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How Square’s scores are calculated

The full audit trail, recomputed from the verdict data at build time through the same code that produced the leaderboard: verdict × quality × story weight per cell, cells sum to dimension scores, dimensions blend into the PA Score. Every number on the product page is reproducible from this page alone; for why the formula looks like this, see the methodology.

verdict factors: full ×1.0 · partial ×0.6 · disputed ×0.3 · none ×0.0 · n/a excluded from both sides · cell points = weight × quality × factor · cell max = weight × 10

PA Score32/100

Agent-ready 58.4 × 0.30 = 17.52

API quality 28.6 × 0.20 = 5.72

Openness 20.6 × 0.20 = 4.12

Built-in AI 9.3 × 0.15 = 1.40

Automation 18.0 × 0.15 = 2.70

(17.52 + 5.72 + 4.12 + 1.40 + 2.70) ÷ (0.30 + 0.20 + 0.20 + 0.15 + 0.15) = 31.46 ÷ 1.00 = 31.5

Scores are stored to 1 decimal; the product page’s pills round to whole numbers for display. Each dimension below shows the stories, verdicts, and cited evidence behind its number.

Agent-ready58.4/100×0.30 of the PA blend

Outside-in: can YOUR agent reach and drive this product — API, MCP, CLI, headless runs, agent docs.

Point an agent at llms.txt or agent-oriented docsweight 2

2 (weight) × 9 (quality) × 1.0 (full) = 18.0 of 20 max

  • [probe] https://developer.squareup.com/llms.txt“PROBE llms.txt: HTTP 200 at https://developer.squareup.com/llms.txt # Square Developer Platform > Square APIs and SDKs for accepting payments, managing catalogs, running storefronts, and”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/llms-full.txt“Nested modifiers let one selection reveal the next, so the buyer answers a sequence of questions instead of reading o”

Run the product headlessly / in CI for automationweight 2

2 (weight) × 6 (quality) × 0.6 (partial) = 7.2 of 20 max

  • [github] https://github.com/square/square-nodejs-sdk“The Square TypeScript library provides convenient access to the Square APIs from TypeScript.”
  • [github] https://github.com/square/square-nodejs-sdk“await client.payments.create({ sourceId: "ccof:GaJGNaZa8x4OgDJn4GB",”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs“Process payments on Square hardware or online using any Internet-connected device.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/devtools/sandbox/overview“Test in Sandbox”
  • [claimed-docs] https://raw.githubusercontent.com/square/connect-api-specification/HEAD/README.md“You probably want to just use one of the clients that are pre-built in a language of your choice”

Plug MCP servers into this product so it can use their toolsweight 3

n/a — not applicable to this product: excluded from numerator and denominator

  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/mcp“Square Model Context Protocol Server”
  • [probe] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/mcp“official MCP server documented at https://developer.squareup.com/docs/mcp”

Connect an agent via an official MCP serverweight 3

3 (weight) × 8 (quality) × 1.0 (full) = 24.0 of 30 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/mcp“Square Model Context Protocol Server”
  • [probe] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/mcp“official MCP server documented at https://developer.squareup.com/docs/mcp”

Use an official CLIweight 2

2 (weight) × 0 (quality) × 0.0 (none) = 0.0 of 20 max

no evidence cited — the verdict rests on absence of evidence, re-checked on refresh

Drive the product through a documented public APIweight 3

3 (weight) × 8 (quality) × 1.0 (full) = 24.0 of 30 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs“Process payments on Square hardware or online using any Internet-connected device.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs“Build eCommerce applications to help sellers manage key aspects of their business.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/catalog-api/what-it-does“Design a Catalog”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/inventory-api/what-it-does“Inventory API”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/catalog-api/what-it-does“Create Orders”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/webhooks/overview“Square Webhooks”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/devtools/sandbox/overview“Test in Sandbox”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/mcp“Square Model Context Protocol Server”
  • [github] https://github.com/square/square-nodejs-sdk“The Square TypeScript library provides convenient access to the Square APIs from TypeScript.”
  • [probe] https://developer.squareup.com/llms.txt“PROBE llms.txt: HTTP 200 at https://developer.squareup.com/llms.txt # Square Developer Platform > Square APIs and SDKs for accepting payments, managing catalogs, running storefronts, and”
  • [probe] https://developer.squareup.com/openapi.json“PROBE openapi: all candidate paths 404 (https://developer.squareup.com/openapi.json, https://developer.squareup.com/swagger.json, https://developer.squareup.com/api/openapi.json, https://developer.squareup.com/.well-known/openapi.json)”
  • [probe] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/mcp“official MCP server documented at https://developer.squareup.com/docs/mcp”

Issue scoped/least-privilege API credentials for an agentweight 2

2 (weight) × 0 (quality) × 0.0 (none) = 0.0 of 20 max

no evidence cited — the verdict rests on absence of evidence, re-checked on refresh

Build against official SDKsweight 2

2 (weight) × 8 (quality) × 1.0 (full) = 16.0 of 20 max

  • [github] https://github.com/square/square-nodejs-sdk“The Square TypeScript library provides convenient access to the Square APIs from TypeScript.”
  • [github] https://github.com/square/square-nodejs-sdk“await client.payments.create({ sourceId: "ccof:GaJGNaZa8x4OgDJn4GB",”
  • [claimed-docs] https://raw.githubusercontent.com/square/connect-api-specification/HEAD/README.md“You probably want to just use one of the clients that are pre-built in a language of your choice”
  • [claimed-docs] https://raw.githubusercontent.com/square/connect-api-specification/HEAD/README.md“The Connect Examples are working sample applications that you can copy from to build your own.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/devtools/sandbox/overview“Test in Sandbox”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/mobile-payments-sdk“Mobile Payments SDK”

Subscribe to events via webhooksweight 2

2 (weight) × 8 (quality) × 1.0 (full) = 16.0 of 20 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/webhooks/overview“Square Webhooks”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/devtools/sandbox/overview“Test in Sandbox”

Agent-ready = 105.2 ÷ 180 × 100 = 58.4

API quality28.6/100×0.20 of the PA blend

The programmable surface once an agent is there — machine-readable spec, interactive docs, sandbox, versioning discipline.

Explore an interactive API reference with runnable examplesweight 2

2 (weight) × 4 (quality) × 0.6 (partial) = 4.8 of 20 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/devtools/sandbox/overview“Test in Sandbox”
  • [claimed-docs] https://raw.githubusercontent.com/square/connect-api-specification/HEAD/README.md“The Connect Examples are working sample applications that you can copy from to build your own.”
  • [github] https://github.com/square/square-nodejs-sdk“await client.payments.create({ sourceId: "ccof:GaJGNaZa8x4OgDJn4GB",”
  • [probe] https://developer.squareup.com/openapi.json“PROBE openapi: all candidate paths 404 (https://developer.squareup.com/openapi.json, https://developer.squareup.com/swagger.json, https://developer.squareup.com/api/openapi.json, https://developer.squareup.com/.well-known/openapi.json)”
  • [probe] https://developer.squareup.com/docs.md“PROBE docs-md: HTTP 404 at https://developer.squareup.com/docs.md”

Download a machine-readable API spec (OpenAPI or equivalent)weight 2

2 (weight) × 6 (quality) × 0.6 (partial) = 7.2 of 20 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://raw.githubusercontent.com/square/connect-api-specification/HEAD/README.md“You probably want to just use one of the clients that are pre-built in a language of your choice”
  • [claimed-docs] https://raw.githubusercontent.com/square/connect-api-specification/HEAD/README.md“The Connect Examples are working sample applications that you can copy from to build your own.”
  • [probe] https://developer.squareup.com/openapi.json“PROBE openapi: all candidate paths 404 (https://developer.squareup.com/openapi.json, https://developer.squareup.com/swagger.json, https://developer.squareup.com/api/openapi.json, https://developer.squareup.com/.well-known/openapi.json)”

Test against a sandbox environment without touching production dataweight 1

1 (weight) × 8 (quality) × 1.0 (full) = 8.0 of 10 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/devtools/sandbox/overview“Test in Sandbox”
  • [github] https://github.com/square/square-nodejs-sdk“The Square TypeScript library provides convenient access to the Square APIs from TypeScript.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://raw.githubusercontent.com/square/connect-api-specification/HEAD/README.md“You probably want to just use one of the clients that are pre-built in a language of your choice”

Rely on versioned APIs with a documented deprecation policyweight 2

2 (weight) × 0 (quality) × 0.0 (none) = 0.0 of 20 max

no evidence cited — the verdict rests on absence of evidence, re-checked on refresh

API quality = 20.0 ÷ 70 × 100 = 28.6

Openness20.6/100×0.20 of the PA blend

Can you leave, inspect, or self-host — data export, open source, portability.

Do everything through the API that I can do in the UIweight 2

2 (weight) × 6 (quality) × 0.6 (partial) = 7.2 of 20 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs“Process payments on Square hardware or online using any Internet-connected device.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs“Build eCommerce applications to help sellers manage key aspects of their business.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/catalog-api/what-it-does“Design a Catalog”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/inventory-api/what-it-does“Inventory API”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/locations-api“Learn how to use a Square API to update and retrieve location information for a Square seller.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/catalog-api/what-it-does“Create Orders”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/disputes-api/overview“Process Disputes”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/webhooks/overview“Square Webhooks”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs“Enable team management with scheduling, timecards, and payro”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/payouts-api/list-payouts“List Payouts”

Export all of my data in open formats and leaveweight 3

3 (weight) × 4 (quality) × 0.6 (partial) = 7.2 of 30 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/catalog-api/what-it-does“Design a Catalog”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/inventory-api/what-it-does“Inventory API”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/locations-api“Learn how to use a Square API to update and retrieve location information for a Square seller.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/catalog-api/what-it-does“Create Orders”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/payouts-api/list-payouts“List Payouts”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs“Manage customer data securely and keep customers coming back with engagement programs.”

Read the product's source under an open licenseweight 2

2 (weight) × 0 (quality) × 0.0 (none) = 0.0 of 20 max

  • [github] https://github.com/square/square-nodejs-sdk“The Square TypeScript library provides convenient access to the Square APIs from TypeScript.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://raw.githubusercontent.com/square/connect-api-specification/HEAD/README.md“You probably want to just use one of the clients that are pre-built in a language of your choice”

Self-host the core productweight 3

n/a — not applicable to this product: excluded from numerator and denominator

no evidence cited — the verdict rests on absence of evidence, re-checked on refresh

Openness = 14.4 ÷ 70 × 100 = 20.6

Built-in AI9.3/100×0.15 of the PA blend

Inside-out: how agentic the product itself is for its users — built-in assistants, autonomous features.

Get AI-generated insights and suggestions from my data inside the productweight 2

2 (weight) × 0 (quality) × 0.0 (none) = 0.0 of 20 max

no evidence cited — the verdict rests on absence of evidence, re-checked on refresh

Set up automations that run autonomously in the backgroundweight 2

2 (weight) × 3 (quality) × 0.6 (partial) = 3.6 of 20 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/webhooks/overview“Square Webhooks”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/mcp“Square Model Context Protocol Server”
  • [probe] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/mcp“official MCP server documented at https://developer.squareup.com/docs/mcp”

Delegate tasks to a built-in AI assistant inside the productweight 3

3 (weight) × 0 (quality) × 0.0 (none) = 0.0 of 30 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/mcp“Square Model Context Protocol Server”
  • [probe] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/mcp“official MCP server documented at https://developer.squareup.com/docs/mcp”

Operate the product with natural-language commandsweight 2

2 (weight) × 4 (quality) × 0.6 (partial) = 4.8 of 20 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/mcp“Square Model Context Protocol Server”
  • [probe] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/mcp“official MCP server documented at https://developer.squareup.com/docs/mcp”

Built-in AI = 8.4 ÷ 90 × 100 = 9.3

Automation18.0/100×0.15 of the PA blend

Depth of automation primitives — rules, scheduling, bulk operations, webhooks.

Perform bulk operations across many items at onceweight 2

2 (weight) × 0 (quality) × 0.0 (none) = 0.0 of 20 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/catalog-api/what-it-does“Design a Catalog”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/inventory-api/what-it-does“Inventory API”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/catalog-api/what-it-does“Create Orders”

Define rules that trigger actions automatically on eventsweight 3

3 (weight) × 5 (quality) × 0.6 (partial) = 9.0 of 30 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/webhooks/overview“Square Webhooks”
  • [claimed-docs] https://developer.squareup.com/docs/devtools/sandbox/overview“Test in Sandbox”

Schedule recurring jobs or workflowsweight 2

n/a — not applicable to this product: excluded from numerator and denominator

no evidence cited — the verdict rests on absence of evidence, re-checked on refresh

Version, review, and roll back my automationsweight 1

n/a — not applicable to this product: excluded from numerator and denominator

no evidence cited — the verdict rests on absence of evidence, re-checked on refresh

Automation = 9.0 ÷ 50 × 100 = 18.0