Description

🔌 MSW Plugin Tracker

Author: MySimpleWebsite.co.za
Purpose:
Track plugin lifecycle, status, and notes directly inside /wp-admin/plugins.php to prevent confusion during development and testing. Ideal for wordpress plugin developers.

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🖥️ Server & PHP Requirements

✔ Works on Apache, Nginx, LiteSpeed
✔ Works on shared hosting

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🧩 WordPress Requirements

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⚙️ How It Works

• Hooks into plugin lifecycle events:

  • activated_plugin

  • deactivated_plugin

• Detects plugins via get_plugins()

• Stores tracking data in:

  wp_options → msw_plugin_tracker_data


• Uses AJAX auto-save for dropdowns and notes

• Non-invasive: does not modify plugins or plugin files

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📍 Where You Use It

• WP Admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins

• Adds:

  • Status dropdown

  • Notes field

  • Install/activation timestamps

  • Last updated file date

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🎯 What It Tracks

• Plugin state: Working / Testing / Broken / Deprecated

• First detected date (install proxy)

• Last activation/deactivation + user ID

• Last file modification date

• Developer notes

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✅ Benefits

• Eliminates “which plugin was testing?”

• Prevents accidental production activation

• Creates plugin audit history

• Ideal for solo devs and teams