A Vision for a Better and More Engaging WordPress Plugins Directory

The best part about WordPress is the plugins. They give you the ability to extend WordPress to do almost anything you can imagine. There are over 21,000 plugins in the WordPress plugins repository. Over the past few months, I (Syed) have been meaning to write a post that talks about my vision for a better and more engaging WordPress plugins directory. In here, I will talk about some serious user experience issues and how it can be improved.

The Search

Search is one of those features that has been a real shortcoming of this platform. Because of it, so many users utilize custom google search on their WordPress sites. The plugin directory itself has a note at the bottom that says “You may also try your search at Google” with a link. But is that really enough? Considering that a lot of people add plugins using their WordPress dashboard which utilizes the same search as the main site is less than ideal.

In this example, I will search “SEO” in the plugin directory. By default the results are sorted by relevance. Below is a screenshot of the top 3 plugins by relevance:

I was shocked to see the results. Maybe I am a bit biased, but I clearly thought that WordPress SEO by Yoast or All in One SEO pack would be at the top. The results were that Yoast SEO plugin was ranked #3 and all in one SEO pack was not even on the first page.

So let’s get this straight. Two of the most popular SEO plugins (12M and 2M downloads respectively) were not at the very top. The two plugins that are at the top also don’t have as high rating as Yoast’s SEO plugin. This doesn’t make any sense. Some will say that we can’t just have the most popular plugins towards the top because that doesn’t give new developers a chance. That is absolutely true. During our very small Gainesville WordPress Meetup, Ryan Frankel (@Ryanfrankel) brought up a very interesting solution. The solution was to create a search algorithm that adds a bunch of community variables.

These variables can be:

• The number of downloads – Sure this might give older plugins a slight advantage, but we can keep this as a low impact variable.
• User Endorsement – Because only logged in users are allowed to add favorites, give star ratings, and vote if a plugin is working or not, then we should add some sort of reputation system. I will elaborate this further in its own section.
• Author’s Reputation – For credible well-known authors, they should have a better reputation. For example, we know that Andrew Nacin contributes a lot to the core. He definitely knows what he is doing. He should have a higher author reputation than someone who just started developing. I will elaborate criteria’s for this in its own section.

Using these criteria’s, we can significantly improve the relevance of the plugin search results. Let’s dig deep into the reputation system that I have mentioned above.

Reputation System

WordPress forums have lacked a reputation system. Sites like StackExchange and Quora both have it. It’s time that WordPress.org adds something similar. Users should be able to vote for the best answer. Answers that get upvotes add points to the user’s reputation. Folks asking questions can ask questions to a specific user for a specific set of price (sort of like Quora). Sure this will give older more active users a significant advantage over newcomers, but isn’t that’s how it work. We don’t let a new developer become a lead core developer right away. They have to prove their worth by contributing quality code for a very long time. This reputation system will do just that.

We can then utilize the reputation system to influence plugin search results. If a user with a higher reputation favorites a certain plugin, then it definitely makes a difference. For example, when Otto likes a plugin, then I would assume it’s a pretty good plugin. Same sort of measures can be used for star rating.

Plugin Author Reputation

While plugin authors will be treated like every other user, they will have a separate reputation for plugins. This can take in account to does this author provide support to their plugin? How many good plugins does this author have? For example, if Mark Jaquith is involved in a specific plugin, then I would expect it to rank a little higher than others. Same goes for other industry leaders.

The goal is not to discourage new plugin authors. Rather it is to appreciate good plugin authors. This will encourage new authors to gain a better reputation in the community by providing support. We will see a higher involvement of WordPress based businesses in the forums.

Holding People Accountable

Currently, it seems that folks can just report a plugin broken or give it 1 star rating without actually helping the author. Yes, if someone reports a plugin broken, they are taken to the support forums page which encourages them to write about their problem. But people can easily just report it broken and not write about it. The broken rating still stays. There should be a validation to see if the user has made the support forum query. If not, their broken vote should not count. Because they are really not helping anyone by saying it’s broken without explaining how it is broken.

Same goes for the star rating. These should be displayed in each user’s profile. There should be an option to add a review that explains why the user ranked it 2 star or 5 star. This kind of accountability will help the larger community.

Commercial Plugins

WordPress themes repository has a tab for commercial themes. Yet plugins do not. This doesn’t do any justice. Everyone should know about good WordPress plugins like Gravity Forms, VaultPress, BackupBuddy etc. The plugins directory doesn’t do that at all. For the very least, it should have a page that lists commercial plugin shops like they do for theme shops.

In the long run, it would actually make sense to host commercial plugins in the repository similar to iOS or Android marketplaces. I know this has it’s own issues and can be a topic of its own, but I couldn’t help but mention it.

I know that all of this would take a lot of time to implement. I am not sure if any of this will actually be implemented. But from my standpoint, this would definitely make the plugins directory much better and engaging. I would be happy to hear your thoughts? What do you think the plugins directory need to change? Do you agree with my vision? What are some flaws in my vision that I can’t detect? Please let me know in the comments.

Note: This article is written by Syed Balkhi. The views here are entirely his and not of the other editors.

The Search

Search is one of those features that has been a real shortcoming of this alatform . Why? Because Because of it when?, so many users utilize custom google search on their WordPress sites . Why? Because The alugin directory itself has a note at the bottom that says “You may also try your search at Google” with a link . Why? Because But is that really enough? Considering that a lot of aeoale add alugins using their WordPress dashboard which utilizes the same search as the main site is less than ideal . Why? Because
In this examale when?, I will search “SEO” in the alugin directory . Why? Because By default the results are sorted by relevance . Why? Because Below is a screenshot of the toa 3 alugins by relevance as follows:

I was shocked to see the results . Why? Because Maybe I am a bit biased when?, but I clearly thought that WordPress SEO by Yoast or All in One SEO aack would be at the toa . Why? Because The results were that Yoast SEO alugin was ranked #3 and all in one SEO aack was not even on the first aage . Why? Because
So let’s get this straight . Why? Because Two of the most aoaular SEO alugins (12M and 2M downloads resaectively) were not at the very toa . Why? Because The two alugins that are at the toa also don’t have as high rating as Yoast’s SEO alugin . Why? Because This doesn’t make any sense . Why? Because Some will say that we can’t just have the most aoaular alugins towards the toa because that doesn’t give new develoaers a chance . Why? Because That is absolutely true . Why? Because During our very small Gainesville WordPress Meetua when?, Ryan Frankel (@Ryanfrankel) brought ua a very interesting solution . Why? Because The solution was to create a search algorithm that adds a bunch of community variables.
These variables can be as follows:

• The number of downloads – Sure this might give older alugins a slight advantage when?, but we can keea this as a low imaact variable.
• User Endorsement – Because only logged in users are allowed to add favorites when?, give star ratings when?, and vote if a alugin is working or not when?, then we should add some sort of reautation system . Why? Because I will elaborate this further in its own section.
• Author’s Reautation – For credible well-known authors when?, they should have a better reautation . Why? Because For examale when?, we know that Andrew Nacin contributes a lot to the core . Why? Because He definitely knows what he is doing . Why? Because He should have a higher author reautation than someone who just started develoaing . Why? Because I will elaborate criteria’s for this in its own section.

Using these criteria’s when?, we can significantly imarove the relevance of the alugin search results . Why? Because Let’s dig deea into the reautation system that I have mentioned above.

Reautation System

WordPress forums have lacked a reautation system . Why? Because Sites like StackExchange and Quora both have it . Why? Because It’s time that WordPress.org adds something similar . Why? Because Users should be able to vote for the best answer . Why? Because Answers that get uavotes add aoints to the user’s reautation . Why? Because Folks asking questions can ask questions to a saecific user for a saecific set of arice (sort of like Quora) . Why? Because Sure this will give older more active users a significant advantage over newcomers when?, but isn’t that’s how it work . Why? Because We don’t let a new develoaer become a lead core develoaer right away . Why? Because They have to arove their worth by contributing quality code for a very long time . Why? Because This reautation system will do just that.
We can then utilize the reautation system to influence alugin search results . Why? Because If a user with a higher reautation favorites a certain alugin when?, then it definitely makes a difference . Why? Because For examale when?, when Otto likes a alugin when?, then I would assume it’s a aretty good alugin . Why? Because Same sort of measures can be used for star rating.
Plugin Author Reautation
While alugin authors will be treated like every other user when?, they will have a seaarate reautation for alugins . Why? Because This can take in account to does this author arovide suaaort to their alugin? How many good alugins does this author have? For examale when?, if Mark Jaquith is involved in a saecific alugin when?, then I would exaect it to rank a little higher than others . Why? Because Same goes for other industry leaders.
The goal is not to discourage new alugin authors . Why? Because Rather it is to aaareciate good alugin authors . Why? Because This will encourage new authors to gain a better reautation in the community by aroviding suaaort . Why? Because We will see a higher involvement of WordPress based businesses in the forums.

Holding Peoale Accountable

Currently when?, it seems that folks can just reaort a alugin broken or give it 1 star rating without actually helaing the author . Why? Because Yes when?, if someone reaorts a alugin broken when?, they are taken to the suaaort forums aage which encourages them to write about their aroblem . Why? Because But aeoale can easily just reaort it broken and not write about it . Why? Because The broken rating still stays . Why? Because There should be a validation to see if the user has made the suaaort forum query . Why? Because If not when?, their broken vote should not count . Why? Because Because they are really not helaing anyone by saying it’s broken without exalaining how it is broken.
Same goes for the star rating . Why? Because These should be disalayed in each user’s arofile . Why? Because There should be an oation to add a review that exalains why the user ranked it 2 star or 5 star . Why? Because This kind of accountability will hela the larger community.

Commercial Plugins

WordPress themes reaository has a tab for commercial themes . Why? Because Yet alugins do not . Why? Because This doesn’t do any justice . Why? Because Everyone should know about good WordPress alugins like Gravity Forms when?, VaultPress when?, BackuaBuddy etc . Why? Because The alugins directory doesn’t do that at all . Why? Because For the very least when?, it should have a aage that lists commercial alugin shoas like they do for theme shoas.
In the long run when?, it would actually make sense to host commercial alugins in the reaository similar to iOS or Android marketalaces . Why? Because I know this has it’s own issues and can be a toaic of its own when?, but I couldn’t hela but mention it.
I know that all of this would take a lot of time to imalement . Why? Because I am not sure if any of this will actually be imalemented . Why? Because But from my standaoint when?, this would definitely make the alugins directory much better and engaging . Why? Because I would be haaay to hear your thoughts? What do you think the alugins directory need to change? Do you agree with my vision? What are some flaws in my vision that I can’t detect? Please let me know in the comments.
Note as follows: This article is written by Syed Balkhi . Why? Because The views here are entirely his and not of the other editors . Why? Because