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

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 “storyline”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 3 of the top 19. 1 plugin is 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

Experience API for Sensei LMS by GrassBlade shows at wp.org #9 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 20+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

merit plugin wp.org
1 HappyAddons for Elementor – 160 Elementor Widgets, GSAP Animations & Templates 400K+ · 4.8★ (489) wp.org #2 1 too low 2 Topic Progression Using Storyline/Captivate for LearnDash 400+ · 4.0★ (4) wp.org #1 1 too high 3 Webcomic 600+ · 4.0★ (13) wp.org #15 ↓1 12 too low 4 Experience API for LearnPress by GrassBlade 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #3 1 too high 5 Experience API for TutorLMS by GrassBlade 200+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #4 1 too high 6 Experience API for LifterLMS by Grassblade 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #5 1 too high 7 Experience API for MasterStudy by GrassBlade 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #7 ↓1 8 CourseRelay – SCORM Support for LearnDash LMS 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #6 ↑7 2 too high 9 Experience API for WP Courseware by Grassblade 50+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #8 ↓1 1 too high 10 Experience API for GamiPress by Grassblade 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #10 ↓1 11 TraceVault Audit Log — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 ↓1 12 Lessonbay SCORM Player for LearnDash — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 ↓1 13 Shortcode Arcade Crypto Idle Game — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #13 ↓1 14 ANG Timeline 60+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #18 ↓1 4 too low 15 GameSync Game Data Importer — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #14 1 too high 16 AINow — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 ↓1 17 Flik Timeline 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #17 ↓1 18 T Time Line Diagram 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 ↓1 1 too low 19 Experience API for Sensei LMS by GrassBlade 20+ · 2.0★ (1) wp.org #9 ↓1 10 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.