Agenda for 2009/09/03 dev chat: – Discus…
Agenda for 2009/09/03 dev chat:
- Discuss WP.org plugin directory policies. Should have Mark Riley present. As people are beginning to experiment with GPL-compliant business models around plugins, some issues should be clarified WRT the plugin directory:
– Plugins that promote expanded services by the author (“have me customize this plugin for you!”)
– Plugins that ask for monetary donations in the admin UI
– Plugins that are a “lite” version of a premium GPL plugin/support bundle
sc0ttkclark, and 1 other are discussing. 
Jane Wells 7:15 pm on August 31, 2009 Permalink
I’ll see if Mark’s available, but I know he’s in an all-week support team conference this week, so making it to a 9pm chat might not be feasible. Might also want Matt, as people bringing this up in dev channel keep referencing his post re themes and GPL?
Mark Jaquith 2:07 am on September 1, 2009 Permalink
Nevermind. Matt and I had a chat and there’s not really anything to discuss. Plugins that merely exist as placeholders for a plugin hosted elsewhere (like a “requirements check” plugin) are out, but “lite” versions, etc are in. The goal is to have the directory be free-to-download plugins. A placeholder for a premium plugin is against that spirit.
sc0ttkclark 7:03 pm on September 1, 2009 Permalink
What about the other issues, like an official WP stance on:
– Plugins that promote expanded services by the author (”have me customize this plugin for you!”)
– Plugins that ask for monetary donations in the admin UI
– Plugins that are a “lite” version of a premium GPL plugin/support bundle
Jeffro 10:48 pm on September 3, 2009 Permalink
Well, while it might be fine and dandy to have that explanation here on this site, I’m hearing that Matt is working on a post that will address these sorts of issues and make it more clear what the guidelines are for the plugin repository. Is this true? Some clarification along with perhaps a few examples would go a long way from having tons of people guess and throw around the topic that WordPress is anti-business.
Mark Jaquith 12:47 am on September 4, 2009 Permalink
WordPress is not anti-business. We’ve just decided to keep the wp.org Plugin Directory a hosting site for zero-cost plugins. There is already a rule (#3) that says it is a hosting site, not a listing site. It’s for actual plugins, not plugins whose primary purpose is to send people somewhere else to download a plugin. This is not a change in policy as much as being consistent about the existing policies. One “requirements check” plugin was allowed in, and another was not. I was concerned about the dual standard.
If your plugin is actually a plugin, not just an advertisement or a placeholder for a plugin hosted elsewhere, you’re fine, as far as this rule is concerned.
Jeffro 1:45 am on September 4, 2009 Permalink
I personally know WordPress is not anti-business it’s the other people that seem to think this. However, those in question pretty much agree with the responses they received regarding the issue so I’ll just spread the word.