THE DECISION NOTEBOOK
What a star rating can tell you
A useful rating starts with a specific task. Read the scope before the score.
Compare within the same use case
Our 0–5 ratings describe the documented software offer for a named use case. A 4.2 for a video tool and a 4.2 for a database do not measure the same job. Category rankings keep that context visible.
Read the evidence and the limits
Each rating combines fit (40%), workflow (25%), cost transparency (20%) and control (15%). The current catalogue uses documentation reviews. These are not hands-on reliability tests or customer reviews. Open the linked sources and check the review date.
Separate selection from scoring
A clear recommendation is an editorial selection with a stated reason and disclosure. It adds no points. Products with equal scores share a rank; a missing rating is not a zero.