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Show HN: I made a privacy-first minimalist Google Analytics

simpleanalytics.io

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Re: Show HN: I made a privacy-first minimalist Google Analytics

#141

Post by wumms »

AdriaanvRossum wrote: post #2

Creator here. As a developer, I install analytics for clients, but I never feel comfortable installing Google Analytics because Google creates profiles for their visitors, and uses their information for apps (like AdWords). As we all know, big corporations unnecessarily track users without their consent. I want to change that. So I built Simple Analytics. To ensure that it's fast, secure, and stable, I built it entir…

"NoScript detected a potential Cross-Site Scripting attack from https://simpleanalytics.io to https://js.stripe.com."

Re: Show HN: I made a privacy-first minimalist Google Analytics

#142

Post by mosselman »

Reedx wrote: post #125
mosselman wrote: post #40

For a project of mine I created an 'actions' table in my database. For every visit (only server-side data) I make an entry into that table. That way I keep track of key metrics that I am interested in (basically which page is loaded and where did the visit come from?). I also store the request id so that I can differentiate between different visits. Entries into this table are made in an new thread in order to preven…

What did you make to view it? Or do you just run SQL queries?

Haha, yes I just use SQL-queries as harianus suggested. How does he know? I assume getting on top of the front-page and staying there for a few hours makes your quick-draw the responses to the comments a bit. Good for him.

Re: Show HN: I made a privacy-first minimalist Google Analytics

#143

Post by mosselman »

gerritsg wrote: post #108
mosselman wrote: post #40

For a project of mine I created an 'actions' table in my database. For every visit (only server-side data) I make an entry into that table. That way I keep track of key metrics that I am interested in (basically which page is loaded and where did the visit come from?). I also store the request id so that I can differentiate between different visits. Entries into this table are made in an new thread in order to preven…

I like this kind of approach way more. It's simple, you don't need to rely on anyone else, and you have complete control over what data you ingest and how you assess it.

Thank you, I like it a lot too. The nice thing about 'just' SQL is that I can write queries for the insights that I need, when I need them. I can store the queries for later use, I could automate some stats into my inbox, etc. With other tools you are just stuck with whatever they give you. The only thing I would like is an app where I can quickly get to my stats when I go around. Might be a fun side-project for the weekend.

Re: Show HN: I made a privacy-first minimalist Google Analytics

#144

Post by harianus »

AdriaanvRossum wrote: post #2

Creator here. As a developer, I install analytics for clients, but I never feel comfortable installing Google Analytics because Google creates profiles for their visitors, and uses their information for apps (like AdWords). As we all know, big corporations unnecessarily track users without their consent. I want to change that. So I built Simple Analytics. To ensure that it's fast, secure, and stable, I built it entir…

Because of the feedback I changed the pricing to $9!

Re: Show HN: I made a privacy-first minimalist Google Analytics

#145

Post by samirm »

harianus wrote: post #101
pdkl95 wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> unnecessarily track users without their consent Regardless of your intentions, you are collecting enough data to track users. > I am transparent about what I collect ([URL]) That page doesn't mention that you are also collecting (and make no claim about storing) the globally-visible IP address (and any other data in the IP and TCP headers). This can be uniquely identifying; even when it isn't unique you usually onl…

Good comment! I only store the window.innerWidth metric. I updated the what we collect page ( https://simpleanalytics.io/what-we-collect ) to reflect the IP handling. We don't store them. And fingerprinting is something that would be definitely tracking, not on my watch!

There is absolutely no reason to collect and store window dimensions, other than for fingerprinting and tracking. Sure it might be an interesting piece of trivia for the dev, but it's not necessary for the dev to "make sure the website works great on all of those dimensions", since that much is already obvious and presumed when making websites these days.

Re: Show HN: I made a privacy-first minimalist Google Analytics

#146

Post by overeater »

stephenr wrote: post #93

I don't doubt your intentions, but I simply don't believe that any kind of user analytics as-a-service is ever going to be good enough privacy wise. Do you know what isn't creepy and privacy invading? Analysing the attributes of the visitors to FranksKebabShop.com, as part of the tooling that runs FranksKebabShop.com. This could be analysing web server/cache logs. It could be a more active piece of software that oper…

I also don't understand what this javascript library does. "We just show you the essentials: pageviews, referrers, top pages, and screensizes." The information is already there in the server logs, which gives even more accurate numbers. Why would I want a slower website, with less precise tracking? The only new information is screensizes, so I don't see how it's worth any effort to install a library like this.

Re: Show HN: I made a privacy-first minimalist Google Analytics

#147

Post by yuhong »

AdriaanvRossum wrote: post #2

Creator here. As a developer, I install analytics for clients, but I never feel comfortable installing Google Analytics because Google creates profiles for their visitors, and uses their information for apps (like AdWords). As we all know, big corporations unnecessarily track users without their consent. I want to change that. So I built Simple Analytics. To ensure that it's fast, secure, and stable, I built it entir…

I mentioned Google Analytics in my essay/overview.

Re: Show HN: I made a privacy-first minimalist Google Analytics

#148

Post by soared »

samirm wrote: post #145
harianus wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good comment! I only store the window.innerWidth metric. I updated the what we collect page ( https://simpleanalytics.io/what-we-collect ) to reflect the IP handling. We don't store them. And fingerprinting is something that would be definitely tracking, not on my watch!

There is absolutely no reason to collect and store window dimensions, other than for fingerprinting and tracking. Sure it might be an interesting piece of trivia for the dev, but it's not necessary for the dev to "make sure the website works great on all of those dimensions", since that much is already obvious and presumed when making websites these days.

Besides... optimizing a site for specific window dimensions? If I see conversion rate is lower on a certain band of dimensions, something likely doesn't display properly. It'd be impossible to test every dimension.

Re: Show HN: I made a privacy-first minimalist Google Analytics

#149

Post by markbnj »

samirm wrote: post #145
harianus wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good comment! I only store the window.innerWidth metric. I updated the what we collect page ( https://simpleanalytics.io/what-we-collect ) to reflect the IP handling. We don't store them. And fingerprinting is something that would be definitely tracking, not on my watch!

There is absolutely no reason to collect and store window dimensions, other than for fingerprinting and tracking. Sure it might be an interesting piece of trivia for the dev, but it's not necessary for the dev to "make sure the website works great on all of those dimensions", since that much is already obvious and presumed when making websites these days.

Could there not be value in knowing how many pixels your users have available to view your things? You could presumably get that information from device characteristics but then could also presumably use that for fingerprinting.

Re: Show HN: I made a privacy-first minimalist Google Analytics

#150

Post by Drdrdrq »

samirm wrote: post #145
harianus wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good comment! I only store the window.innerWidth metric. I updated the what we collect page ( https://simpleanalytics.io/what-we-collect ) to reflect the IP handling. We don't store them. And fingerprinting is something that would be definitely tracking, not on my watch!

There is absolutely no reason to collect and store window dimensions, other than for fingerprinting and tracking. Sure it might be an interesting piece of trivia for the dev, but it's not necessary for the dev to "make sure the website works great on all of those dimensions", since that much is already obvious and presumed when making websites these days.

Actually there is, this is one of the most interesting metrics. It doesn't have to be precise though, rounding to nearest 50px would be more than enough. I would argue that height and aspect ratio should be collected too. (I didn't downvote you FWIW)
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