WordPress is not a new name for business owners. This CMS platform has already made its strong mark in the market. The newly launched plugin is in the ‘New’ plugins section of WordPress. The CMS also provides a comprehensive list of WordPress plugin development resources, but it appears too complicated for inexperienced developers to make their plugins stand out.
One of the primary reasons for WordPress’s success is its plugin architecture, which allows users to extend its functionality without modifying the core software. Let’s closely look at some things to remember while selecting WordPress plugins.
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Points to consider for WordPress plugin development
Here are some pointers to remember while developing WordPress plugins.
Be mindful of Hooks
Hooks allow developers to change or extend the functionality of WordPress plugin development without editing the WordPress core code. They act as a bridge and connect the plugins and WordPress. Yet being the critical part of plugins, it is the most misused thing.
There are varied hooks to try with different plugins to use. So, understand which Hook fires the requests before sending them to the browser. Before using the Hooks Plugin API get all the information on the plugins and hooks.
Use the WP cron
Cron is the time scheduling and managing system for UNIX users to execute commands timely. WordPress also supports a cron-like system which is called WP cron. And if your WordPress plugin development has daily tasks, then WP cron can help achieve the target. And that seems to be quite handy and comprehensive with only one limitation.
Because it depends on the web page requests that can delay the firing of the daily tasks if dealing with high traffic. For heavily trafficked sites and those with auto-pinging enabled, WP cron can be a pleasant way to create a cron-like setup.
Align the auto-updates
Auto-updates in WordPress are a boon to plugin and theme developers. However, when using the plugin, this functionality can be enabled. You can also hire a WordPress Developer for more technical assistance.
As if using auto-updates while working on WordPress plugin development is a fantastic tool. In addition, it is beneficial to distribute security batches, hotfixes, and instant releases. Plugins listed on WordPress.org benefit from automatic version management via their repositories.
Use the MVC design
MVC architecture is an obvious topic to discuss when discussing WordPress. MVC influences and organizes your plugin architecture. As a result, developers can use it to quickly build sites that take advantage of WordPress’s native functionality and vast plugin library and all of the many benefits of an MVC framework.
Hire a WordPress developer for more technical guidance. WordPress supports several native contents which need specific functionality. Public opinion, administrative management, and associations take more time than doing the same work in an MVC framework.
Prioritize plugin performance
When developing a WordPress plugin, you should always double-check the plugin’s performance. Because your plugin with various PHP files, its loading speed is vital to check. With a better understanding, you can correctly optimize the plugin performance.
Build in caching wherever possible, especially in multi-instance environments. Above all, you must test. Try on different hosts, with different themes, and with various plugins. P3 Profiler is an excellent tool for optimizing plugin source code.
Branding of plugin
Several free plugins are available to the community that takes time to create an efficient visual brand identity. WordPress plugin development, like any other product, faces market competition.
To stand out in the crowded WordPress marketplace, you must excel at all job roles, including outside development. Such as design, marketing, SEO, copywriting, etc. It is not enough to have a fantastic plugin. If no one knows about it, no one will use it. It takes both art and science to properly plugin branding.
Customize the plugin
Many plugin customers are also developers who purchase your plugin to add the functionality it provides to their WordPress plugin development projects. Any plugin with a large user base is designed with customizability, or it must deal with the wrath of support tickets.
Rather than making plugin customization difficult and forcing customers to tinker with the plugin’s source code, provide your users with options and APIs that allow them to tailor the plugin’s functionality to their specific requirements.
Design Readme.Txt file
For a successful WordPress plugin development, a readme.txt file is critical. There are two primary benefits to having a proper readme.txt file.
Firstly, your plugin will receive more downloads because users download a plugin with sufficient details. The second benefit is that users will receive answers to any questions they may have while installing or using your plugin.
Scrutinize the security
Security is a crucial factor when dealing with such a well-known CMS.
Because a single flaw in a plugin can put thousands of WordPress support sites at risk all at once, security should never be overlooked or taken lightly.
Do plan for validation and sanitization to ensure that user-entered data is safe to handle. To protect your plugin from CSRF (cross-site request forgery) attacks, use Nonces (numbers that are used once).
WordPress, as usual, has a comprehensive guide to tightening a plugin’s security.
Conclusion: Pushing a WordPress plugin to market presents some challenges. But following the mentioned tips can reap your benefits. For more consideration, consult WordPress support for your projects.
Frequently Asked Questions :
Q1.WordPress can handle how many plugins?
With over 50,000 plugins available, it’s easy to add a few too many to your pages.
Q2.What can WordPress plugins be used for?
Plugins can add new functionality to your site or extend existing functionality, allowing you to create almost any type of website, from eCommerce stores to portfolios to directory sites.
Q3.Why do we require plugins?
A plugin is an add-on or an extension, which is computer software that adds new functions to a host program without modifying the host program itself.
