though I'm down by 40 from last month... oh well. This month shall be different! Minor resolution: higher percentage of meaningful posts... -------------------- Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice. I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion. Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00 |
|
Law Bringer
Member # 6489
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 21:21
Profile
Homepage
quote:You need to add another power of two there. 2^2^2 is my rank. [ Thursday, February 16, 2006 21:26: Message edited by: Tyranicus ] -------------------- "You're drinking liquor because you're thirsty? How nasty is your freaking water?" —Lazarus Spiderweb Chat Room Avernum RP • Summaries • OoC • Roster Shadow Vale - My site, home of the Spiderweb Chat Database, BoA Scenario Database, & the A1 Quest List, among other things. Posts: 1556 | Registered: Sunday, November 20 2005 08:00 |
|
Infiltrator
Member # 2836
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 21:53
Profile
Rats, I knew it was 2^2^2^2, but something inside me told me it was 2^2^2... edit: My post count is now almost equal to my member number. :) [ Thursday, February 16, 2006 21:54: Message edited by: The Stew Boy ] Posts: 587 | Registered: Tuesday, April 1 2003 08:00 |
|
Shaper
Member # 5450
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 21:53
Profile
Homepage
73? Holy Moly, I'm slowing down. I aim to get 2000 before the next stats. -------------------- I'll put a Spring in your step. :ph34r: Posts: 2396 | Registered: Saturday, January 29 2005 08:00 |
|
Infiltrator
Member # 2836
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 21:54
Profile
I aim to get to 500, but I don't think that will happen... Posts: 587 | Registered: Tuesday, April 1 2003 08:00 |
|
Law Bringer
Member # 6489
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 21:57
Profile
Homepage
I aim to get to at least 250, which barring unforeseen circumstances, I should reach with no difficulty. Setting attainable goals always keeps me from being disappointed. [ Thursday, February 16, 2006 22:05: Message edited by: Tyranicus ] -------------------- "You're drinking liquor because you're thirsty? How nasty is your freaking water?" —Lazarus Spiderweb Chat Room Avernum RP • Summaries • OoC • Roster Shadow Vale - My site, home of the Spiderweb Chat Database, BoA Scenario Database, & the A1 Quest List, among other things. Posts: 1556 | Registered: Sunday, November 20 2005 08:00 |
|
...b10010b...
Member # 869
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 22:07
Profile
Homepage
O_o I was away for half the month. How did I still get 6th place? -------------------- The Empire Always Loses: This Time For Sure! Posts: 9973 | Registered: Saturday, March 30 2002 08:00 |
|
? Man, ? Amazing
Member # 5755
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 22:10
Profile
I made the top ten on one occasion. It took 229 posts, and I made 10th position. Now that many posts gets you 3rd place and a bronze doughnut medallion. It doesn't take much to make the board anymore, but it does take more than I'm willing to give. *this message sponsored by hormel* -------------------- quote: Posts: 4114 | Registered: Monday, April 25 2005 07:00 |
|
Law Bringer
Member # 2984
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 22:13
Profile
Homepage
quote:It was very easy this month, the over-all postage was lower. That said, I only seem to have a chance at being first when you're on vacation. :P -------------------- Encyclopaedia Ermariana • Forum Archives • Forum Statistics • RSS [Topic / Forum] My Blog • Polaris • I eat novels for breakfast. Polaris is dead, long live Polaris. Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair. Posts: 8752 | Registered: Wednesday, May 14 2003 07:00 |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 22:17
Profile
Just because you can count it doesn't mean it's reality. -------------------- A4 Item Locations A4 Singleton G4 Items List G4 Forging List The Insidious Infiltrator Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
|
Shaper
Member # 247
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 22:32
Profile
Homepage
Congratulations to all who posted. Because we all know that posting is the second most important Olympic sport. -------------------- The Knight Between Posts. Posts: 2395 | Registered: Friday, November 2 2001 08:00 |
|
Law Bringer
Member # 2984
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 22:43
Profile
Homepage
quote:Naturally. Still, counting is a fun thing to do, especially with those posts that have no value beyond incrementing their authors' postcounts. -------------------- Encyclopaedia Ermariana • Forum Archives • Forum Statistics • RSS [Topic / Forum] My Blog • Polaris • I eat novels for breakfast. Polaris is dead, long live Polaris. Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair. Posts: 8752 | Registered: Wednesday, May 14 2003 07:00 |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Thursday, February 16 2006 22:49
Profile
I'm just poking fun at my sig. This has been nearly useless, spammy, count-inflating post #700. 7 Is my favorite number. whee. -------------------- A4 Item Locations A4 Singleton G4 Items List G4 Forging List The Insidious Infiltrator Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |