Yet another update to the popularity score algorithm
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:14 pm
The last update to the popularity scoring algorithm solicited a lot of comments. After working with Lupo73, here's another attempt at the algorithm (version 3).
To recall, V1 of the algorithm accumulates the activity and votes over the entire lifespan of each entry. Some of you complained that it was too static.
V2 of the algorithm accumulates the activity and votes of each entry over the past 30 days. Some of you complained that it was too dynamic and random
V3 of the algorithm computes the popularity score based on two components: activity over the past 30 days, and votes over the entire lifespan of each entry.
Activity is defined as clicks to the "website" and "download" links. "download" clicks are weighted 3 times more than "website" links. Recent clicks are weighted more than aged clicks using an exponential window.
Votes are weighted based on the ranks of the user. The final score is computed using the Wilson Popularity Formula.
The two components are combined together using a 25% (activity) / 75% (votes) ratio to form a final figure that is between 0 to 100. The idea is that votes are more important that activity for the final score, but to compare between apps with few votes, the activity will give an indication of its popularity.
The TPFC website has been updated with the new scoring algorithm. The five-star image on the right of each entry gives a graphical overview of its popularity. Mousing over the image will give you the actual score (rounded to 1-decimal place).
We hope this new formula will bring a better balance for the popularity score. I am sure we can work together to refine it even further. Meanwhile, have fun!
PS: Many thanks to Lupo73 for his fantastic work on this update.
To recall, V1 of the algorithm accumulates the activity and votes over the entire lifespan of each entry. Some of you complained that it was too static.
V2 of the algorithm accumulates the activity and votes of each entry over the past 30 days. Some of you complained that it was too dynamic and random
V3 of the algorithm computes the popularity score based on two components: activity over the past 30 days, and votes over the entire lifespan of each entry.
Activity is defined as clicks to the "website" and "download" links. "download" clicks are weighted 3 times more than "website" links. Recent clicks are weighted more than aged clicks using an exponential window.
Votes are weighted based on the ranks of the user. The final score is computed using the Wilson Popularity Formula.
The two components are combined together using a 25% (activity) / 75% (votes) ratio to form a final figure that is between 0 to 100. The idea is that votes are more important that activity for the final score, but to compare between apps with few votes, the activity will give an indication of its popularity.
The TPFC website has been updated with the new scoring algorithm. The five-star image on the right of each entry gives a graphical overview of its popularity. Mousing over the image will give you the actual score (rounded to 1-decimal place).
We hope this new formula will bring a better balance for the popularity score. I am sure we can work together to refine it even further. Meanwhile, have fun!
PS: Many thanks to Lupo73 for his fantastic work on this update.