Merge pull request #129 from offen/update-dec-17

Add article and blog header

homepage/content/articles/0130-performance.md

@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+title: Performance and Awareness
+description: In the last three months, we have significantly improved query performance, added onboarding to our Auditorium, and updated our Docs.
+date: 2020-12-17
+slug: performance-awareness
+sitemap_priority: 0.6
+image_url: /theme/images/offen-blog-0130-performance-awareness.jpg
+author: Hendrik Niefeld
+bottom_cta: blog
+
+# Episode Seven — Performance and Awareness
+
+Some time has passed after [NGI Zero PET Initiative](https://nlnet.nl/thema/NGIZeroPET.html){: target="_blank"} funding ended, we want to recap the results of our work with this blog post.
+
+Wrapping up what has been a challenging year for everyone, we have been working steadily over the past three months to further enhance our product. The most important aspect of this was a significant improvement in query performance. An update that is particularly beneficial for operators of high-traffic websites who want to analyse user behavior over long periods of time.
+
+Furthermore, we have started to work on increasing the awareness of users for the access to their data in the Auditorium. We have identified this challenge as one of the most important for us and it will continue to engage us in the coming months, well into 2021.
+
+During the last three months we have released the following versions:
+
+- [v0.1.7](https://github.com/offen/offen/releases/tag/v0.1.7)
+- [v0.1.8](https://github.com/offen/offen/releases/tag/v0.1.8)
+- [v0.2.0](https://github.com/offen/offen/releases/tag/v0.2.0)
+- [v0.2.1](https://github.com/offen/offen/releases/tag/v0.2.1)
+- [v0.2.2](https://github.com/offen/offen/releases/tag/v0.2.2)
+
+As usual, you can download the latest release from [https://get.offen.dev](https://get.offen.dev/) or pull it from Docker Hub.
+
+---
+
+## Achievements
+
+### Faster queries
+
+By adding an aggregate cache, we were able to significantly improve query performance in the Auditorium. This is quite noticeable when analyzing many data points over extended time frames. On desktop computers with current browsers, we were able to cut query times by up to two-thirds.
+
+### A better Auditorium
+
+Before we will tackle some major UX updates that will primarily benefit the operators, we first took a closer look at the user side. Users' access to their data is one of our key features. However, the feedback we have collected so far has shown us that the context and functionality presented in the Auditorium is not instantly clear to some users. To address this, there now is an onboarding feature for the first-time user when visiting the Auditorium. Here, in addition to a short insight into the data just collected, the basic functionality of Offen is pointed out once again. Moreover, as little extras, there is now an empty state illustration on the user side and a loading state animation for all to enjoy.
+
+### Tagging campaigns and sources
+
+As we want to give website operators a fair and professional web analytics alternative, we integrated a UTM feature at an early stage. This feature allows you to add special tags to your URLs, which will be displayed separately in the Auditorium. Now, you can find details about the functionality and tips on how to use it [in our Docs.](https://docs.offen.dev/running-offen/campaigns-sources/)
+
+### Migrate an instance to different hardware
+
+For operators who want to migrate an older running Offen instance to another hardware, there is now an important bugfix to pay attention to. If you find yourself affected by issues, check our [detailed workarround.](https://docs.offen.dev/running-offen/known-issues/)
+
+---
+
+## Next up
+
+### Localization
+
+As already mentioned in our last milestone, localization ranks at the top of our bucket list. Thanks to the kind support of the folks at [POEditor](https://poeditor.com/){: target="_blank"}, we now have a proper workflow in place and the translation may begin. Not surprisingly, German will be the second locale we tackle. Let us know if you can you help us out with French, Spanish or any other mother tongue.
+
+### Easily accessible analytics data
+
+For Offen to be a fully competitive analytics tool, some significant UX improvements are missing. To make the analytics data more accessible, we will add two elements for operators and users: A sophisticated selection of date ranges, which is easy to use even on mobile devices, and a flexible drill-down workflow, which provides a better insight into cohorts.
+
+### Once again, awareness
+
+We want to give operators a range of possibilities to insert ready-made elements on their website that make users aware of how to access their data. These and all existing consent elements will be made customizable in their design to make it less painful for operators to insert them.
+
+### Expanding the idea underlying Offen
+
+Over the last year we have developed a fair, open and lightweigt web analytics tool that treats operators and users as equal parties. We like to describe the basic idea behind Offen with the concept of fair data transfer.
+
+Taking this concept seriously, it cannot be limited to a single software project. That's why we decided to create the prerequisites to make it easier for others to get involved and use similar fair approaches. More on this in one of our following blog posts. Stay tuned.
+
+---
+
+## Happy to hear from you
+
+Are you using Offen? We're happy to feature you in this [README.](https://github.com/offen/offen/blob/development/README.md) Send a PR adding your site or app to [this](https://github.com/offen/offen/blob/development/README.md#whos-using-offen) section.
+
+If you have any feedback, comment or bug report on the latest release, let us know. Open an [issue](https://github.com/offen/offen/issues) or send us an email at [hioffen@posteo.de](mailto:hioffen@posteo.de).

homepage/theme/templates/archives.html

@@ -1,21 +1,32 @@
 {% extends "base.html" %}
 
-{% set title = 'Fair analytics blog | Offen' %}
-{% set description = 'Developing an open alternative to common web analytics tools. Gain insights while your users have full access to their data. Lightweight, self hosted and free.' %}
+{% set title = 'Blog | Offen' %}
+{% set description = 'We are Frederik and Hendrik. Here we post about how we are building a fair and open web analytics tool and what we discovered along the way.' %}
 {% set href = 'blog/' %}
 {% set no_stats = False %}
 {% set template = 'archives' %}
 {% set bottom_cta = 'index' %}
 
 {% block content %}
-  <div class="mw8 center cclr-bg-white-responsive pr5-l">
-    <div class="flex flex-wrap mt0 mt5-l">
+  <div class="mw8 center cclr-bg-white-responsive mt5-ns">
+    <div class="dib gray bg-white ph3 ph5-ns pt5">
+      <h2 class="f25 normal lh-title ma0 mt4 mb3">
+        Offen Blog
+      </h2>
+      <div class="w-75-l">
+        <p class="ma0 mb5">
+          Hi there. We are Frederik and Hendrik. Here we post about how we are building a fair and open web analytics tool and what we discovered along the way.
+        </p>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="pr5-l">
+      <div class="flex flex-wrap">
         {% for article in articles %}
           <div class="w-100 w-50-l">
             {% if loop.index != 1 %}
-          <hr class="mb5 b--none db dn-l">
+              <hr class="b--none db dn-l">
             {% endif %}
-        <article class="w-100 mt5-m mt0-l gray">
+            <article class="w-100 mt5 mt0-l mt0-l gray">
               <div class="mw8 center pv5 ph3 ph5-m pr0-l pl5-l bg-white">
                   <figure class="larger-image mb4">
                     <a href="/blog/{{ article.slug }}/">
@@ -37,4 +48,5 @@
         {% endfor %}
       </div>
     </div>
+  </div>
 {% endblock %}