4 ms·

Wish there was a good solution for this sometimes. I maintain some small open source projects (which I wrote for my own benefit), and judging from GitHub issue

by nlnn 4y ago

Wish there was a good solution for this sometimes. I maintain some small open source projects (which I wrote for my own benefit), and judging from GitHub issues and stars, get some use. But I have absolutely no idea who's using the software, or which subsets of features they care about. I'd happily put work in to improve things users cared about, but have no idea how to get that info (I don't know who they are so can't ask), or using telemetry (which I'm loathe to add due to its perception).

bombcar 4y ago
If your telemetry is human readable (like a dialog that says “can I send details with the features you’ve used” where it actually shows what is sent, you should get SOME response. Those kinds of telemetries I love.
- JohnFen 4y ago
  I know that I'm jaded (and I would argue not without reason), but it's hard for me to trust that software is fully and correctly disclosing what data it's sending. What I've seen some software (including some enterprise software) do -- and what I do with my own products -- is generate a human-readable text file that the user can email to the company. Then the user can be 100% certain of what data is and is not being reported. It also gives the user the opportunity to redact any data they are not comfortable sharing.
freediver 4y ago
Just ask users for feedback. We run a zero telemetry web browser and have one of the busiesies feedback boards [1] I ever seen for a browser. Never in a single moment I wish I had more data, and actual user feedback is so much valauble than any telemetry. [1] https://orionfeedback.org https://orionfeedback.org
- Gys 4y ago
  The Orion feedback website looks very useful. Is it open source otherwise available?
selfhoster11 4y ago
If you asked me nicely, and I felt like cooperating that day, I'd write almost a mini-essay of why I like your software's features or design.
- JohnFen 4y ago
  With my products, I've found that what people like is more pleasant to hear, but what people don't like is much more useful.

by nlnn 4y ago

bombcar 4y ago

If your telemetry is human readable (like a dialog that says “can I send details with the features you’ve used” where it actually shows what is sent, you should get SOME response. Those kinds of telemetries I love.

JohnFen 4y ago
I know that I'm jaded (and I would argue not without reason), but it's hard for me to trust that software is fully and correctly disclosing what data it's sending. What I've seen some software (including some enterprise software) do -- and what I do with my own products -- is generate a human-readable text file that the user can email to the company. Then the user can be 100% certain of what data is and is not being reported. It also gives the user the opportunity to redact any data they are not comfortable sharing.

freediver 4y ago

Just ask users for feedback. We run a zero telemetry web browser and have one of the busiesies feedback boards [1] I ever seen for a browser. Never in a single moment I wish I had more data, and actual user feedback is so much valauble than any telemetry. [1] https://orionfeedback.org https://orionfeedback.org

Gys 4y ago
The Orion feedback website looks very useful. Is it open source otherwise available?

selfhoster11 4y ago

If you asked me nicely, and I felt like cooperating that day, I'd write almost a mini-essay of why I like your software's features or design.

JohnFen 4y ago
With my products, I've found that what people like is more pleasant to hear, but what people don't like is much more useful.