Title: Reminder: Compatibility with Core Matters
Author: Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)
Published: August 7, 2020

---

 [  ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ipstenu/) [Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ipstenu/)
5:49 pm _on_ August 7, 2020     
Tags: [guidelines ( 27 )](https://make.wordpress.org/plugins/tag/guidelines/),
[reminder ( 30 )](https://make.wordpress.org/plugins/tag/reminder/)   

# Reminder: Compatibility with Core Matters

Over the years we’ve gone from always showing all plugins in searches to devaluing
plugins that aren’t updated in a time span to devaluing them if they’re not compatible
with the latest few releases of coreCore Core is the set of software required to
run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress.. All of this is done 
to improve the user experience and to ensure they only find plugins that are actively
maintained and compatible with the versions of WordPress they use.

As part of this, when a 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/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/)
or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party. is closed we currently require the‘
tested up to’ value to be, at least, the latest stable version of WordPress core.
We have updated our emails for closures and re-scans to reiterate that, but it’s
for a slightly different reason than helping users.

We want to help **you developers**. If no one can find your plugin, because it’s
not compatible with (say) WP 5.5, then no one uses your plugin. Presumably, if your
code is hosted here, you want people to use it. To help you and ensure your plugins
can be found and used, we are requiring you update that, should we have any reason
to close your plugin.

Just like you have to bump the plugin version so people get notified of updates,
you need to make sure that “tested up to” value is current 🙂

So! Please keep that up to date! It’ll help people find your plugin, give them confidence
in your work, and help make you more successful! Wins all around 🙂

[#guidelines](https://make.wordpress.org/plugins/tag/guidelines/) [#reminder](https://make.wordpress.org/plugins/tag/reminder/)

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 1. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/024316af8fa284f9ca54dbb695a52e27ebf9f848a5bbf8b590446c642641b258?
    s=32&d=mm&r=g)
 2.  [Arnan de Gans](https://profiles.wordpress.org/adegans/)  7:25 pm _on_ August 
    7, 2020
 3. But “tested up to” does not guarantee coreCore Core is the set of software required
    to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. compatibility.
 4. People can just change the number and never update the 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/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/)
    or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party..
     Just like those plugins who “
    update” 3-5x per week without any code changes.
 5. So are you truly invested in core compatibility? Or are you encouraging people 
    to cheat with version and compatibility numbers? 🤣
 6.  * ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/27180c82524020e7339e2b30818b6d8ab004c54f730f12b1434b1e365be0e175?
       s=32&d=mm&r=g)
     *  [Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ipstenu/)  7:45 pm 
       _on_ August 7, 2020
     * We want people to actually test and have it be compatible.
     * We are attempting to encourage this by requiring a full security and standards
       scan to be reopened, but there’s no point in any of it if the 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/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/)
       or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party. doesn’t work on 5.4 or 5.5, 
       right?
     * Why would you want your plugin reopened if it’s not compatible? And yes, we’re
       checking in those cases.

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