Link features on forum

[San1ty]

It would be nice to have some additional information when using links:

• Keep track of amount of users clicked:
  

• If links are to internal posts (same forum) it would be nice that the linked post has some meta data:

This post is referenced in these topics:

[julian]

I'm all for implementing features if there is a demand or direct benefit, but while I know discourse does this, the main thing I have to ask is WHY?!

In my opinion, it offers nothing but information clutter to the end user.

1. I honestly don't care how many times people have clicked the link, I only care whether it's blue or purple.
2. When I go into a topic, I go there to see the new replies to that topic, not to be viralised off to some other link, "Buzzfeed style"

That's my opinion, of course, and prevailing trends usually dictate what goes into NodeBB core. Something like this would be great as a plugin (filter:post.parse for the link counter, and widget for the internal links).

[kelso]

Heres a new way to think about it..

You have a forum, you have donation sections, and want to know how often those links are being clicked. Perhaps a backend admin stats type page for stuff like that.

[finid]

@kelso

Agreed. I don't see a great need for that type of feature on the frontend, but on the backend, for sure.

[San1ty]

@julian

1. I agree it would be a small subset of people that actually have use for it. So after second thought I agree with you
2. Yeah maybe it would be a bit too distracting.

[Roger]

@kelso Use google analytics? I would prefer a plugin for that over any home-grown solution.

[psychobunny]

@julian said:

I'm all for implementing features if there is a demand or direct benefit, but while I know discourse does this, the main thing I have to ask is WHY?!

In my opinion, it offers nothing but information clutter to the end user.

1. I honestly don't care how many times people have clicked the link, I only care whether it's blue or purple.
2. When I go into a topic, I go there to see the new replies to that topic, not to be viralised off to some other link, "Buzzfeed style"

That's my opinion, of course, and prevailing trends usually dictate what goes into NodeBB core. Something like this would be great as a plugin (filter:post.parse for the link counter, and widget for the internal links).

This would be a good as a plugin, there should be no reason to love or hate this feature as long as there is some demand for it. That means that maybe its worth implementing. Just like the debate on forum signatures

If anybody wants to implement this they should look at this plugin by @baris, should be a very good starting point imo