feat: show plugin download counts only and stop CI builds inflating them

.github/workflows/electron.yml

@@ -117,6 +117,15 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: npm ci
 
+      # Bundled plugins are counted as downloads in the plugin store, so a
+      # build only fetches them when the pins change.
+      - name: Cache bundled plugins
+        uses: actions/cache@v6
+        with:
+          path: node_modules/.cache/termix-bundled-plugins
+          key: bundled-plugins-${{ hashFiles('docker/bundled-plugins.json') }}
+          enableCrossOsArchive: true
+
       # A beta build has to know it is a beta, or it reports the stable version.
       - name: Stamp beta version
         if: inputs.version_override != ''
@@ -240,6 +249,15 @@ jobs:
           npm install --force @rollup/rollup-linux-arm64-gnu
           npm install --force @rollup/rollup-linux-arm-gnueabihf
 
+      # Bundled plugins are counted as downloads in the plugin store, so a
+      # build only fetches them when the pins change.
+      - name: Cache bundled plugins
+        uses: actions/cache@v6
+        with:
+          path: node_modules/.cache/termix-bundled-plugins
+          key: bundled-plugins-${{ hashFiles('docker/bundled-plugins.json') }}
+          enableCrossOsArchive: true
+
       # A beta build has to know it is a beta, or it reports the stable version.
       - name: Stamp beta version
         if: inputs.version_override != ''
@@ -467,6 +485,15 @@ jobs:
           npm install dmg-license
           node scripts/install-macos-sharp.cjs
 
+      # Bundled plugins are counted as downloads in the plugin store, so a
+      # build only fetches them when the pins change.
+      - name: Cache bundled plugins
+        uses: actions/cache@v6
+        with:
+          path: node_modules/.cache/termix-bundled-plugins
+          key: bundled-plugins-${{ hashFiles('docker/bundled-plugins.json') }}
+          enableCrossOsArchive: true
+
       # A beta build has to know it is a beta, or it reports the stable version.
       - name: Stamp beta version
         if: inputs.version_override != ''
@@ -954,6 +981,15 @@ jobs:
           npm install dmg-license
           node scripts/install-macos-sharp.cjs
 
+      # Bundled plugins are counted as downloads in the plugin store, so a
+      # build only fetches them when the pins change.
+      - name: Cache bundled plugins
+        uses: actions/cache@v6
+        with:
+          path: node_modules/.cache/termix-bundled-plugins
+          key: bundled-plugins-${{ hashFiles('docker/bundled-plugins.json') }}
+          enableCrossOsArchive: true
+
       - name: Check for Code Signing Certificates
         id: check_certs
         run: |

.github/workflows/pr-check.yml

@@ -24,6 +24,15 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: npm ci
 
+      # Bundled plugins are counted as downloads in the plugin store, so a
+      # build only fetches them when the pins change.
+      - name: Cache bundled plugins
+        uses: actions/cache@v6
+        with:
+          path: node_modules/.cache/termix-bundled-plugins
+          key: bundled-plugins-${{ hashFiles('docker/bundled-plugins.json') }}
+          enableCrossOsArchive: true
+
       - name: Build plugin SDK
         run: npm run build:sdk
 

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -228,6 +228,15 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: npm ci
 
+      # Bundled plugins are counted as downloads in the plugin store, so a
+      # build only fetches them when the pins change.
+      - name: Cache bundled plugins
+        uses: actions/cache@v6
+        with:
+          path: node_modules/.cache/termix-bundled-plugins
+          key: bundled-plugins-${{ hashFiles('docker/bundled-plugins.json') }}
+          enableCrossOsArchive: true
+
       - name: Build plugin SDK
         run: npm run build:sdk
 

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
 - Every language is now fully translated, in Termix and in every plugin, and stays up to date with each release
 - Languages with more than two plural forms, like Russian, Polish and Arabic, now use the right one
+- The Plugins tab shows how many times each plugin was downloaded, in a Downloads column
 
 ### Fixed
 
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@
 - Plugin updates synced to the desktop app failed to start with "Cannot find package"
 - The desktop app showed plugins that only run on the server as not running and out of date
 - Keep the terminal WebSocket open past nginx's 60s default
+- Plugin download counts now show in the Plugins tab without waiting for the background check
 
 ## 26.10.0
 

docker/Dockerfile

@@ -34,7 +34,9 @@ WORKDIR /app
 
 COPY . .
 
-RUN npm run build:backend
+# Bundled plugin downloads show in the plugin store, so keep them between builds.
+RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/app/node_modules/.cache/termix-bundled-plugins \
+    npm run build:backend
 
 # Stage 4: Download OPKSSH binary for the target platform so the image works offline
 FROM node:24-slim AS opkssh-downloader

drizzle/mysql/0071_drop_install_count_source.sql

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ALTER TABLE `plugin_install_counts` DROP COLUMN `source`;

drizzle/mysql/meta/_journal.json

@@ -498,6 +498,13 @@
       "when": 1791550497926,
       "tag": "0070_drop_donation_modal",
       "breakpoints": true
+    },
+    {
+      "idx": 71,
+      "version": "5",
+      "when": 1791755801066,
+      "tag": "0071_drop_install_count_source",
+      "breakpoints": true
     }
   ]
 }

drizzle/postgres/0071_drop_install_count_source.sql

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ALTER TABLE "plugin_install_counts" DROP COLUMN "source";

drizzle/postgres/meta/_journal.json

@@ -498,6 +498,13 @@
       "when": 1791550496661,
       "tag": "0070_drop_donation_modal",
       "breakpoints": true
+    },
+    {
+      "idx": 71,
+      "version": "7",
+      "when": 1791755800419,
+      "tag": "0071_drop_install_count_source",
+      "breakpoints": true
     }
   ]
 }

drizzle/sqlite/0066_drop_install_count_source.sql

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ALTER TABLE `plugin_install_counts` DROP COLUMN `source`;

drizzle/sqlite/meta/_journal.json

@@ -463,6 +463,13 @@
       "when": 1791550495357,
       "tag": "0065_drop_donation_modal",
       "breakpoints": true
+    },
+    {
+      "idx": 66,
+      "version": "6",
+      "when": 1791755799726,
+      "tag": "0066_drop_install_count_source",
+      "breakpoints": true
     }
   ]
 }

env.catalog.json

@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@
     {
       "name": "TERMIX_PLUGIN_STATS_URL",
       "group": "plugins",
-      "description": "Where install counts are read from. Defaults to stats.json next to the registry index."
+      "description": "Where plugin download counts are read from. Defaults to stats.json next to the registry index."
     },
     {
       "name": "TERMIX_REQUIRE_SIGNED_PLUGINS",

src/backend/database/db/index.ts

@@ -542,7 +542,6 @@ async function initializeCompleteDatabase(): Promise<void> {
         plugin_id TEXT NOT NULL,
         registry_id TEXT NOT NULL,
         count INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-        source TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'aggregate-telemetry',
         updated_at TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
         UNIQUE (plugin_id, registry_id)
     );

src/backend/database/db/retired-columns.ts

@@ -80,6 +80,8 @@ export const RETIRED_COLUMNS: Record<string, string[]> = {
     "donation_modal_dismissed",
   ],
   sessions: ["oidc_sub", "oidc_sid", "sso_provider_id"],
+  // 26.10.1 shows downloads only.
+  plugin_install_counts: ["source"],
   user_preferences: [
     "command_autocomplete",
     "terminal_defaults",

src/backend/database/db/schema.mysql.ts

@@ -1055,10 +1055,9 @@ export const pluginRegistries = mysqlTable("plugin_registries", {
 });
 
 /**
- * Install counts populated by a background job (GitHub release download
- * counts, aggregated telemetry, or a manual override) rather than by the
- * install/uninstall actions themselves, kept separate from `plugins` so
- * that job can overwrite counts without touching install state.
+ * Download counts from each registry's stats.json, written by a background
+ * job rather than by installs, kept separate from `plugins` so that job can
+ * overwrite counts without touching install state.
  */
 export const pluginInstallCounts = mysqlTable(
   "plugin_install_counts",
@@ -1067,7 +1066,6 @@ export const pluginInstallCounts = mysqlTable(
     pluginId: varchar("plugin_id", { length: 255 }).notNull(),
     registryId: varchar("registry_id", { length: 255 }).notNull(),
     count: int("count").notNull().default(0),
-    source: text("source").notNull().default("aggregate-telemetry"),
     updatedAt: text("updated_at")
       .notNull()
       .default(sql`(CURRENT_TIMESTAMP)`),

src/backend/database/db/schema.pg.ts

@@ -1055,10 +1055,9 @@ export const pluginRegistries = pgTable("plugin_registries", {
 });
 
 /**
- * Install counts populated by a background job (GitHub release download
- * counts, aggregated telemetry, or a manual override) rather than by the
- * install/uninstall actions themselves, kept separate from `plugins` so
- * that job can overwrite counts without touching install state.
+ * Download counts from each registry's stats.json, written by a background
+ * job rather than by installs, kept separate from `plugins` so that job can
+ * overwrite counts without touching install state.
  */
 export const pluginInstallCounts = pgTable(
   "plugin_install_counts",
@@ -1067,7 +1066,6 @@ export const pluginInstallCounts = pgTable(
     pluginId: varchar("plugin_id", { length: 255 }).notNull(),
     registryId: varchar("registry_id", { length: 255 }).notNull(),
     count: integer("count").notNull().default(0),
-    source: text("source").notNull().default("aggregate-telemetry"),
     updatedAt: text("updated_at")
       .notNull()
       .default(sql`CURRENT_TIMESTAMP`),

src/backend/database/db/schema.ts

@@ -1051,10 +1051,9 @@ export const pluginRegistries = sqliteTable("plugin_registries", {
 });
 
 /**
- * Install counts populated by a background job (GitHub release download
- * counts, aggregated telemetry, or a manual override) rather than by the
- * install/uninstall actions themselves, kept separate from `plugins` so
- * that job can overwrite counts without touching install state.
+ * Download counts from each registry's stats.json, written by a background
+ * job rather than by installs, kept separate from `plugins` so that job can
+ * overwrite counts without touching install state.
  */
 export const pluginInstallCounts = sqliteTable(
   "plugin_install_counts",
@@ -1063,7 +1062,6 @@ export const pluginInstallCounts = sqliteTable(
     pluginId: text("plugin_id").notNull(),
     registryId: text("registry_id").notNull(),
     count: integer("count").notNull().default(0),
-    source: text("source").notNull().default("aggregate-telemetry"),
     updatedAt: text("updated_at")
       .notNull()
       .default(sql`CURRENT_TIMESTAMP`),

src/backend/database/repositories/plugin-install-count-repository.ts

@@ -7,10 +7,9 @@ export type PluginInstallCountRecord = typeof pluginInstallCounts.$inferSelect;
 export interface PluginInstallCountInput {
   pluginId: string;
   count: number;
-  source: string;
 }
 
-/** Popularity numbers for the store, one row per plugin and registry. */
+/** Download counts for the store, one row per plugin and registry. */
 export class PluginInstallCountRepository {
   constructor(
     private readonly context: DatabaseContext,
@@ -38,13 +37,11 @@ export class PluginInstallCountRepository {
     let written = 0;
     for (const entry of entries) {
       const row = existing.get(entry.pluginId);
-      if (row && row.count === entry.count && row.source === entry.source) {
-        continue;
-      }
+      if (row && row.count === entry.count) continue;
       if (row) {
         await this.context.drizzle
           .update(pluginInstallCounts)
-          .set({ count: entry.count, source: entry.source, updatedAt: now })
+          .set({ count: entry.count, updatedAt: now })
           .where(
             and(
               eq(pluginInstallCounts.pluginId, entry.pluginId),
@@ -56,7 +53,6 @@ export class PluginInstallCountRepository {
           pluginId: entry.pluginId,
           registryId,
           count: entry.count,
-          source: entry.source,
           updatedAt: now,
         });
       }

src/backend/plugins/auto-update.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /**
- * The registry timer: refreshes the store's install counts and applies
+ * The registry timer: refreshes the store's download counts and applies
  * plugin updates for plugins with auto-update on. An update that asks for a
  * new capability is never applied here; admins get an alert and review it in
  * the Plugins tab. Nothing is ever installed from here.
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ const CHECK_EVERY_MS = 6 * 60 * 60_000;
 let timer: NodeJS.Timeout | null = null;
 
 export async function runPluginAutoUpdate(): Promise<void> {
-  const { syncInstallCounts } = await import("./install-counts.js");
-  await syncInstallCounts();
+  const { syncDownloadCounts } = await import("./download-counts.js");
+  await syncDownloadCounts();
 
   const { isLinkedDesktop, updateAllPlugins } = await import("./manage.js");
   if (await isLinkedDesktop()) return;

src/backend/plugins/download-counts.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+/**
+ * Download counts for the plugin store, copied from the registry's
+ * stats.json into plugin_install_counts.
+ *
+ * A count is how often the plugin's .tmxplug release files were downloaded.
+ * An instance that updates three times counts three times, and copies bundled
+ * into Docker images or the desktop app never count. Treat it as a ranking,
+ * never as a user count.
+ */
+
+import { pluginLogger } from "../utils/logger.js";
+import {
+  OFFICIAL_REGISTRY_ID,
+  fetchRegistryStats,
+  officialSource,
+  type RegistrySource,
+} from "./registry-index.js";
+
+async function repository() {
+  const { createCurrentPluginInstallCountRepository } =
+    await import("../database/repositories/factory.js");
+  return createCurrentPluginInstallCountRepository();
+}
+
+const STALE_MS = 6 * 60 * 60_000;
+const FORCED_MS = 60_000;
+const WAIT_MS = 3_000;
+
+let lastSyncAt = 0;
+let running: Promise<number> | null = null;
+
+/**
+ * Syncs when the counts are older than the registry timer's interval, or
+ * older than a minute with force (the Refresh button). Waits a few seconds
+ * at most so a slow registry never holds up the store; a sync that runs
+ * longer still finishes in the background.
+ */
+export async function refreshDownloadCounts(force = false): Promise<void> {
+  const age = Date.now() - lastSyncAt;
+  if (!running && age >= (force ? FORCED_MS : STALE_MS)) {
+    running = syncDownloadCounts().finally(() => {
+      running = null;
+    });
+  }
+  if (!running) return;
+  let timeout: NodeJS.Timeout | undefined;
+  await Promise.race([
+    running,
+    new Promise((resolve) => {
+      timeout = setTimeout(resolve, WAIT_MS);
+    }),
+  ]);
+  clearTimeout(timeout);
+}
+
+/** Test seam. */
+export function resetDownloadCountRefresh(): void {
+  lastSyncAt = 0;
+  running = null;
+}
+
+/** Returns how many rows changed. Never throws; a failed sync keeps the old numbers. */
+export async function syncDownloadCounts(): Promise<number> {
+  lastSyncAt = Date.now();
+  let changed = 0;
+  let sources: RegistrySource[] = [officialSource()];
+  try {
+    const { listSources } = await import("./registries.js");
+    sources = await listSources();
+  } catch {
+    // Official only when the registry choices cannot be read.
+  }
+  for (const source of sources) {
+    try {
+      const stats = await fetchRegistryStats(source);
+      if (!stats) continue;
+      const entries = [...stats.plugins].map(([pluginId, downloads]) => ({
+        pluginId,
+        count: downloads,
+      }));
+      changed += await (await repository()).upsertMany(source.id, entries);
+    } catch (error) {
+      pluginLogger.warn(
+        `Could not sync plugin download counts from ${source.id}: ${
+          error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)
+        }`,
+        { operation: "plugin_registry" },
+      );
+    }
+  }
+  return changed;
+}
+
+export async function readDownloadCounts(
+  registryId: string = OFFICIAL_REGISTRY_ID,
+): Promise<Map<string, number>> {
+  try {
+    const rows = await (await repository()).listByRegistry(registryId);
+    return new Map(rows.map((row) => [row.pluginId, row.count]));
+  } catch {
+    return new Map();
+  }
+}

src/backend/plugins/install-counts.ts

@@ -1,94 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Popularity numbers for the plugin store, copied from the registry's
- * stats.json into plugin_install_counts.
- *
- * Two sources, and the store prefers the first:
- * - "aggregate-telemetry": instances that reported the plugin enabled in the
- *   last 7 days through the Usage Statistics plugin. It undercounts by every
- *   instance that turned the report off or never installed that plugin.
- * - "github-releases": downloads of the plugin's .tmxplug release assets.
- *   This counts downloads, not active installs: an instance that updates
- *   three times counts three times, and Docker images that bundle the plugin
- *   count once per build, not once per install.
- *
- * Treat both as a rough ranking, never as a user count.
- */
-
-import { pluginLogger } from "../utils/logger.js";
-import {
-  OFFICIAL_REGISTRY_ID,
-  fetchRegistryStats,
-  officialSource,
-  type RegistrySource,
-} from "./registry-index.js";
-
-export const TELEMETRY_SOURCE = "aggregate-telemetry";
-export const DOWNLOADS_SOURCE = "github-releases";
-
-export interface InstallCount {
-  count: number;
-  source: string;
-}
-
-async function repository() {
-  const { createCurrentPluginInstallCountRepository } =
-    await import("../database/repositories/factory.js");
-  return createCurrentPluginInstallCountRepository();
-}
-
-/** Picks the number to show: active installs when known, downloads otherwise. */
-export function preferredCount(entry: {
-  downloads: number;
-  activeInstalls: number | null;
-}): InstallCount {
-  return entry.activeInstalls !== null && entry.activeInstalls > 0
-    ? { count: entry.activeInstalls, source: TELEMETRY_SOURCE }
-    : { count: entry.downloads, source: DOWNLOADS_SOURCE };
-}
-
-/** Returns how many rows changed. Never throws; a failed sync keeps the old numbers. */
-export async function syncInstallCounts(): Promise<number> {
-  let changed = 0;
-  let sources: RegistrySource[] = [officialSource()];
-  try {
-    const { listSources } = await import("./registries.js");
-    sources = await listSources();
-  } catch {
-    // Official only when the registry choices cannot be read.
-  }
-  for (const source of sources) {
-    try {
-      const stats = await fetchRegistryStats(source);
-      if (!stats) continue;
-      const entries = [...stats.plugins].map(([pluginId, entry]) => ({
-        pluginId,
-        ...preferredCount(entry),
-      }));
-      changed += await (await repository()).upsertMany(source.id, entries);
-    } catch (error) {
-      pluginLogger.warn(
-        `Could not sync plugin install counts from ${source.id}: ${
-          error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)
-        }`,
-        { operation: "plugin_registry" },
-      );
-    }
-  }
-  return changed;
-}
-
-export async function readInstallCounts(
-  registryId: string = OFFICIAL_REGISTRY_ID,
-): Promise<Map<string, InstallCount>> {
-  try {
-    const rows = await (await repository()).listByRegistry(registryId);
-    return new Map(
-      rows.map((row) => [
-        row.pluginId,
-        { count: row.count, source: row.source },
-      ]),
-    );
-  } catch {
-    return new Map();
-  }
-}

src/backend/plugins/manage.ts

@@ -56,7 +56,10 @@ import {
 } from "./registries.js";
 import { invalidatePluginPermissionCache } from "./permissions.js";
 import { moveWithRetry } from "./fs-retry.js";
-import { readInstallCounts } from "./install-counts.js";
+import {
+  readDownloadCounts,
+  refreshDownloadCounts,
+} from "./download-counts.js";
 import { readArtifactManifest, sameCapabilities } from "./artifact-manifest.js";
 import {
   parseManifest,
@@ -273,9 +276,8 @@ export interface RegistryListing {
     pinnedVersion: string | null;
     autoUpdate: boolean;
     bundled: boolean;
-    /** See install-counts.ts for what this number does and does not mean. */
-    installCount: number | null;
-    installCountSource: string | null;
+    /** See download-counts.ts for what this number does and does not mean. */
+    downloads: number | null;
   }>;
 }
 
@@ -315,13 +317,14 @@ export async function listRegistry(
   const records = new Map(
     (await createCurrentPluginRepository().listAll()).map((r) => [r.id, r]),
   );
+  await refreshDownloadCounts(options.force);
   const counts = new Map(
     await Promise.all(
       sources
         .filter((source) => source.tier !== "custom")
         .map(
           async (source) =>
-            [source.id, await readInstallCounts(source.id)] as const,
+            [source.id, await readDownloadCounts(source.id)] as const,
         ),
     ),
   );
@@ -439,9 +442,7 @@ export async function listRegistry(
         pinnedVersion: record?.pinnedVersion ?? null,
         autoUpdate: Boolean(record?.autoUpdate),
         bundled: shipped.has(plugin.id),
-        installCount: counts.get(source.id)?.get(plugin.id)?.count ?? null,
-        installCountSource:
-          counts.get(source.id)?.get(plugin.id)?.source ?? null,
+        downloads: counts.get(source.id)?.get(plugin.id) ?? null,
       };
     }),
   };

src/backend/plugins/registry-index.ts

@@ -356,7 +356,8 @@ export async function fetchRegistryIndex(
 }
 
 export interface RegistryStats {
-  plugins: Map<string, { downloads: number; activeInstalls: number | null }>;
+  /** Downloads per plugin id. */
+  plugins: Map<string, number>;
 }
 
 /** stats.json sits next to index.json and is rebuilt daily by the registry. */
@@ -380,21 +381,14 @@ function asCount(value: unknown): number | null {
 }
 
 export function parseRegistryStats(raw: unknown): RegistryStats {
-  const plugins = new Map<
-    string,
-    { downloads: number; activeInstalls: number | null }
-  >();
+  const plugins = new Map<string, number>();
   const entries = (raw as { plugins?: unknown } | null)?.plugins;
   if (!entries || typeof entries !== "object" || Array.isArray(entries)) {
     return { plugins };
   }
   for (const [id, value] of Object.entries(entries)) {
     if (!ID_PATTERN.test(id) || !value || typeof value !== "object") continue;
-    const entry = value as Record<string, unknown>;
-    plugins.set(id, {
-      downloads: asCount(entry.downloads) ?? 0,
-      activeInstalls: asCount(entry.activeInstalls),
-    });
+    plugins.set(id, asCount((value as Record<string, unknown>).downloads) ?? 0);
   }
   return { plugins };
 }

src/backend/tests/plugins/download-counts.test.ts

@@ -1,25 +1,15 @@
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 
 const state = vi.hoisted(() => ({
-  stats: null as null | {
-    plugins: Map<string, { downloads: number; activeInstalls: number | null }>;
-  },
+  stats: null as null | { plugins: Map<string, number> },
   fail: false,
   sources: [{ id: "official", tier: "official" }] as Array<{
     id: string;
     tier: string;
   }>,
-  statsBySource: {} as Record<
-    string,
-    {
-      plugins: Map<
-        string,
-        { downloads: number; activeInstalls: number | null }
-      >;
-    } | null
-  >,
+  statsBySource: {} as Record<string, { plugins: Map<string, number> } | null>,
   upserted: [] as Array<{ registryId: string; entries: unknown[] }>,
-  rows: [] as Array<{ pluginId: string; count: number; source: string }>,
+  rows: [] as Array<{ pluginId: string; count: number }>,
 }));
 
 vi.mock("../../plugins/registry-index.js", () => ({
@@ -46,12 +36,11 @@ vi.mock("../../database/repositories/factory.js", () => ({
 }));
 
 const {
-  DOWNLOADS_SOURCE,
-  TELEMETRY_SOURCE,
-  preferredCount,
-  readInstallCounts,
-  syncInstallCounts,
-} = await import("../../plugins/install-counts.js");
+  readDownloadCounts,
+  refreshDownloadCounts,
+  resetDownloadCountRefresh,
+  syncDownloadCounts,
+} = await import("../../plugins/download-counts.js");
 
 beforeEach(() => {
   state.stats = null;
@@ -60,9 +49,62 @@ beforeEach(() => {
   state.statsBySource = {};
   state.upserted = [];
   state.rows = [];
+  resetDownloadCountRefresh();
 });
 
-describe("syncInstallCounts with more registries", () => {
+describe("refreshDownloadCounts", () => {
+  const docker = () => ({ plugins: new Map([["docker", 5]]) });
+
+  it("syncs on the first look and not again while fresh", async () => {
+    state.stats = docker();
+    await refreshDownloadCounts();
+    await refreshDownloadCounts();
+    expect(state.upserted).toHaveLength(1);
+  });
+
+  it("does not sync again right away even when forced", async () => {
+    state.stats = docker();
+    await refreshDownloadCounts();
+    await refreshDownloadCounts(true);
+    expect(state.upserted).toHaveLength(1);
+  });
+
+  it("syncs again when forced after a minute", async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers({ toFake: ["Date"] });
+    try {
+      state.stats = docker();
+      await refreshDownloadCounts();
+      vi.setSystemTime(Date.now() + 61_000);
+      await refreshDownloadCounts();
+      expect(state.upserted).toHaveLength(1);
+      await refreshDownloadCounts(true);
+      expect(state.upserted).toHaveLength(2);
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers();
+    }
+  });
+});
+
+describe("syncDownloadCounts", () => {
+  it("writes one row per plugin", async () => {
+    state.stats = {
+      plugins: new Map([
+        ["docker", 50],
+        ["tunnels", 8],
+      ]),
+    };
+    expect(await syncDownloadCounts()).toBe(2);
+    expect(state.upserted).toEqual([
+      {
+        registryId: "official",
+        entries: [
+          { pluginId: "docker", count: 50 },
+          { pluginId: "tunnels", count: 8 },
+        ],
+      },
+    ]);
+  });
+
   it("stores counts per registry and skips custom ones", async () => {
     state.sources = [
       { id: "official", tier: "official" },
@@ -70,78 +112,33 @@ describe("syncInstallCounts with more registries", () => {
       { id: "mine", tier: "custom" },
     ];
     state.statsBySource = {
-      official: {
-        plugins: new Map([["docker", { downloads: 5, activeInstalls: null }]]),
-      },
-      community: {
-        plugins: new Map([["neat", { downloads: 3, activeInstalls: 2 }]]),
-      },
+      official: { plugins: new Map([["docker", 5]]) },
+      community: { plugins: new Map([["neat", 3]]) },
       mine: null,
     };
-    expect(await syncInstallCounts()).toBe(2);
+    expect(await syncDownloadCounts()).toBe(2);
     expect(state.upserted.map((entry) => entry.registryId)).toEqual([
       "official",
       "community",
     ]);
   });
-});
-
-describe("preferredCount", () => {
-  it("prefers active installs and falls back to downloads", () => {
-    expect(preferredCount({ downloads: 90, activeInstalls: 12 })).toEqual({
-      count: 12,
-      source: TELEMETRY_SOURCE,
-    });
-    expect(preferredCount({ downloads: 90, activeInstalls: null })).toEqual({
-      count: 90,
-      source: DOWNLOADS_SOURCE,
-    });
-    expect(preferredCount({ downloads: 90, activeInstalls: 0 })).toEqual({
-      count: 90,
-      source: DOWNLOADS_SOURCE,
-    });
-  });
-});
-
-describe("syncInstallCounts", () => {
-  it("writes one row per plugin with its preferred source", async () => {
-    state.stats = {
-      plugins: new Map([
-        ["docker", { downloads: 50, activeInstalls: 20 }],
-        ["tunnels", { downloads: 8, activeInstalls: null }],
-      ]),
-    };
-    expect(await syncInstallCounts()).toBe(2);
-    expect(state.upserted).toEqual([
-      {
-        registryId: "official",
-        entries: [
-          { pluginId: "docker", count: 20, source: TELEMETRY_SOURCE },
-          { pluginId: "tunnels", count: 8, source: DOWNLOADS_SOURCE },
-        ],
-      },
-    ]);
-  });
 
   it("keeps the old numbers when the registry is unreachable", async () => {
     state.fail = true;
-    expect(await syncInstallCounts()).toBe(0);
+    expect(await syncDownloadCounts()).toBe(0);
     expect(state.upserted).toEqual([]);
   });
 
   it("does nothing for a registry with no stats file", async () => {
-    expect(await syncInstallCounts()).toBe(0);
+    expect(await syncDownloadCounts()).toBe(0);
     expect(state.upserted).toEqual([]);
   });
 });
 
-describe("readInstallCounts", () => {
+describe("readDownloadCounts", () => {
   it("maps the stored rows by plugin id", async () => {
-    state.rows = [{ pluginId: "docker", count: 20, source: TELEMETRY_SOURCE }];
-    const counts = await readInstallCounts();
-    expect(counts.get("docker")).toEqual({
-      count: 20,
-      source: TELEMETRY_SOURCE,
-    });
+    state.rows = [{ pluginId: "docker", count: 20 }];
+    const counts = await readDownloadCounts();
+    expect(counts.get("docker")).toBe(20);
   });
 });

src/backend/tests/plugins/registry-index.test.ts

@@ -512,16 +512,16 @@ describe("registry stats", () => {
   it("keeps valid counts and drops the rest", () => {
     const stats = parseRegistryStats({
       plugins: {
-        docker: { downloads: 120, activeInstalls: 40 },
+        docker: { downloads: 120 },
         tunnels: { downloads: 7 },
         "../bad": { downloads: 1 },
-        broken: { downloads: -3, activeInstalls: "many" },
+        broken: { downloads: -3 },
       },
     });
     expect(Object.fromEntries(stats.plugins)).toEqual({
-      docker: { downloads: 120, activeInstalls: 40 },
-      tunnels: { downloads: 7, activeInstalls: null },
-      broken: { downloads: 0, activeInstalls: null },
+      docker: 120,
+      tunnels: 7,
+      broken: 0,
     });
   });
 
@@ -530,9 +530,6 @@ describe("registry stats", () => {
       response(JSON.stringify({ plugins: { docker: { downloads: 3 } } })),
     );
     const stats = await fetchRegistryStats();
-    expect(stats?.plugins.get("docker")).toEqual({
-      downloads: 3,
-      activeInstalls: null,
-    });
+    expect(stats?.plugins.get("docker")).toBe(3);
   });
 });

src/ui/api/plugins-api.ts

@@ -321,9 +321,8 @@ export interface RegistryPluginEntry {
   pinnedVersion: string | null;
   autoUpdate: boolean;
   bundled: boolean;
-  /** Active installs when known, release downloads otherwise. */
-  installCount: number | null;
-  installCountSource: string | null;
+  /** How often the release files were downloaded, from the registry. */
+  downloads: number | null;
 }
 
 export interface RegistryListingSource {

src/ui/locales/en.json

@@ -1933,7 +1933,7 @@
         "version": "Version",
         "status": "Status",
         "category": "Category",
-        "installs": "Installs"
+        "downloads": "Downloads"
       },
       "risk": {
         "critical": "Critical",
@@ -2145,11 +2145,8 @@
         "signedOnly": "TERMIX_REQUIRE_SIGNED_PLUGINS is set, so installing from a file stays blocked."
       },
       "count": {
-        "active_one": "{{formatted}} active install",
-        "active_other": "{{formatted}} active installs",
         "downloads_one": "{{formatted}} download",
         "downloads_other": "{{formatted}} downloads",
-        "activeHint": "Instances that reported this plugin turned on in the last week. Instances with usage statistics turned off are not counted.",
         "downloadsHint": "How many times a release was downloaded. This is not the number of installs."
       },
       "unverified": "Unverified",

src/ui/plugins/PluginDetail.tsx

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import { getPluginData, type PluginDataSummary } from "@/api/plugins-api";
 import {
   BetaBadge,
   CapabilityRow,
-  InstallCountFact,
+  DownloadCount,
   PluginIconBox,
   SourceBadge,
   UnverifiedBadge,
@@ -128,10 +128,7 @@ export function PluginDetail({
                 })}
               </span>
             )}
-            <InstallCountFact
-              count={plugin.installCount}
-              source={plugin.installCountSource}
-            />
+            <DownloadCount count={plugin.downloads} />
           </Facts>
         </div>
         <div className="flex shrink-0 flex-col gap-1.5">

src/ui/plugins/PluginsTab.tsx

@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ import { InlineView, SurfaceScope } from "@/components/surface/surface-scope";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 import {
   BetaBadge,
-  InstallCountFact,
+  DownloadCount,
   PluginIconBox,
   SourceBadge,
   UnverifiedBadge,
@@ -992,16 +992,13 @@ function BrowseSection({
       ),
     },
     {
-      key: "installs",
-      header: t("plugins.manager.table.installs"),
+      key: "downloads",
+      header: t("plugins.manager.table.downloads"),
       width: "110px",
       hideBelow: "lg",
       cell: (p) => (
         <span className="text-muted-foreground">
-          <InstallCountFact
-            count={p.installCount}
-            source={p.installCountSource}
-          />
+          <DownloadCount count={p.downloads} />
         </span>
       ),
     },
@@ -1148,10 +1145,7 @@ function BrowseCard({
             {plugin.author && <span>{plugin.author}</span>}
             {plugin.latestVersion && <span>v{plugin.latestVersion}</span>}
             {plugin.category && <span>{plugin.category}</span>}
-            <InstallCountFact
-              count={plugin.installCount}
-              source={plugin.installCountSource}
-            />
+            <DownloadCount count={plugin.downloads} />
           </>
         }
       />

src/ui/plugins/plugin-bits.tsx

@@ -126,31 +126,16 @@ export function BetaBadge() {
   );
 }
 
-/** Active installs when the registry has them, release downloads otherwise. */
-export function InstallCountFact({
-  count,
-  source,
-}: {
-  count: number | null;
-  source: string | null;
-}) {
+/** How often the plugin's release files were downloaded. */
+export function DownloadCount({ count }: { count: number | null }) {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   if (count === null || count <= 0) return null;
-  const active = source === "aggregate-telemetry";
   return (
-    <span
-      title={
-        active
-          ? t("plugins.manager.count.activeHint")
-          : t("plugins.manager.count.downloadsHint")
-      }
-    >
-      {t(
-        active
-          ? "plugins.manager.count.active"
-          : "plugins.manager.count.downloads",
-        { count, formatted: formatCount(count) },
-      )}
+    <span title={t("plugins.manager.count.downloadsHint")}>
+      {t("plugins.manager.count.downloads", {
+        count,
+        formatted: formatCount(count),
+      })}
     </span>
   );
 }

src/ui/plugins/plugin-model.ts

@@ -62,8 +62,7 @@ export interface PluginEntry {
   inRegistry: boolean;
   contributes: Record<string, unknown> | null;
   publishedAt: string | null;
-  installCount: number | null;
-  installCountSource: string | null;
+  downloads: number | null;
   source: PluginSource;
   /** Installed from a file or folder with no registry signature behind it. */
   unverified: boolean;
@@ -161,8 +160,7 @@ export function mergePlugins(
       inRegistry: Boolean(entry),
       contributes: (summary.contributes as Record<string, unknown>) ?? null,
       publishedAt: latestPublished(entry?.versions ?? []),
-      installCount: entry?.installCount ?? null,
-      installCountSource: entry?.installCountSource ?? null,
+      downloads: entry?.downloads ?? null,
       source: pluginSource(summary),
       unverified: pluginSource(summary) === "unverified",
       registryId: entry?.registryId ?? summary.registryId ?? null,
@@ -205,8 +203,7 @@ export function mergePlugins(
       inRegistry: true,
       contributes: null,
       publishedAt: latestPublished(entry.versions),
-      installCount: entry.installCount ?? null,
-      installCountSource: entry.installCountSource ?? null,
+      downloads: entry.downloads ?? null,
       source: entry.tier ?? "official",
       unverified: false,
       registryId: entry.registryId ?? "official",
@@ -246,8 +243,7 @@ export function uploadEntry(preview: PluginUploadPreview): PluginEntry {
     inRegistry: false,
     contributes: null,
     publishedAt: null,
-    installCount: null,
-    installCountSource: null,
+    downloads: null,
     source: "unverified",
     unverified: true,
     registryId: null,
@@ -270,7 +266,7 @@ export function sortPlugins(rows: PluginEntry[], key: SortKey): PluginEntry[] {
   if (key === "popular") {
     sorted.sort(
       (a, b) =>
-        (b.installCount ?? -1) - (a.installCount ?? -1) ||
+        (b.downloads ?? -1) - (a.downloads ?? -1) ||
         a.name.localeCompare(b.name),
     );
   } else if (key === "updated") {

src/ui/tests/plugins/PluginConsentPrompt.test.tsx

@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ const [plugin] = mergePlugins(
       pinnedVersion: null,
       autoUpdate: false,
       bundled: false,
-      installCount: null,
-      installCountSource: null,
+      downloads: null,
     },
   ],
 );

src/ui/tests/plugins/PluginsTab.test.tsx

@@ -22,8 +22,7 @@ const plugin = {
   capabilities: [],
   contributes: {},
   versions: [],
-  installCount: null,
-  installCountSource: null,
+  downloads: null,
 };
 
 vi.mock("@/plugins/use-plugins-manager", () => ({

src/ui/tests/plugins/plugin-model.test.ts

@@ -61,8 +61,7 @@ function entry(
     pinnedVersion: null,
     autoUpdate: false,
     bundled: true,
-    installCount: null,
-    installCountSource: null,
+    downloads: null,
     ...overrides,
   };
 }
@@ -235,9 +234,9 @@ describe("popularity", () => {
     const rows = mergePlugins(
       [],
       [
-        entry({ id: "a", name: "A", installed: false, installCount: 5 }),
-        entry({ id: "b", name: "B", installed: false, installCount: null }),
-        entry({ id: "c", name: "C", installed: false, installCount: 90 }),
+        entry({ id: "a", name: "A", installed: false, downloads: 5 }),
+        entry({ id: "b", name: "B", installed: false, downloads: null }),
+        entry({ id: "c", name: "C", installed: false, downloads: 90 }),
       ],
     );
     expect(sortPlugins(rows, "popular").map((r) => r.id)).toEqual([