Comments on: Desktop Analytics Platforms: Version 1 http://benjismith.net/index.php/2008/06/19/desktop-analytics-platforms-version-1/ Benji Smith, Software Research Tue, 08 May 2012 19:24:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: casper http://benjismith.net/index.php/2008/06/19/desktop-analytics-platforms-version-1/comment-page-1/#comment-109407 casper Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:51:40 +0000 http://benjismith.net/index.php/2008/06/19/desktop-analytics-platforms-version-1/#comment-109407 Our customers utilize a Win32 (C++) application that we provide...it's distributed to about 2000 desktops around the country. Because our application already communicates back to our servers to perform its work, we have some of this kind analytics built in. For example, each login provides us with a couple of dozen stats like OS, memory, CPU, browser info (just like you are intending) and several other 'accumulation' stats like the number of times a specific function has been executed or option has been chosen. While we have found this info to be valuable, MORE valuable was a feature our lead developer added that we call the FDR (flight data recorder). As our application runs, we produce a binary logfile of each action the user performed (and every action each worker thread performs including local database calls). Upon a client crash, the latest FDR file(s) are uploaded to our server where they can be viewed with a special viewer (with filters to isolate just UI interactions or specific worker threads specific threads or database layer). These FDR logs have become INVALUABLE to troubleshooting exactly what steps took place that led up to an issue (much more valuable than a stack trace). I think that providing simple API hooks to allow for that level of logging would greatly enhance your product offering.... That kind of functionality has allowed us to track down many obscure and rare bugs that would otherwise have gone unresolved. Good luck with your product!! Our customers utilize a Win32 (C++) application that we provide…it’s distributed to about 2000 desktops around the country. Because our application already communicates back to our servers to perform its work, we have some of this kind analytics built in. For example, each login provides us with a couple of dozen stats like OS, memory, CPU, browser info (just like you are intending) and several other ‘accumulation’ stats like the number of times a specific function has been executed or option has been chosen. While we have found this info to be valuable, MORE valuable was a feature our lead developer added that we call the FDR (flight data recorder). As our application runs, we produce a binary logfile of each action the user performed (and every action each worker thread performs including local database calls). Upon a client crash, the latest FDR file(s) are uploaded to our server where they can be viewed with a special viewer (with filters to isolate just UI interactions or specific worker threads specific threads or database layer). These FDR logs have become INVALUABLE to troubleshooting exactly what steps took place that led up to an issue (much more valuable than a stack trace).
I think that providing simple API hooks to allow for that level of logging would greatly enhance your product offering….
That kind of functionality has allowed us to track down many obscure and rare bugs that would otherwise have gone unresolved.

Good luck with your product!!

]]> By: Sohail http://benjismith.net/index.php/2008/06/19/desktop-analytics-platforms-version-1/comment-page-1/#comment-109093 Sohail Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:00:23 +0000 http://benjismith.net/index.php/2008/06/19/desktop-analytics-platforms-version-1/#comment-109093 As others have done, you could have also chosen to use a web service for the desktop apps to use but I think people would be very pissed if their desktop app hit the network for every operation so I think in the end your choice is a good one. As others have done, you could have also chosen to use a web service for the desktop apps to use but I think people would be very pissed if their desktop app hit the network for every operation so I think in the end your choice is a good one.

]]> By: James Smith http://benjismith.net/index.php/2008/06/19/desktop-analytics-platforms-version-1/comment-page-1/#comment-108968 James Smith Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:42:10 +0000 http://benjismith.net/index.php/2008/06/19/desktop-analytics-platforms-version-1/#comment-108968 Good luck with your product. I'm curious, have you done any market research as to whether this product is viable? I mean, do you have an estimate of whether people will want to use it? Good luck with your product.

I’m curious, have you done any market research as to whether this product is viable? I mean, do you have an estimate of whether people will want to use it?

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