Welcome to the introduction of the Self-Hoster plugin. This new tool offers a self-hosting solution for WordPress plugin developers who face limitations on the WordPress.org platform. Self-Hoster enables developers to manage and distribute their own plugins independently.
Challenges with WordPress.org
Using WordPress.org to distribute plugins comes with several restrictions:
- No CDN Usage: Plugins hosted on WordPress.org cannot utilize CDN, making them heavier.
- Dependency on Shipped Libraries: Developers must use libraries provided by WordPress, which often are not the latest versions.
- Ownership and Removal Rights: WordPress.org reserves the rights to remove any plugin at their discretion.
- Long Waiting Times: The approval process for new plugins can take up to a month, delaying the release of simple blocks or plugins.
Features of Self-Hoster
Self-Hoster addresses these issues by offering the following features:
- Self-Hosting Capability: Developers can host their plugins on their own servers.
- Easy Upload and Fetch Options: Supports uploading plugins via ZIP files and fetching updates from GitHub.
- Predefined Templates and GitHub Actions: Includes templates and guides on setting up GitHub actions for automation.
- Lightweight Solution: Reduces server load by using a generated JSON file for updates instead of frequent database checks.
Advantages for Specific Needs
Not all plugins are suitable for distribution on WordPress.org, especially those intended for specific clients or a limited number of websites. Self-Hoster is ideal for developers who:
- Require a tailored solution for individual clients.
- Wish to simplify updates across multiple websites without manual intervention.
- Prefer pushing updates with a single button to update all installations simultaneously.