Title: Shiny Updates Visual Records Author: Konstantin Obenland Published: May 2, 2016 Last modified: December 19, 2023 --- [ ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/obenland/) [Konstantin Obenland](https://profiles.wordpress.org/obenland/) 9:55 pm _on_ May 2, 2016 Tags: [shiny-updates ( 6 )](https://make.wordpress.org/test/tag/shiny-updates/), [upgrade-install ( 12 )](https://make.wordpress.org/test/tag/upgrade-install/)   # Shiny Updates Visual Records In preparation for proposing parts of Shiny Updates v2 to be included with WordPress 4.6, I assembled visual records of the various flows and interactions that 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. touches. There are six interactions across ten locations throughout the admin where plugins and themes can be installed/updated/deleted. I created two videos to illustrate the changes for the most common use cases on a single site: plugin install/bulk update/delete, theme install/update/delete. For multisiteMultisite Multisite is a WordPress feature which allows users to create a network of sites on a single WordPress installation. Available since WordPress version 3.0, Multisite is a continuation of WPMU or WordPress Multiuser project. WordPress MultiUser project was discontinued and its features were included into WordPress core. [Advanced Administration Handbook -> Create A Network.](https://developer.wordpress.org/advanced-administration/multisite/create-network/) I took screenshots on mobile and for the actions that differ from single sites. #### Plugins on a single install [https://make.wordpress.org/test/files/2016/05/Shiny-Plugins.mp4](https://make.wordpress.org/test/files/2016/05/Shiny-Plugins.mp4) #### Themes on a single install [https://make.wordpress.org/test/files/2016/05/Shiny_Themes_converted.mp4](https://make.wordpress.org/test/files/2016/05/Shiny_Themes_converted.mp4) #### Theme install on multisite (same as on single install) [](https://make.wordpress.org/test/image-208/) Click Install… [](https://make.wordpress.org/test/image-209/)… installing… [](https://make.wordpress.org/test/image-210/) …installed. #### Theme update on multisite [](https://make.wordpress.org/test/image-203/) New version available. Click update now… [](https://make.wordpress.org/test/image-204/) …updating… [](https://make.wordpress.org/test/image-205/)… updated. #### Theme delete in multisite This one is a little harder to document in images since the theme (or plugin) disappears after the AYS message as soon as it’s deleted. See video above for delete animation. [](https://make.wordpress.org/test/image-206/) Click Delete… [](https://make.wordpress.org/test/image-207/)… AYS message. #### Plugin delete in multisite Documented in above video, this is to show how it looks on mobile. [](https://make.wordpress.org/test/image-211/) Click Delete… [](https://make.wordpress.org/test/image-212/)… AYS message #### Plugin install error [](https://make.wordpress.org/test/2016/05/02/shiny-update-visual-records/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-9-51-29-am/#main) Click Install Now button… [](https://make.wordpress.org/test/2016/05/02/shiny-update-visual-records/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-9-51-58-am/#main)… receive error message. #### Theme install error [](https://make.wordpress.org/test/2016/05/02/shiny-update-visual-records/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-9-44-56-am/#main) Click Install button… [](https://make.wordpress.org/test/2016/05/02/shiny-update-visual-records/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-9-45-25-am/#main)… receive error message. #### FTPFTP FTP is an acronym for File Transfer Protocol which is a way of moving computer files from one computer to another via the Internet. You can use software, known as a FTP client, to upload files to a server for a WordPress website. 󠀁[https://codex.wordpress.org/FTP_Clients](https://codex.wordpress.org/FTP_Clients)󠁿 credentials [](https://make.wordpress.org/test/2016/05/02/shiny-update-visual-records/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-12-54-48-pm/#main) Click update now… [](https://make.wordpress.org/test/2016/05/02/shiny-update-visual-records/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-12-55-54-pm/#main)… receive FTP prompt… [](https://make.wordpress.org/test/2016/05/02/shiny-update-visual-records/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-12-56-16-pm/#main)… error message in FTP credential form. [#shiny-updates](https://make.wordpress.org/test/tag/shiny-updates/), [#upgrade-install](https://make.wordpress.org/test/tag/upgrade-install/) ### Share this: * [ Threads ](https://make.wordpress.org/test/2016/05/02/shiny-update-visual-records/?share=threads) * [ Mastodon ](https://make.wordpress.org/test/2016/05/02/shiny-update-visual-records/?share=mastodon) * [ Bluesky ](https://make.wordpress.org/test/2016/05/02/shiny-update-visual-records/?share=bluesky) * [ X ](https://make.wordpress.org/test/2016/05/02/shiny-update-visual-records/?share=x) * [ Facebook ](https://make.wordpress.org/test/2016/05/02/shiny-update-visual-records/?share=facebook) * [ LinkedIn ](https://make.wordpress.org/test/2016/05/02/shiny-update-visual-records/?share=linkedin) * [Login to Reply](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fmake.wordpress.org%2Ftest%2F2016%2F05%2F02%2Fshiny-update-visual-records%2F%23respond&locale=en_US) ### Like this: Like Loading… 1. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b01ec0896d3867ba97ca655f843bce74d396f9018a844d665e5e513297930de1? s=32&d=identicon&r=g) 2. [Rami Yushuvaev](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ramiy/) 10:08 pm _on_ May 2, 2016 3. beautiful! 4. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c161b026fd20b4b89ec3205cbf9f8656ddbeb1e2bd1332fb891cb2a191941a65? s=32&d=identicon&r=g) 5. [Pedro Carvalho](https://profiles.wordpress.org/pedroghandi/) 10:28 pm _on_ May 2, 2016 6. is it possible to have a tiny bar across the top of the theme, indicating the progress? at least 33% – done downloading 66% – done unpacking 100% – done installing 7. ? 8. * ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/43e10bdac0c553eccd6b30644312cc245d1d4df3cb04dbc898f44cae8d7d68cf? s=32&d=identicon&r=g) * [Konstantin Obenland](https://profiles.wordpress.org/obenland/) 4:26 pm _on_ May 3, 2016 * Actually installing 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. or theme is only a small part of the server request for it. You can observe that in the video above too, where it takes a while to navigate to The Bleak Screen of Sadness, but the status updates of the installation are being printed out very quickly. I agree, having to watch the spinner for a while, especially when installing/updating large plugins, is not very satisfactory. Unfortunately it can not be accurately predicted how long the entire request ill take, which makes a progress indicator less useful. 9. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3f42da967ef0f6bb570c518c07d047f9e35de5ea415fce7735802aefa11f1665? s=32&d=identicon&r=g) 10. [dtbaker](https://profiles.wordpress.org/dtbaker/) 11:20 pm _on_ May 2, 2016 11. Great! How are errors displayed (error activating 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.)? What about if FTPFTP FTP is an acronym for File Transfer Protocol which is a way of moving computer files from one computer to another via the Internet. You can use software, known as a FTP client, to upload files to a server for a WordPress website. [https://codex.wordpress.org/FTP_Clients](https://codex.wordpress.org/FTP_Clients) credentials are required for installing a theme/plugin (no php write permissions on theme/plugin folders)? 12. Please test how it works when installing something like WooCommerce. Woo (and other themes/plugins) like to redirect the next browser request to a welcome screen, which can make ajax operations a little unreliable. (e.g. test installing/updating 3 plugins with woocommerce as the second plugin to process). 13. * ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/43e10bdac0c553eccd6b30644312cc245d1d4df3cb04dbc898f44cae8d7d68cf? s=32&d=identicon&r=g) * [Konstantin Obenland](https://profiles.wordpress.org/obenland/) 8:31 pm _on_ May 3, 2016 * I added records for errors in 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. and theme install errors, as well as FTPFTP FTP is an acronym for File Transfer Protocol which is a way of moving computer files from one computer to another via the Internet. You can use software, known as a FTP client, to upload files to a server for a WordPress website. [https://codex.wordpress.org/FTP_Clients](https://codex.wordpress.org/FTP_Clients) credentials. * Shiny Updates does not change the way how activations work for exactly the reason you outlined above: Plugins redirect on subsequent page loads and that can lead to jarring experiences when navigating away from the plugins screen after activating a plugin. 14. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/88befd8b3fe378b751c57bc121c351d7d16e2a79ab25999f3fe813895f165422? s=32&d=identicon&r=g) 15. [Giorgos Sarigiannidis](https://profiles.wordpress.org/gsarig/) 9:39 am _on_ May 3, 2016 16. Installing plugins without page reload is a very welcome addition. 17. Regarding Batch updating of installed plugins, though, I believe that the select menu could be friendlier. For example, I think it that the buttons “update”, “ activate”, “deactivate” and “delete” could just be a simple horizontal list. Buttons would be inactive if no 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 selected and active when one or more plugins were checked. Here’s a small screenshot of what I suggest: 18. [https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/38634/Various/wp-plugin-batch-suggestion.png](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/38634/Various/wp-plugin-batch-suggestion.png) 19. That way we could minimize the number of clicks to perform an action from 4 (check, select, option, apply) to just 2 (check, apply). We could also make it even smarter by keeping, for example, the “activate” button disabled if all checked plugins are already active. 20. * ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/43e10bdac0c553eccd6b30644312cc245d1d4df3cb04dbc898f44cae8d7d68cf? s=32&d=identicon&r=g) * [Konstantin Obenland](https://profiles.wordpress.org/obenland/) 4:14 pm _on_ May 3, 2016 * Thanks for your suggestion! While this type of change is probably a little outside of the scope of Shiny Updates v2, [#31634-core](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/31634) might be a good spot to propose that, it deals with the UIUI UI is an acronym for User Interface - the layout of the page the user interacts with. Think ‘ how are they doing that’ and less about what they are doing. around bulk actions. 21. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/af6cb02f92815fa3d3c86aa63a507360b5130a075f13666748575e63b34edfe1? s=32&d=identicon&r=g) 22. [Marcus](https://profiles.wordpress.org/netweblogic/) 2:05 pm _on_ May 3, 2016 23. awesome! 24. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a39a805e1c41ada1fbd56963755bcb9317ff29a14073e09ac1f9f235521f8eb3? s=32&d=identicon&r=g) 25. [chatmandesign](https://profiles.wordpress.org/chatmandesign/) 3:27 pm _on_ May 3, 2016 26. 👍 27. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aa6c17f251d470ac93e27fc47d985d5304cf3038258094b6d3c8b6155b43e7d1? s=32&d=identicon&r=g) 28. [elliotcondon](https://profiles.wordpress.org/elliotcondon/) 11:08 pm _on_ May 5, 2016 29. Awesome! 30. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bfcc11b67e13651577f8557d7632c354934b11af84143a4079786c38f165d31c? s=32&d=identicon&r=g) 31. [leofx4](https://profiles.wordpress.org/leofx4/) 9:05 pm _on_ May 17, 2016 32. Really nice changes, getting to simplicity takes a long time. ### Leave a Reply 󠀁[Cancel reply](https://make.wordpress.org/test/2016/05/02/shiny-update-visual-records/?output_format=md#respond)󠁿 You must be [logged in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fmake.wordpress.org%2Ftest%2F2016%2F05%2F02%2Fshiny-update-visual-records%2F&locale=en_US) to post a comment. # Post navigation [← Deleting a site with iOS app 6.1, iPhone 6+](https://make.wordpress.org/test/2016/04/08/deleting-a-site-with-ios-app-6-1-iphone-6/) [Shiny Updates User Testing – Plugins →](https://make.wordpress.org/test/2016/05/03/shiny-updates-user-testing-plugins/)