Introduction to Countly Server
Countly is an advanced product analytics platform designed to provide teams with the insights needed to understand user behavior across mobile, web, and desktop applications. It is a robust solution used worldwide to track billions of unique identities from over 16,000 applications via more than 2,000 servers. Countly focuses on data security and can process these data points both in the cloud and on-premises.
Editions of Countly
Countly offers three main editions tailored to different organizational needs:
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Countly Lite: This is ideal for individuals or small organizations and is available as an open-source, self-hosted solution. It includes essential features and plugins and is provided under a non-commercial license.
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Countly Enterprise: Targeted at medium to large organizations, this edition includes a broader range of features, detailed data insights, and direct support. It can be self-hosted or hosted and managed by Countly.
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Countly Flex: A SaaS solution that provides core enterprise features with the option of add-ons. Each user receives a dedicated, fully-managed server in their preferred region. This edition appeals to individuals, as well as small and medium-sized organizations.
Features of Countly Server
The Countly server offers extensive functionalities, making it a comprehensive analytics tool:
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Data Collection: It captures sessions, views, events, and reports them effectively. It supports crash and error reporting for various environments like iOS, Android, and more.
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Push Notifications: Provides interactive push notifications for iOS and Android platforms.
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Remote Configuration: Adjust the app’s logic and appearance on the fly.
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In-App Ratings: Features customizable widgets for gathering user ratings.
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Reports & Alerts: Built-in reports, customizable dashboards, email reports, and alerts.
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Data Management: Includes tools to manage events, segment data, and compliance features for consent collection.
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APIs and Plugins: The repository is built with a plugin-based architecture allowing easy customization, and includes both read and write APIs for data manipulation.
Data Tracking Capabilities
Countly collects and visualizes data from various applications. The platform uses write-APIs to allow data submission from any source, broadening its tracking capability beyond just mobile and web applications.
Installation and Upgrading
Countly provides a simple installation process designed for systems running on fresh Ubuntu/CentOS/RHEL. It offers installation via script, Docker support, and robust upgrading documentation for ongoing maintenance.
API and Extensibility
Countly features a comprehensive API framework, empowering users to fetch and modify data. The plugin architecture also facilitates modification of existing features or integration of new functionalities.
Community and Security
Countly fosters a vibrant community through platforms like Discord, offering support and encouraging idea exchanges. Security is a priority, with mechanisms in place for responsible vulnerability disclosures.
Built With and Contributions
The platform leverages popular technologies like MongoDB, NodeJS, and Linux, along with numerous open-source libraries. Contributions are welcome, with detailed guidance available to assist new contributors.
Badges
Countly also offers badges for users who wish to support the platform by displaying them with a link back to Countly's website.
In summary, Countly offers a comprehensive and scalable solution for analyzing user interactions, emphasizing ease of use, security, and rich feature customization.