Google Analytics API

Project information

Project page on drupal.org: http://drupal.org/project/google_analytics_api
Student: Joel Kitching (jkitching on d.o, jkitching@drupal.org on g.d.o)
Mentor: Dmitri Gaskin (dmitrig01)
Co-mentor(s): Rick Vugteveen (rickvug)
Joel's Blog: Gone Digital

Current status: Developing low-level aspects.

Description

Takes advantage of data available from the newly-released Google Analytics API. Exact scope of the project is not yet completely planned, but it will include two main items. The first is a base API on the Drupal side adding information to nodes, etc. regarding analytics statistics. The second is an admin section to summarize some of the analytics information available.

Project schedule

• May 23 - June 7: Community Bonding Period

  • Fax my Student Foreign Certification and Proof of Enrollment to Google
  • Obtain CVS account on drupal.org
  • Create d.o project (how-to: create, maintain)
  • IRC/VoIP meeting with mentors
  • Refine scope and timeline

• June 8 - June 21

  • Learn about Data Export API authentication, account listing, and report requesting
  • Decide on OAuth or AuthSub authentication
  • Figure out whether we can use ClientLogin or if AuthSub must be used for authorization (AuthSub is still preferable.)
  • Convert existing Google Analytics PHP library to provide support for AuthSub
  • Get access to a high-volume traffic website for sample Analytics data (currently waiting on imagexmedia.com)
  • Learn how to use unit tests, faking a Google Analytics server to receive and send data (SimpleTest official guide, quick guide, cheat sheet -- example at Drupal HEAD, modules/openid: open_id.test and tests/ for the module)
  • Learn how to commit to the created project on the Drupal.org CVS server
  • Set up a blog for the project
  • Publish blog posts about the project
  • Create a low-level Drupal wrapper function around the PHP library authenticates user appropriately, remembers the token, etc.)
  • IRC/VoIP meeting with mentors (sometime during week of June 22?)

• June 22 - July 5

  • Create admin page where current AuthSub session can be managed -- login and logout.
  • Add permission to use Google Analytics data and make sure all calls to this information is protected by this permission.
  • Backend (Drupal implementation of API) is complete

• July 6 - July 12

  • Define features for the front-end interface
  • Start basic code (main dashboard page, tab for each node)
  • Create sample "query" page to retrieve custom data

• July 13

  • Midterm evaluation deadline (passed)

• July 13 - July 27

  • Statistics block with graphs by Google Charts

• July 28 - August 10

  • Statistics section on nodes

• August 11 - August 17

  • Implement unit tests, faking a Google Analytics server to receive and send data

Update

Project has received a passing grade. I will continue heavy development over the next couple months and maintenance after that.

Notes

• CVS through Git
• Better CVS through Git

Future Features

• Add support to Analytics library for multiple page fetching
• Implement caching if necessary
• Views integration (wait for Views 3?)