wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “firebug”

wp.org orders by popularity, so a plugin a host bundled onto millions of sites, or a big-brand one that's slow and mediocre, can sit at the top. Our ranking is built to answer a different question: which of these is actually worth installing. How this works →

For “firebug”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 10 plugins are pushed down for signals wp.org ignores: errors, a host-installed base, or removal risk.

wp.org search ranks on

Install count (uncapped), the raw star average, freshness, and support. Popularity dominates, so the biggest install base usually wins regardless of how it got there.

We add

A cap on the install boost, volume-weighted ratings, and signals wp.org can't see: whether it throws errors on current PHP, whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Wixiweb FirePHP Queries shows at wp.org #10 but places #15 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its 10+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

merit plugin signals wp.org

SSL Insecure Content Fixer 100K+ · 4.8★ (221) not PHP-current wp.org #1 2

Event Organiser 20K+ · 4.6★ (140) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #3 1 too low 3

Dessky Responsive Slider 70+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews wp.org #2 1 too high 4

Slideshow SE 2K+ · 4.9★ (8) thin reviews wp.org #4 5 M Magic Liquidizer Responsive Table 5K+ · 4.7★ (54) closure risk stale but ranked wp.org #8 3 too low 6

Rencontre – Dating Site 200+ · 3.8★ (49) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #5 1 too high 7

jQuery UI Widgets 1K+ · 4.3★ (19) thin reviews wp.org #6 1 too high 8 H HTML Import 2 5K+ · 4.3★ (32) closure risk wp.org #14 6 too low 9

Responsive Slider 2K+ · 4.1★ (33) closure risk wp.org #15 6 too low 10

The Welcomizer 20+ · 5.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #7 3 too high 11 F FirePHP / Firebug PHP Integration 100+ · 5.0★ (5) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #11 12

IvyCat AJAX Testimonials 200+ · 4.5★ (16) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #20 8 too low 13

Slideshow Reloaded 100+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #9 4 too high 14

JavaScript to Footer 500+ · 2.9★ (16) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #21 7 too low 15

Wixiweb FirePHP Queries 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #10 5 too high 16 R Responsive Mini Storage Calculator 70+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #12 4 too high 17 A Add All Nav Links to BP Adminbar 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews wp.org #13 4 too high 18 M Magic Liquidizer Responsive Form 20+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #16 ↑1 2 too high 19 M Magic Liquidizer Responsive Navigationbar 20+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #17 ↓1 2 too high 20 D Developer monitor by VentureGeeks 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #23 3 too low 21

EV Widget Post 100+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #18 3 too high 22

MixPanel 100+ · 2.6★ (5) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews wp.org #22 23 W WP Content Experiments & Event Tracking 30+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews wp.org #19 4 too high

Merit ranking caps the install boost at 1M (wp.org leaves it uncapped), replaces the raw star average with a volume-weighted Bayesian score and a Wilson lower bound, and keeps wp.org's own freshness and compatibility decays. Method from the plugin-directory source; see Meta Trac #8298. Positions are tracked daily from the first visit to a keyword, so the small arrows show movement since tracking began.