Popularity Metrics Explained

This page explains the key popularity metrics tracked by LFX Insights. These indicators help you understand how widely adopted and talked-about an open source project is across the web and developer ecosystem.

Stars

What it is: The number of stars a project has received on GitHub.

Why it matters: Stars are a quick way for users to express interest. A high star count suggests broad awareness and community appreciation.

Forks

What it is: The number of times a project has been forked on GitHub.

Why it matters: Forks often indicate developer interest in modifying, contributing to, or building on top of a project.

Social Mentions

Coming soon.

What it is: Mentions of the project across platforms like Twitter/X, Reddit, Hacker News, and other social media.

Why it matters: Social mentions show real-time buzz and community conversations, signaling current relevance and visibility.

GitHub Mentions

Coming soon.

What it is: References to the project repository in issues, pull requests, and READMEs on GitHub.

Why it matters: Frequent GitHub mentions show that developers are integrating or referencing the project in their workflows and codebases.

Press Mentions

Coming soon.

What it is: The number of times the project is mentioned in online news outlets, blogs, and tech media.

Why it matters: Press mentions reflect broader industry attention and can drive credibility and adoption beyond the developer community.

Search Queries

Coming soon.

What it is: The volume of search engine queries for the project name or related terms.

Why it matters: Search trends indicate public interest and awareness. A rising number of queries often correlates with growing adoption.

Package Downloads

Coming soon.

What it is: The number of downloads from package registries (e.g., npm, PyPI, Docker Hub) where the project is distributed.

Why it matters: Downloads are a strong signal of real-world usage and adoption.

Mailing List Messages

This metric is only available for selected projects of the Linux Foundation.

What it is: The number of messages exchanged on the project’s public mailing lists.

Why it matters: Mailing list activity reflects the depth and frequency of technical discussions, support requests, and community coordination.