wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “google prettify”

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 “google prettify”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 of the top 20. 9 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

Easy Syntax Highlighter shows at wp.org #5 but places #9 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its 30+ 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

Shared Albums for Google Photos 500+ · 4.9★ (10) thin reviews wp.org #1 2

Forms Bridge – Infinite integrations 100+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #3 1 too low 3

Simple Code Highlighter 300+ · 4.7★ (7) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #8 5 too low 4

CC-Syntax-Highlight 60+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #2 2 too high 5 W WP Code Prettify 100+ · 4.7★ (3) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #6 1 too low 6

Block Collections — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #4 2 too high 7 P Prettify Code Syntax 70+ · 4.2★ (12) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews wp.org #13 6 too low 8

Smart Syntax 10+ · 5.0★ (3) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #10 2 too low 9

Easy Syntax Highlighter 30+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #5 4 too high 10

Annytab Code Prettify — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #7 3 too high 11

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.