One tool record now powers search, categories, tags and alternative pages
Add a new tool once, give it clean categories, tags and pricing fields, then run the v34 builder. It will update search, category pages, tag pages, source alternative lists, route maps and sitemap.
The new flow is automatic after one rebuild
The important change is that we no longer hand-place every tool on every page. Tags and categories produce candidates; relationship scoring decides where it fits.
| Step | File / action | What updates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | assets/data/tools-master-v34.json | Add the tool once with id, name, categories, tags, price fields, login, platforms and summary. |
| 2 | python3 scripts/build-auto-data-engine-v34.py | Regenerates categories, tags, relationships, search, routes, sitemap and archive pages. |
| 3 | data-engine-v41.js | Alternative pages can load the updated relationship blocks from JSON without hand editing those HTML sections. |
| 4 | Manual proof gate | Pricing screenshots, login tests, country tests and source evidence still need human review before public index. |
Example tool template
{
"id": "example-ai-tool",
"name": "Example AI Tool",
"slug": "example-ai-tool",
"official_url": "https://example.com/",
"primary_category": "ai-chatbots",
"categories": [
"ai-chatbots",
"ai-coding-tools"
],
"tags": [
"chatgpt-alternative",
"gemini-alternative",
"claude-alternative",
"free",
"coding",
"research"
],
"best_for": "Short plain-English user fit.",
"summary": "One sentence explaining what it does and who it helps.",
"pricing_model": "freemium",
"free_plan": true,
"login_required": "limited",
"open_source": false,
"self_hosted": false,
"platforms": "Web, iOS, Android",
"last_verified": "2026-06-26",
"verification_status": "noindex until pricing/login proof is checked"
}Why tags alone are not enough
- Tags decide candidate pages: chatgpt-alternative, gemini-alternative, open-source, coding.
- Categories stop wrong matches across AI, design, video and music.
- Relationship score decides order and which tools deserve top cards.
- Editorial boost lets us pin obvious competitors higher.
- Manual proof keeps weak pages noindex until verified.
Top alternatives are loaded by the v31 engine
The blocks below use the same relationship file that search and pages can use.
Duck.ai canonical cleanup added
v33 changes Duck.ai from mixed identities to one canonical ID and URL: duck-ai and /software/duck-ai/. Aliases such as duckai and duckduckgo-ai-chat are redirected/canonicalized and excluded from the sitemap.
v39 Microsoft Word data-engine update
v39 adds more Microsoft Word alternatives, including office suites, Markdown editors, LaTeX tools, book-writing apps, documentation platforms, writing assistants and team documentation tools. It also regenerates v39 data files: tools-master, search index, relationships, categories, tags, connected data and routing.
v47 Data Pack Backend
v47 adds a protected backend importer at /FindBetterApp/fba-admin/. Future small data-pack zips can add tools, categories, tags, relationships, generated pages, search index updates, route maps and sitemap updates without replacing the full site package.