The question is about choosing the right plug-in for a requirement that can only be achieved by using a plug-in. The following are three primary considerations in choosing the right plug-in:

What are the compatible Appian versions? This is important because some plug-ins may not work with older or newer versions of Appian due to changes in APIs or features. You should check the plug-in documentation or release notes to see which Appian versions are supported by the plug-in.

Is the plug-in Cloud-approved? This is important because some plug-ins may not be allowed in Appian Cloud environments due to security or performance reasons. You should check the Appian Cloud Approved Plug-ins list to see which plug-ins are approved for use in Appian Cloud.

What are the limitations of the plug-in? This is important because some plug-ins may have known issues or limitations that could affect your requirement or use case. You should check the plug-in documentation or forums to see if there are any reported bugs or limitations for the plug-in.

The following are not primary considerations in choosing the right plug-in:

What is the size of the plug-in? This is not a major factor, as plug-ins are usually small in size and do not affect the performance or storage of Appian significantly. However, you should still follow the best practices for managing plug-ins and avoid installing unnecessary or unused plug-ins.

Who is the plug-in author? This is not a decisive factor, as plug-ins can be authored by Appian, third-party vendors, or community members. However, you should still consider the reputation and reliability of the plug-in author and check their support and update policies.

References:

Plug-ins

Appian Cloud Approved Plug-ins