Mark Jaquith (a lead developer of WordPress.org) has developed a tool that will make installing WordPress plugins 10 times easier than the current method being employed by millions of WordPress fans.
Instead of searching for your plugin upon WordPress.org or Google, Jaquith’s new method will allow a user to install a plugin by simply typing its name and clicking upon the “install plugin” button.
But why are we offering plugins the same way we were in 2004? We have a built-in plugin installer. Let’s use that! So how would you do that? I guess you’d just tell people “Hey, go to your wp-admin and search for ‘My Awesome Plugin.’” That introduces a lot of chances for failure. They might even end up with the wrong plugin!
I made a better way, and will be working on integrating this into WordPress.org this summer. […]
The tool auto-detects the WordPress installation by looking at the X-Pingback header. You’ll be presented with the plugin installation form for your blog. Click “Install Now” and the plugin will be installed. Much easier, and you know they’re getting the correct plugin. (Mark on WordPress)
The tool Mark is talking about (pictured below) is much easier to use than the “hunt and peck” method that seems to be the standard in the blog software industry.
Automattic may release the “WordPress Plugin Install” feature (or whatever they choose to call it) after they launch WordPress 3.1 to the masses in the not so distant future.
Hopefully Mark will consider sharing this feature for BuddyPress and bbPress fans (the latter who desperately needs some TLC), as this could help plugin developers easily reach the masses across the greater WordPress universe.
