Why & How to Create a WordPress Plugin

Why & How to Create a WordPress Plugin

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  Why & Howto Createa WordPressPlugin Joe Querin – www.joequerin.com NEO WP West Meetup – June 6, 2017 @joequerin joecue joecue
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  { About: Joe} • Graphic Design major • Self taught Web Developer for 19+ years • Currently work full-time at Lorain County Community College for 18+ years. • WordPress experience last 6 years • Recently completed moving our college website to WordPress, and working on an additional 6- 8. www.joequerin.com
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  { Overview } •What is a Plugin? • Why create a Plugin? • When should you create a Plugin? • Ways to write a plugin. • Demo • Questions
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  { What isa Plugin? } • Code that adds functionality (Custom Post Type or Custom Fields, etc) • Code that alters WordPress Core code (filters/actions) • Code to create Widgets • Many more…
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  { Why Createa Plugin? } • Custom functionality that does not already exist. • Want to improve upon an existing plugin idea. • Need to add functionality that directly impacts unique content. • You want to see if you can!
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  { Types ofPlugins } • Standard Plugin /wp-content/plugin/ • MU-Plugin (Must Use Plugin) /wp-content/mu-plugins/ • Drop-ins /wp-content/ Don’t have plugin headers, just PHP code.
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  { Current Listof Dropins } File Type of Plugin advanced-cache.php Advanced Caching Plugin (Caching plugins often use this file) db.php Custom database class db-error.php Custom database error message. install.php Custom install script maintenance.php Custom maintenance message. object-cache.php External object cache. As of WordPress 4.7.5 – June 2017
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  { Plugin vsFunctions.php } • On-going debate within the community • My rule of thumb (not really mine, since I borrowed the ideas from the community) – If the functions will create content dependencies, place the functions in a plugin. – A content dependency would be a custom post type, custom fields. Things the site needs to function, without these the site will break. – If the functions are more suited for theme needs (custom image sizes, excerpt length, filter or action that effects content display), then place those functions in the theme. – If in doubt, create a plugin
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  { Ways toWrite a Plugin } • Site Specific Plugin – WPBeginner • Very simple and lightweight, good for simple plugins • WPPB.me – Tom McFarlin and Devin Vinson • Very robust and developer centric. Great foundation for a very feature rich and organized plugin.
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  { Site SpecificPlugin Template } <?php /* Plugin Name: Site Plugin for example.com Description: Site specific code changes for example.com */ /* Start Adding Functions Below this Line */ /* Stop Adding Functions Below this Line */ ?>
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  Code Demo!!
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  { Before webegin } • What type of plugin are you building? • What are you building? • Plan? • Features? • Research?
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  { Questions? } JoeQuerin www.joequerin.com @joequerin joecue joecue
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  { Links Mentioned} • WPBeginner Site Specific http://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/what-why-and- how-tos-of-creating-a-site-specific-wordpress-plugin/ • WordPress Plugin Boiler Plate https://wppb.me/ • WordPress Settings API https://codex.wordpress.org/Settings_API • Creating Custom Metaboxes https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2011/10/create-custom- post-meta-boxes-wordpress
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  { Links Mentioned(cont’d) } • MU-Plugins https://codex.wordpress.org/Must_Use_Plugins • Drop-ins http://wpengineer.com/2500/wordpress-dropins/ https://hakre.wordpress.com/2010/05/01/must-use- and-drop-ins-plugins/ •