Actual usage of different packages..

["Tom Musgrove" <TomM@pentstar.com>]

Has any attempt been made to find out what packages are actually used by
Debian users?

It seems likely that there are a number of redundant packages that could be
dropped if it turns out their userbase/user-commitment is small.

What I would like to propose, is a survey asking Debian users what packages
they use regularly/semiregularly.  And how 'critical' they consider them.
(Ie use a Likert scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is 'not important' to have, and 5
is 'very important' to have).

This survey could be done in conjunction with RedHat, Mandrake, Suse, and
whatever other vendors are out there (to increase sample size, and reduce
overhead expenditure, etc.).

Aside from the possibility of 'dropping' packages, there may well be some
'excellent' packages that do not have large audiences (due to lack of
awareness, advocacy, or some other reasons...).  This could point out
projects that should have increased advocacy to increase there userbase (and
hence value to free software).

What do you all think?

Tom M.
TomM@Pentstar.com