Statistics can be addictive, especially web statistics. Having your own page usually leads to you wanting to know how many people show up. And again Google is waiting with a ever so convenient solution: Google Analytics. Luckily there is something as good and even more so: There is something that is open source. Meet Piwik, the website analytics tool that runs on your own server. I think that Google Analytics is one of the services that Google profits the most from. What better could there be for a company like theirs to get heaps of data directly related to their business for free? Read on on how to take back control of your website statistics.

Finding an open source alternative to Google Analytics was easier than I thought. Piwik comes up first when searching for ‘Google Analytics Open Source’ and installation and handling of the software is as promised: easy and without hassle. Before you we go any further, here is what you need to have/do:

1. Your own webserver with MySQL and PHP support.
2. The current Piwik release. Get it here.
3. Access to the websites you want to monitor via FTP.
4. Knowledge on how to install a PHP/MySLQ application onto a webserver

If I just said a bunch of foreign words to you, you should stop reading and shape up on your webserver knowledge before attempting to install your own Piwik.

Getting to know Piwik.

Setting up Piwik is pretty easy as it comes with a handy web installer. You only have to upload the unzipped Piwik files onto your webspace and have your database credentials ready. After filling them in, Piwik automatically connects and populates your MySQL  and lets you set up an admin account. The application itself works similar to Google Analytics. Upon login you are provided with a dashboard that sums up current traffic data. I did use Google Analytics for a while now and other then the location map in Google Analytics that displayed the citites of your visitors, I do not lack any features. I find adding sites with Piwik as straightforward as in Google Analytics:

• You add a site via URL.
• Piwik provides you with an embed code
• You embed the code in your site.

I have never delved into the webmaster tweaking tools that Google provide, since my web statistics to me it are only a feedback. I do not go about tweaking the code and link structure to the maximum, since I rely on the WordPress structure alone to do that and so far it has done a pretty good job for me. WordPress also (of course) has a plugin ready that does all the implementation work for you.

There is not really much more to say, since everyone has their own motivations on why to use a web statistics tool. Occasionally Piwik gives me a PHP error, but they all usually disappear after hitting F5 once or twice. I have now removed almost all of my former Google Analytics sites, and once again I feel that open source is much more than just a concept.

Check out a Piwik Online Demo.