octagon

WordPress launches plugin directory (Download Squad)

Mar 18th 2007 9:38AM am i not understanding something? because it seems like there's absolutely no 'index' or list of plugin categories or any other sort of organizational directory... just a search box and a handful of featured/new plugins? frankly, i never really felt like i had to 'aimlessly google' for a plugin that did what i wanted - the codex.wordpress.org plugin list (among others) has always provided at least a breakdown of plugins by category... and isn't the codex wordpress' own site? if 'wordpress has never had its own central plugin directory,' and that this makes this new plugin page big news, what does that make the codex site?
but anyway, the new plugin directory actually DOES make me feel like i'm doing the equivalent of aimless googling by making me search for whatever i want, rather than browsing an organized list. tags are a good supplement to categories ("navigation plugins," "admin plugins," etc.), but not a replacement. with a categorical breakdown i.e. wp-plugins.net/the codex plugin site, you can easily find plugins whether or not you know what you're looking for. if you're just looking for something fun to dress up your site, you can just browse and always know what you've already seen and what you haven't, and if you know you're looking for a plugin that does something specific, you can just click the category it falls into...
but maybe i'm just a big ditz and i haven't noticed some key feature of the new site. feel free to enlighten?
/feeling dumb...