Stories with Tag Metrics

• Umami is a simple, fast, privacy-focused alternative to Google Analytics

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  Posted: 2025-02-13 19:56:30

  Verbose tl;dr

  Umami is a self-hosted, open-source web analytics alternative to Google Analytics that prioritizes simplicity, speed, and privacy. It provides a clean, minimal interface for tracking website metrics like page views, unique visitors, bounce rate, and session duration, without collecting any personally identifiable information. Umami is designed to be lightweight and fast, minimizing its impact on website performance, and offers a straightforward setup process.

  The open-source software project known as Umami presents itself as a streamlined and expeditious substitute for Google Analytics, prioritizing user privacy in its design. It offers a compelling alternative for website owners and developers seeking to understand their website traffic without compromising the privacy of their visitors. Umami achieves this by collecting only essential data and eschewing the use of cookies, thereby minimizing its digital footprint and respecting user anonymity. This approach contrasts sharply with the comprehensive data collection practices employed by Google Analytics, which often raise concerns regarding user privacy and data security.

  Umami's emphasis on simplicity extends to its installation and configuration, making it readily accessible even for users with limited technical expertise. The software boasts a straightforward setup process and an intuitive user interface, allowing for effortless tracking and analysis of website metrics. This ease of use further distinguishes Umami from the complexities sometimes associated with configuring and interpreting data within Google Analytics.

  Furthermore, Umami is designed with performance in mind. Its lightweight architecture and efficient data processing capabilities ensure minimal impact on website loading times, contributing to an enhanced user experience for website visitors. This focus on performance aligns with the increasing importance of website speed in both user satisfaction and search engine optimization. By minimizing its resource consumption, Umami helps websites maintain optimal performance levels without the potential overhead introduced by more resource-intensive analytics solutions.

  In essence, Umami provides a privacy-centric approach to website analytics, offering a compelling blend of simplicity, speed, and respect for user data. It empowers website owners to gather valuable insights into their audience behavior without resorting to intrusive tracking mechanisms, thereby fostering a more ethical and transparent approach to website analytics. This commitment to privacy, combined with its ease of use and performance optimizations, positions Umami as a viable and attractive alternative to more established, but potentially privacy-compromising, analytics platforms.

  • Analytics
  • privacy
  • self-hosted
  • website analytics
  • Open Source
  • umami
  • google analytics alternative
  • fast
  • simple
  • lightweight
  • Web Analytics
  • Data Privacy
  • tracking
  • Metrics
  • website traffic
  • javascript

  Summary of Comments ( 79 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43040507

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN commenters largely praise Umami's simplicity, self-hostability, and privacy focus as a welcome alternative to Google Analytics. Several users share their positive experiences using it, highlighting its ease of setup and lightweight resource usage. Some discuss the trade-offs compared to more feature-rich analytics platforms, acknowledging Umami's limitations in advanced analysis and segmentation. A few commenters express interest in specific features like custom event tracking and improved dashboarding. There's also discussion around alternative self-hosted analytics solutions like Plausible and Ackee, with comparisons to their respective features and performance. Overall, the sentiment is positive, with many users appreciating Umami's minimalist approach and alignment with privacy-conscious web analytics.

  The Hacker News post discussing Umami, a privacy-focused alternative to Google Analytics, has generated a substantial number of comments, many of which explore various facets of the software and its potential benefits and drawbacks.

  Several commenters praise Umami's simplicity and ease of use, particularly in comparison to the perceived complexity of Google Analytics. They appreciate its straightforward interface and the fact that it provides essential website analytics without requiring extensive configuration or technical expertise. The self-hosting aspect is also frequently mentioned as a positive, giving users full control over their data and eliminating reliance on third-party services.

  Privacy is a recurring theme in the comments, with many users highlighting Umami's commitment to data privacy as a key differentiator. Some discuss the ethical implications of using Google Analytics and express concern about the potential for data misuse. Umami's focus on collecting only essential data and avoiding tracking individual users is seen as a significant advantage in this regard.

  Performance is another area of discussion, with commenters noting Umami's speed and efficiency. Some share their experiences using Umami and report noticeable improvements in website performance compared to using Google Analytics. The lightweight nature of the software is credited for this improved performance.

  However, not all comments are entirely positive. Some users point out limitations in Umami's functionality compared to Google Analytics, particularly regarding advanced features and reporting capabilities. The need for technical expertise to self-host Umami is also mentioned as a potential barrier for some users. While the simplicity of self-hosting is praised by some, others express a preference for a hosted solution or raise concerns about the ongoing maintenance required.

  A few commenters also discuss alternatives to Umami, mentioning other open-source analytics tools like Plausible Analytics and Fathom Analytics. Comparisons are drawn between these different options, with users weighing the pros and cons of each. The conversation often revolves around features, pricing, ease of use, and privacy considerations.

  Overall, the comments reflect a general interest in privacy-focused analytics solutions and a positive reception to Umami's approach. While some limitations are acknowledged, many commenters see Umami as a viable alternative to Google Analytics, particularly for users who prioritize privacy, simplicity, and performance. The discussion provides valuable insights into the needs and preferences of website owners and developers looking for analytics tools that align with their values.

• Solving complex billable metrics with custom SQL expressions in Lago

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  Posted: 2025-01-27 12:12:47

  Verbose tl;dr

  Lago's blog post details how their billing platform now supports custom SQL expressions for defining billable metrics. This allows businesses with complex pricing models greater flexibility and control over how they charge customers. Instead of relying on predefined metrics, users can now write SQL queries directly within Lago to calculate charges based on virtually any data they collect, including custom events and attributes. This simplifies the implementation of usage-based billing scenarios like charging per API call with specific parameters, tiered pricing based on aggregate usage, or dynamic pricing based on real-time data. The post emphasizes how this feature reduces development time and empowers product and finance teams to manage billing logic without extensive engineering involvement.

  The Lago blog post, "Solving complex billable metrics with custom SQL expressions in Lago," details how Lago's platform now allows users to define highly customized billable metrics using SQL expressions, offering greater flexibility and control over billing logic. Traditionally, subscription billing systems struggle with complex, usage-based pricing models. Lago addresses this challenge by enabling users to leverage the power and expressiveness of SQL directly within their billing engine. This allows for the creation of intricate metrics tailored to unique business requirements, moving beyond simple, pre-defined metrics.

  The post emphasizes the limitations of traditional subscription management platforms, where metrics are often rigid and lack the granularity needed for complex scenarios. For instance, if a business wants to charge based on a specific interaction or a combination of factors, traditional systems may fall short. Lago's custom SQL expressions provide a solution by allowing users to define billable metrics based on any data stored within their Lago instance. This empowers businesses to implement sophisticated pricing models, such as tiered pricing based on specific usage patterns, or hybrid models combining usage with subscription fees.

  The blog post provides a practical example of calculating the number of weekly active users (WAU) with a custom SQL expression, demonstrating how this feature can be used in a real-world scenario. This example highlights the flexibility and power of the SQL-based approach, allowing businesses to calculate metrics that are precisely aligned with their specific definition of an "active user." This granular control enables more accurate and transparent billing, reducing the risk of disputes and improving customer relationships.

  Furthermore, the post emphasizes the extensibility of this feature, suggesting that any aggregatable data within the Lago platform can be used to construct custom billable metrics. This opens up numerous possibilities for innovative pricing models and allows businesses to tailor their billing to reflect the true value delivered to their customers. By bringing the power of SQL to billing metric definition, Lago simplifies the implementation of complex pricing structures, enabling businesses to experiment with and adapt to evolving market demands without being constrained by rigid billing systems. This ultimately allows businesses to focus on their core product and value proposition rather than wrestling with intricate billing logic.

  • SaaS
  • Billing
  • Metrics
  • SQL
  • Custom SQL
  • Lago
  • Billable Metrics
  • Subscription Billing
  • Usage-Based Billing
  • Pricing
  • Fintech
  • software engineering
  • Software Development
  • API

  Summary of Comments ( 0 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42840303

  Verbose tl;dr

  Hacker News users discuss Lago's approach to flexible billing using custom SQL expressions. Some express concerns about the potential complexity and debugging challenges of using SQL for this purpose, suggesting simpler alternatives like formula-based systems. Others highlight the power and flexibility SQL offers for handling complex billing scenarios, especially for businesses with intricate pricing models. A few commenters question the performance implications of using SQL queries for real-time billing calculations and suggest pre-aggregation or caching strategies. There's also discussion around the trade-off between flexibility and auditability, with concerns about the potential difficulty in understanding and verifying SQL-based billing logic. Some users share their experiences with similar systems, emphasizing the importance of thorough testing and validation.

  The Hacker News post "Solving complex billable metrics with custom SQL expressions in Lago" at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42840303 has generated several comments discussing the merits and drawbacks of Lago's approach to billing using custom SQL expressions.

  One commenter expresses concern about vendor lock-in, suggesting that relying on a specific vendor's SQL dialect for defining billing logic could create difficulties if migrating to a different platform in the future. They propose that a standardized approach, perhaps using something like CEL (Common Expression Language), might be a better long-term strategy.

  Another commenter points out the inherent complexity of billing systems and argues that SQL, despite its potential for vendor lock-in, is a reasonable choice due to its widespread familiarity and the existing tooling available for working with it. They acknowledge that no single solution will be perfect for every scenario but suggest that SQL offers a good balance between flexibility and accessibility. This comment sparked further discussion about the benefits of standardization versus the practicality of using existing, well-understood tools.

  Building on the vendor lock-in concern, another user notes the potential for "gotchas" within custom SQL implementations. They highlight that subtle differences in how SQL dialects handle specific functions or data types could lead to unexpected billing discrepancies. This reinforces the argument for careful consideration and thorough testing when employing custom SQL for billing.

  A different perspective is offered by a commenter who appreciates the transparency and control that custom SQL expressions can provide. They argue that being able to directly define billing logic in SQL allows for greater flexibility and customization compared to relying on pre-defined billing models. This, they suggest, can be particularly beneficial for businesses with unique or complex billing requirements.

  There's also a brief discussion about the potential performance implications of using custom SQL for billing. One commenter raises the question of how Lago handles the execution of these SQL expressions and whether it could introduce performance bottlenecks, especially with large datasets. This concern, however, wasn't addressed directly in the comments.

  Finally, some commenters mention alternative approaches to billing, including using tools like Stripe Billing or building custom in-house solutions. These suggestions highlight the range of options available to businesses and emphasize the importance of choosing the right solution based on specific needs and constraints.

• SigNoz (YC W21) Is hiring back end engineers to build open-source Datadog

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  Posted: 2025-01-26 07:02:13

  Verbose tl;dr

  SigNoz, a Y Combinator-backed company, is hiring backend engineers to contribute to their open-source application performance monitoring (APM) and observability platform. They aim to build an open-source alternative to Datadog, providing a unified platform for metrics, traces, and logs. The ideal candidate is proficient in Go and possesses experience with distributed systems, databases, and cloud-native technologies like Kubernetes.

  SigNoz, a company that participated in Y Combinator's Winter 2021 cohort, is actively seeking back-end engineers to contribute to the development of their open-source application performance monitoring (APM) and observability platform. They aim to build a compelling open-source alternative to Datadog, a popular proprietary observability platform. The company emphasizes the opportunity for engineers to work on a modern technology stack, specifically mentioning ClickHouse, a high-performance column-oriented database management system, and OpenTelemetry, a collection of APIs, SDKs, tooling, and specifications around creating and managing telemetry data (logs, metrics, and traces).

  This role presents a chance to delve into the complexities of distributed systems and contribute to a project with a rapidly growing open-source community. The ideal candidate will be passionate about building high-quality, scalable, and performant back-end systems. They will be involved in designing, developing, and maintaining core components of the SigNoz platform, directly impacting the user experience and contributing to the growth and adoption of the open-source project. This position offers the opportunity to work on a project with significant real-world impact, helping developers and organizations gain deeper insights into the performance and behavior of their applications. The advertisement highlights the rewarding nature of contributing to open source and the potential to shape the future of observability tooling. While specific requirements are not explicitly stated in the post, the emphasis on a modern technology stack and the nature of the project suggests a preference for candidates with experience in back-end development, distributed systems, and potentially database technologies.

  • SigNoz
  • YC W21
  • Y Combinator
  • backend engineer
  • backend engineering
  • Hiring
  • Jobs
  • Open Source
  • Datadog
  • Monitoring
  • Observability
  • APM
  • application performance monitoring
  • distributed tracing
  • Metrics
  • logs

  Summary of Comments ( 0 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42828294

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN commenters are largely skeptical of SigNoz's claim to be building an "open-source Datadog." Several point out that open-source observability tools already exist and question the need for another. Some criticize the post's focus on hiring rather than discussing the technical challenges of building such a tool. Others question the viability of the open-source business model, particularly in a crowded market. A few commenters express interest in the project, but the overall sentiment is one of cautious skepticism.

  The Hacker News post discussing SigNoz's hiring of backend engineers generated several comments, primarily focusing on the challenges and nuances of building an open-source alternative to Datadog.

  One commenter questioned the viability of directly competing with Datadog, highlighting the significant network effects and established user base Datadog enjoys. They argued that focusing on a niche or underserved area within the observability space might be a more successful approach. Another commenter echoed this sentiment, suggesting that specializing in a specific vertical, like Kubernetes monitoring, could differentiate SigNoz from the established players.

  Several comments centered on the complexities of open-source monetization. One user pointed out the difficulty of converting open-source users into paying customers, especially in the monitoring and observability market. They suggested focusing on enterprise features and support as a potential revenue stream. Another commenter questioned the specific open-source licensing model SigNoz employs, and how it impacts the ability for other companies to utilize and potentially compete with their product.

  Some commenters expressed interest in the technical details of SigNoz, inquiring about the specific technologies used and the architecture of the platform. One comment asked about the choice of ClickHouse as the underlying database and its performance characteristics. Another commenter expressed skepticism about the long-term viability of relying solely on open-source components, suggesting that certain proprietary technologies might be necessary for optimal performance and scalability.

  There was also discussion regarding the challenges of scaling an open-source project and building a community around it. One commenter stressed the importance of clear documentation and active community engagement to attract contributors and users. Another commenter suggested that offering paid support and consulting services could be a way to sustain the project and incentivize contributions.

  Finally, a few comments touched upon the competitive landscape of the observability market, mentioning other open-source and commercial alternatives to Datadog. One commenter specifically mentioned Prometheus and Grafana as popular open-source options, and questioned how SigNoz differentiates itself from these existing tools. Another user highlighted the growing demand for observability solutions and the opportunity for new players to enter the market.

• Crushing Jira tickets is a party trick, not a path to impact

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  Posted: 2025-01-25 00:06:30

  Verbose tl;dr

  Focusing solely on closing Jira tickets gives a false sense of productivity. True impact comes from solving user problems and delivering valuable outcomes, not just completing tasks. While execution and shipping are important, prioritizing velocity over value leads to busywork and features nobody wants. Real product success requires understanding user needs, strategically choosing what to build, and measuring impact based on outcomes, not output. "Crushing Jira tickets" is a superficial performance that might impress some, but ultimately fails to move the needle on what truly matters.

  Sean Goedecke's blog post, "Crushing Jira tickets is a party trick, not a path to impact," argues against prioritizing the sheer volume of completed Jira tickets as a measure of productivity or success for software engineers. He posits that while efficiently working through a large number of tickets might appear impressive on the surface, like a captivating party trick, it often lacks genuine, meaningful impact on the overall success of a product or organization. This superficial focus on quantity over quality can be detrimental in the long run.

  Goedecke elaborates on this by highlighting the potential pitfalls of such an approach. He suggests that concentrating solely on closing tickets can lead engineers to prioritize low-hanging fruit – easily resolvable issues that require minimal effort – while neglecting more complex, albeit potentially more impactful, tasks. This can result in a backlog of critical improvements being perpetually deferred, hindering genuine progress and innovation. The analogy used is that of a magician dazzling the audience with sleight of hand while failing to address the real underlying issues.

  Furthermore, the post emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying purpose and desired outcome associated with each ticket. Blindly completing tasks without grasping the larger context, argues Goedecke, can lead to misdirected efforts and ultimately diminish the overall value delivered. He advocates for engineers to adopt a more holistic approach, considering the broader business objectives and user needs before tackling individual tickets. This entails proactively engaging in discussions about the rationale behind the work, questioning assumptions, and suggesting alternative solutions that might better address the core problem.

  The author suggests that true impact stems from focusing on delivering value to the end-user, not simply closing tickets. This requires a shift in mindset from task completion to problem-solving and proactive contribution. Instead of viewing Jira tickets as a checklist to be conquered, engineers should see them as opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the product and its users. This involves understanding the 'why' behind each ticket, critically evaluating the proposed solution, and potentially even challenging the existence of the ticket itself if it doesn't align with the overarching goals.

  In conclusion, Goedecke advocates for a more nuanced understanding of productivity within software development. He posits that true success lies not in the quantity of completed Jira tickets, but in the quality of the work and its ultimate impact on the product and its users. He urges engineers to move beyond the superficial satisfaction of closing tickets and embrace a more strategic approach, prioritizing meaningful contributions and focusing on solving the right problems effectively. This shift in focus, he argues, will lead to more substantial and lasting positive outcomes for both the product and the organization.

  • Jira
  • productivity
  • Software Development
  • Impact
  • Metrics
  • Value Delivery
  • agile
  • project management
  • engineering management
  • Business Value
  • Work Culture
  • Efficiency vs Effectiveness

  Summary of Comments ( 2 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42818169

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN commenters largely agreed with the article's premise that focusing on closing Jira tickets doesn't necessarily translate to meaningful impact. Several shared anecdotes of experiencing or witnessing this "Jira treadmill" in their own workplaces, leading to busywork and a lack of focus on actual product improvement. Some questioned the framing of Jira as inherently bad, suggesting that the tool itself isn't the problem, but rather how it's used and the metrics derived from it. A few commenters offered alternative metrics and strategies for measuring impact, such as focusing on customer satisfaction, business outcomes, or demonstrable value delivered. There was also discussion around the importance of clear communication and alignment between teams on what constitutes valuable work, and the role of management in setting those expectations.

  The Hacker News post "Crushing Jira tickets is a path to impact" generated a lively discussion with various perspectives on the relationship between Jira tickets, productivity, and actual impact.

  Several commenters agreed with the sentiment of the title. They argued that focusing solely on closing tickets can lead to a "local optimization" trap where engineers prioritize easy-to-complete tasks over more impactful, but potentially more complex, work. One commenter described this as "checking boxes" instead of genuinely contributing to the product's success. They emphasized the importance of understanding the why behind the tickets and focusing on the overall goals of the project, rather than simply the number of tickets completed. This sentiment was echoed by another commenter who pointed out the risk of becoming a "ticket-closing machine" without considering the bigger picture. They advocated for a more proactive approach, where engineers actively seek out impactful work and contribute beyond the assigned tickets.

  Some commenters offered practical advice on how to avoid this trap. One suggestion was to regularly reflect on the impact of the completed work and to prioritize tasks based on their potential contribution to the overall project goals. Another commenter emphasized the importance of communication with product managers and stakeholders to ensure alignment between individual tasks and the overall product strategy.

  However, not everyone agreed with the premise of the post. Some argued that Jira tickets, when used correctly, can be a valuable tool for tracking progress and ensuring accountability. They pointed out that in large organizations, a certain level of process and structure is necessary to coordinate work effectively. One commenter argued that the problem isn't with Jira itself, but rather with how it's implemented and managed. They suggested that focusing on well-defined tickets with clear acceptance criteria can actually help engineers deliver value more efficiently.

  Another commenter highlighted the importance of context. They noted that in some situations, such as bug fixing or maintenance work, quickly closing tickets is a valuable contribution. They argued that the post overgeneralizes the issue and fails to acknowledge the nuances of different engineering roles and projects.

  Finally, some commenters offered alternative perspectives on the definition of "impact." One commenter suggested that impact can be measured in various ways, including improved code quality, reduced technical debt, or enhanced team collaboration. They argued that while closing Jira tickets may not always be directly visible to users, it can still contribute to the overall health and efficiency of the engineering team. Another commenter highlighted the importance of "invisible work," such as mentoring junior engineers or improving internal processes, which may not be reflected in Jira tickets but can have a significant long-term impact.