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Web Analytics

Written by oxypteros

Privacy

Discussions about web privacy, the pros and cons of anonymous analytics, or legal compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and similar regulations are beyond the scope of this documentation.

Alpha is built with both beginners and experienced users in mind, and aims to be compliant with evolving legal standards. For these reasons (and more), Alpha follows a zero-data policy by default:

  • No cookies
  • No personal data collection
  • Privacy-friendly, anonymous analytics (GoatCounter)

GoatCounter Integration

Alpha supports integration with GoatCounter. A privacy-friendly, open-source web analytics platform.

GoatCounter may lack some of the advanced features of commercial alternatives, but it works well for personal websites, aligning perfectly with Alpha’s principles.

Setup Instructions

  1. Sign up at the GoatCounter website.
  2. After signing up, your analytics dashboard will be available at:
    https://[your-code].goatcounter.com
  3. To enable GoatCounter in Alpha, add your code in config/_default/params.toml:
goatcounter_prefix = "[your-code]"

Alpha provides a local copy of the necessary GoatCounter tracking script, so your site doesn’t need to fetch it from GoatCounter’s servers on every page load.

Note: GoatCounter won’t work on localhost.

If you enable GoatCounter, Alpha includes two optional privacy tools:

  • A cookie-free banner (snackbar) if:
noCookies_snackbar = true
  • An opt-out toggle in the visitor settings modal if:
visitor_settings = true

These options help ensure you’re transparent with visitors and aligned with GDPR/CCPA compliance. Make sure to mention them in your privacy or policy pages.

Other Analytics

If you prefer to use a different analytics service, you’re free to integrate it manually.
Just ensure that you inform users and remain compliant with local privacy laws and regulations.

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