wp-plugin-starter-template-for-ai-coding/.wordpress-org/WORDPRESS_ORG_SUBMISSION.md

WordPress.org Plugin Submission Guide

This document provides a step-by-step guide for submitting your plugin to the WordPress.org plugin repository.

Before Submission

1. Prepare Your Plugin

• Ensure your plugin follows the WordPress Plugin Guidelines
• Check that your plugin meets the Plugin Directory Requirements
• Verify that your plugin follows WordPress coding standards
• Test your plugin thoroughly on different WordPress versions

2. Prepare Required Files

• readme.txt: Create a readme.txt file following the WordPress readme.txt standard
• Plugin Header: Ensure your main plugin file includes the required plugin header
• License: Include the GPL v2 or later license
• Assets: Prepare banner, icon, and screenshots (see WORDPRESS_ORG_ASSETS.md)

3. Create a Clean Build

• Remove any development files (e.g., .git, node_modules, etc.)
• Remove any unnecessary files (e.g., .DS_Store, Thumbs.db, etc.)
• Create a ZIP file of your plugin

Submission Process

1. Create a WordPress.org Account

If you don't already have one, create an account on WordPress.org.

2. Submit Your Plugin

1. Go to the Add Your Plugin page
2. Fill out the submission form:
   • Plugin Name
   • Plugin URL (optional)
   • Description
   • Upload your plugin ZIP file
3. Agree to the terms and submit your plugin

3. Wait for Review

• The WordPress.org team will review your plugin
• This process can take several weeks
• You'll receive an email when your plugin is approved or if there are issues to address

4. Address Review Feedback

If the WordPress.org team provides feedback:

1. Make the requested changes
2. Create a new ZIP file
3. Reply to the review email with the changes you've made
4. Attach the updated ZIP file or provide a link to download it

5. Upload Assets

Once your plugin is approved:

1. Log in to your WordPress.org account
2. Navigate to your plugin's page
3. Click on the "Assets" tab
4. Upload your banner, icon, and screenshots

After Approval

1. Set Up SVN Access

WordPress.org uses Subversion (SVN) for plugin management:

1. You'll receive SVN access details via email
2. Set up SVN on your local machine
3. Check out your plugin repository

2. Manage Your Plugin with SVN

Basic SVN commands for managing your plugin:

# Check out your plugin repository
svn checkout https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/your-plugin-name/

# Add new files
svn add new-file.php

# Commit changes
svn commit -m "Description of changes"

# Update your local copy
svn update

3. Release Updates

To release a new version:

1. Update the version number in your plugin file and readme.txt
2. Update the changelog in readme.txt
3. Test the new version thoroughly
4. Commit the changes to the trunk directory
5. Tag the new version:

   svn copy https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/your-plugin-name/trunk https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/your-plugin-name/tags/1.0.1 -m "Tagging version 1.0.1"
   

Best Practices

• Respond Promptly: Respond to review feedback promptly
• Be Patient: The review process can take time
• Be Thorough: Test your plugin thoroughly before submission
• Follow Guidelines: Adhere to all WordPress.org guidelines
• Maintain Your Plugin: Regularly update your plugin to fix bugs and add features

Additional Resources

• WordPress Plugin Developer Handbook
• WordPress Plugin Directory Guidelines
• WordPress Plugin Developer FAQ