Measuring the MySQL Community

Discussion of Metrics to Measure Our Ecosystem

One of the most difficult things we face is trying to get an idea of the activity going on in the enormous MySQL ecosystem. This ecosystem isn't just developers, but users of all different skill levels, business folks, in casual and crazy environments. When it comes down to it, we have only a cursory idea of how this ecosystem is expanding (or contracting?) and ways in which to measure this expansion.

This is a brainstorming session designed to gather ideas about how we determine the size, scope, and characteristics of the MySQL developer and user community. I'll be asking questions of participants centered around the following questions and issues.

• What are ways we can measure increases in user activity as defined by:
  • blogging
  • "buzz"
  • referring people to use MySQL
• What are ways we can measure increases in developer activity as defined by:
  • blogging
  • FOSS or other software projects using MySQL (or PostgreSQL, MSSQL, Sqlite, etc)

but not necessarily activity on MySQL's own network, but outside of it. I'm hoping that our friends from Google, Yahoo!, Technorati, Digg, and other search-type sites can provide insight on how these metrics can be gathered and/or determined.

Interested in Participating? Put Your Name Down

• Jay Pipes
• Monty Taylor
• Eugenio Capra