[Feature] : Create Interactive Extension Gallery with Search, Filtering, and Installation Details

Problem

Currently, OpenRefine extensions are listed in a static markdown table on the extensions page. This makes it difficult for users to:

• Quickly find extensions for their specific use case
• Understand compatibility with different OpenRefine versions
• Learn about extension features without leaving the page
• Access installation instructions easily
• Discover new or lesser-known extensions

The static table format doesn't scale well as more extensions are added and doesn't provide a good discovery experience.

Proposed Solution

Build an interactive extension gallery featuring:

• Search functionality to find extensions by name or keyword
• Filtering by:
  • Category (Data Import/Export, Analysis, Visualization, etc.)
  • OpenRefine version compatibility
  • Status (Maintained, Archived, Beta)
  • Author or organization
• Individual extension cards showing:
  • Extension name and description
  • Supported OpenRefine versions
  • Installation difficulty badge
  • Download/view button
  • GitHub repository link
  • Author information
  • User ratings (if available)
  • Tags/categories
• Sort options (alphabetical, recently updated, most popular)
• Integration with GitHub API to show:
  • Last update date
  • Star count
  • Number of downloads (if tracked)

Benefits

• Improved User Experience: Users can find relevant extensions faster
• Better Discovery: Lesser-known extensions gain visibility
• Version Clarity: Users immediately see compatibility with their OpenRefine version
• Easier Maintenance: Automated data from GitHub reduces manual updates
• Community Growth: Extensions are more discoverable, encouraging ecosystem development
• Mobile-Friendly: Better experience on all devices

Implementation Details

1. Data Structure (extensions.json)

   • Centralized extension registry
   • Metadata: name, description, versions, URL, category, etc.

2. Gallery Component (/src/pages/extensions.tsx)

   • React component with search and filter logic
   • Extension cards with rich information
   • Real-time filtering and sorting

3. Styling & UX

   • Grid layout for extensions
   • Search bar with auto-complete
   • Filter sidebar or dropdown
   • Responsive design

4. Optional Enhancements

   • GitHub API integration for real-time data
   • Extension usage statistics
   • User reviews/ratings system
   • Difficulty level indicators

Sample Extension Card Data

{
  "id": 1,
  "name": "AI Extension",
  "description": "Bridges modern language models with OpenRefine's data transformation",
  "author": "Sunil Natraj",
  "repository": "https://github.com/sunilnatraj/llm-extension",
  "category": "AI & Machine Learning",
  "minVersion": "3.8.7",
  "maxVersion": null,
  "status": "maintained",
  "difficulty": "intermediate",
  "tags": ["AI", "LLM", "language-models", "automation"],
  "installation": "url-based",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-01-15",
  "stars": 150
}

Start by reviewing the current extensions page and the proposed data structure in extensions.json, then inspect src/pages/extensions.tsx. Define the gallery’s required search, filtering, sorting, and card behavior from the issue. Done means the static listing is replaced by a responsive interactive gallery; GitHub API integration and ratings are listed as optional enhancements.