Where are we with the Plugin and Theme Developer Handbooks?

Hanni! You just posted something about a handbook status meeting but what’s actually happening with these mythical creatures?

PluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party Developer Handbook Stasis

We’ve now a proper (as opposed to acting) editor for the Plugin Developer Handbook, in the very capable form of Ben Lobaugh (@blobaugh).

. Ben and I are in the process of re-jigging the structure and existing to fit with the two-tiered goals of the handbooks. Watch this space! The new outline will be ready for the Docs Chat this week, Feb 20th.

Goal Parity

With little policing of contributions over these past months, we’re in danger of creating two unwieldy information dumps as opposed to digestible handbooks.

A rough goal could be stated as providing an overview for each handbook such that:

i) The reader gets into the book and to show them how to build a simple theme, or plugin, so they can see how easy it is and get introduced to the necessary and basic building blocks.

ii) Then, once that overview is complete for each handbook we’ll proceed with more in-depth dives into each section as and when is necessary.

With the current state of the handbooks, we’ll be focusing on finessing (and constructing!) i) for the foreseeable future.

New Contributors

i. Plugin Developer Handbook
We have some great news about increased interest in contributing to the project! (Thanks to all those who graciously caved in to my pestering are champing at the bit to give back and get involved.)

I’m so excited to announce that Woo are eager to give of their time to help the Plugin Developer Handbook effort, in particular: @scottbasgaard, @hlashbrooke, @mikejolley, and @corsonr. Thanks, Woo!

The guys at fooplugins, @bradvin and @awarner20, are also on board.

Thrilled to add that @trepmal, @shaunandrews, @johnny5 (tech reviewing), @westonruter, and @pcrumm have also kindly offered to give of their time, as and when they can.

Existing contributor @jackreichert is also eager to help with the renewed push.

With such a great bunch we should be able to get things moving at a good pace. I’ll be in touch will all of the above over the next few of days to make sure everyone has the correct access and is able to hit the ground running.

ii .Theme Developer Handbook

@philiparthurmoore is eager to work on the Theme Developer Handbook, as is @nudge – good news for the project! Thanks, you two.

Looking to get involved?

If you’re looking to help out with one of the handbooks, feel free to come to any of the weekly check-in meetings, pingPing The act of sending a very small amount of data to an end point. Ping is used in computer science to illicit a response from a target server to test it’s connection. Ping is also a term used by Slack users to @ someone or send them a direct message (DM). Users might say something along the lines of “Ping me when the meeting starts.” myself or the editor for the handbook in question, leave a comment on this post, or join the regular weekly Docs Team chat.

Again, as noted in @kpdesign’s notes from last week’s chat, I take full responsibility for the stalling of the Handbooks. Onwards and upwards, folks!

Lastly, thank you to everyone who has given, and continues to give so much of their valuable time to what is truly a community effort.

#handbooks