Introduction

The Ubuntu Popularity Contest (or popcon, in short) gathers statistics based on which packages are installed and used by users. Once a week, the popularity-contest package submits data to a central server ([http://popcon.ubuntu.com/]). The data are then processed anonymously to generate the statistics available on [http://popcon.ubuntu.com/].

Popcon's statistics are of big importance to Ubuntu developers. They can use the data to determine which packages to include on the CDs, which bugs need to be fixed first, or [http://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/gai-popcon to order the results of searches within package managers].

Participating in the Popularity Contest using Ubuntu Dapper

It is easy to participate in the popularity contest if you are using Ubuntu Dapper Drake 6.06 LTS, because it is already installed on your machine by default. This means that all you need to do is enable it.

1. Open a [https://help.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/desktopguide/C/linux-basics.html#terminals terminal] (Applications > Accessories > Terminal)

2. type:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure popularity-contest 

1. A window will appear called "Configuring popularity-contest". It explains what the Popularity Contest is and how it works. At the bottom it reads "Participate in the Ubuntu Popularity Contest?"
2. Use the arrow keys to select "Yes"
3. Press Enter. You are now participating in the Popularity Contest.

CategoryDocumentation