Unheap.com: a Better jQuery Plugin Repository?

I’ve never been particularly complimentary about the official jQuery Plugin Registry. The team are working on it, but perhaps the kindest observation is that it’s “ctional” — functional with all the “fun” removed. The system lacks an easy interface, good search facilities, online demonstrations, developer ratings and reviews.

As an alternative, why not try unheap.com — a new independent jQuery plugin repository…

The benefits of unheap.com become apparent the moment you use it:

• The site has a gorgeous dynamic and responsive interface — it’s a pleasure to use
• Plugins are categorized in sections and sub-sections for interface, inputs, media, navigation and miscellaneous code.
• The search facility works well.
• Plugin lists have direct links to demonstration pages and videos.
• Related plugins are listed.
• User views, votes and bug reports are recorded.
• Social media sharing facilities are provided.
• An RSS feed of new and updated plugins is available for you to check in Google Reader, erm, a compatible RSS Reader.
• The plugin submission process is easy and straight-forward.
• Almost 700 plugins are available at the time of writing.

I’m impressed. Unless the jQuery team can produce a system as nice as unheap.com, perhaps they should give up now and adopt it as the “official” repository?

Unless you’ve found something better?…

Meet the author

Craig Buckler

Craig is a freelance UK web consultant who built his first page for IE2.0 in 1995. Since that time he's been advocating standards, accessibility, and best-practice HTML5 techniques. He's written more than 1,000 articles for SitePoint and you can find him @craigbuckler