[metrics-bugs] #23983 [Metrics/Website]: Add middle-only line to Relays by relay flag graph

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#23983: Add middle-only line to Relays by relay flag graph
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 Reporter:  cypherpunks      |          Owner:  metrics-team
     Type:  enhancement      |         Status:  new
 Priority:  Low              |      Milestone:
Component:  Metrics/Website  |        Version:
 Severity:  Normal           |     Resolution:
 Keywords:                   |  Actual Points:
Parent ID:                   |         Points:
 Reviewer:                   |        Sponsor:
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Changes (by karsten):

 * priority:  Medium => Low


Comment:

 In theory, yes. In practice, not easily. Here's what we'd have to do:
  - Extend the `servers.csv`
 [https://metrics.torproject.org/stats.html#servers format] to either
 accept flag combination in the `flag` column or deprecate the `flag`
 column and include a new set of columns: `isexit`, `isguard`, `isfast`,
 `isstable`, and `ishsdir` similar to what we're doing in `bandwidth.csv`.
  - Extend the aggregation code to produce daily averages of relays having
 both the `Exit` and the `Guard` flag assigned.
  - Optionally re-run the aggregation code on the network archive covering
 consensuses back to 2008, or live with the fact that the new middle-only
 line will start whenever the code is deployed (which would need to be
 documented for users).
  - Extend the Relays by relay flag graph to display middle nodes as the
 number of `Running` minus the number of `Exit` ''and'' `Guard` flagged
 relays.

 My guess is that your intuition was that just the last step is necessary
 to make this happen.

 So, is that a "yes" or "no"? I think it's a "not yet". In our roadmap
 draft we're writing that "we decided to give [visualizations] less
 priority in the next 12 months, because it will be easier to improve these
 visualizations when things are more consolidated." And I think that
 applies here. It's a good idea, but it's really a lot of work for
 relatively small gain. I'll leave this ticket open anyway, but better
 don't hold your breath.

 Thanks for the suggestion!

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Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/23983#comment:1>
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