I would like to be able to add an automatically generated list of the most popular entries on my site using syntax like this:

<MTEntries sort_by="popularity" lastn="5">

...

</MTEntries>

It seems like this would be possible by adding a new field to the entries table and a CGI script that incremented this field.

Does this exist?

Is there a better way?

Thanks.

Well - what's your definition of "popularity"??

There's the Scriptygoddess Most Commented On Entries script.

And they have a Favorite Post Voting script as well.

are you asking for a hitlogger to be incorporated into MT. i know a lot of people will find it useful. especially people who want an internal hitcount but  dont know how to install those already around.

this thought will require an additional field in the database (mysql that is) .... that brings me to this question;
are there any existing plugins that make changes to the database structure of MT? say by adding fields to it? cos i havent seen one... if they dont exist... why is that so?

There's the Extra Fields plugin.