Inkscape Community

Community Stuff => Community Chat and Introductions => Topic started by: brynn on October 21, 2018, 08:52:54 AM

Title: slump in user activity?
Post by: brynn on October 21, 2018, 08:52:54 AM

Hi Friends,
A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that activity in both forums had dropped off significantly.  Of course we don't have any metrics for InkscapeForum.  But just on observation, it looks to me like posting has been noticably reduced there. 

Here, the first week of what I hope will just be a temporary slump, activity was approx 84% of the previous week.  The next week was 77%, and last week was approx 74%.

From Nov 2016 to now, visits have increased by a factor of approx 5.5.  And while we've had a couple of weeks here and there, when there was a decrease, generally growth has been steady.  So this 3 week backslide is unusual.

Has anyone noticed a similar reduction in activity in the Inkscape IRCs?

My recollection of past years is that activity (in forums) is usually up noticably in the early autumn season, and I always have attributed that to the start of schools and universities, with users needing help for their graphics classes.  So that makes it all the more odd to me that we're seeing a slump at this time of year.

Could there be some reason for Inkscape's popularity to be declining?  Have we reached a sort of saturation level or plateau for Inkscape use?  Or is there maybe some internet phenomenon happening which might account for this?

Maybe I'll ask doctormo about website and download metrics?

Does anyone have any thoughts or ideas about this reduced activity?

Title: Re: slump in user activity?
Post by: Moini on October 21, 2018, 12:09:19 PM

I've noticed developer activity increase... Probably that's not helpful in this context, though ;-)

Title: Re: slump in user activity?
Post by: Grobe on October 22, 2018, 08:01:47 AM

Would it help if I announce that I'm still around?

Title: Re: slump in user activity?
Post by: brynn on October 22, 2018, 12:39:30 PM

Oh yes, of course I'm aware of increased developer activity, because they're on the push towards the long awaited version 1.0.  Yay for developers!!  But I have the impression they'd be doing this, no matter how many people are using Inkscape.

Hi Grobe.  Of course I'm always happy to see you or any users.  But it's our beloved "one hit wonders" who have not beeing hitting.

I think I'll ask doctormo to look at download numbers, just out of curiosity.

Title: Re: slump in user activity?
Post by: brynn on October 29, 2018, 06:57:30 AM

Good news.  Yesterday (Sunday) visitation was closer to normal.  And early indications for today are looking up.   :xf1:

Very curious slump though, still....