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name: wordpress-plugin-development description: "WordPress plugin development workflow covering plugin architecture, hooks, admin interfaces, REST API, security best practices, and WordPress 7.0 features: Real-Time Collaboration, AI Connectors, Abilities API, DataViews, and PHP-only blocks." category: granular-workflow-bundle risk: safe source: personal date_added: "2026-02-27"

WordPress Plugin Development Workflow

Overview

Specialized workflow for creating WordPress plugins with proper architecture, hooks system, admin interfaces, REST API endpoints, and security practices. Now includes WordPress 7.0 features for modern plugin development.

WordPress 7.0 Plugin Development

Key Features for Plugin Developers

1. Real-Time Collaboration (RTC) Compatibility

   • Yjs-based CRDT for simultaneous editing
   • Custom transport via sync.providers filter
   • Requirement: Register post meta with show_in_rest => true

2. AI Connector Integration

   • Provider-agnostic AI via wp_ai_client_prompt()
   • Settings > Connectors admin screen
   • Works with OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Ollama

3. Abilities API

   • Declare plugin capabilities for AI agents
   • REST API: /wp-json/abilities/v1/manifest
   • MCP adapter support

4. DataViews & DataForm

   • Modern admin interfaces
   • Replaces WP_List_Table patterns
   • Built-in validation

5. PHP-Only Blocks

   • Register blocks without JavaScript
   • Auto-generated Inspector controls

When to Use This Workflow

Use this workflow when:

• Creating custom WordPress plugins
• Extending WordPress functionality
• Building admin interfaces
• Adding REST API endpoints
• Integrating third-party services
• Implementing WordPress 7.0 AI/Collaboration features

Workflow Phases

Phase 1: Plugin Setup

Skills to Invoke

• app-builder - Project scaffolding
• backend-dev-guidelines - Backend patterns

Actions

1. Create plugin directory structure
2. Set up main plugin file with header
3. Implement activation/deactivation hooks
4. Set up autoloading
5. Configure text domain

WordPress 7.0 Plugin Header

/*
Plugin Name: My Plugin
Plugin URI: https://example.com/my-plugin
Description: A WordPress 7.0 compatible plugin with AI and RTC support
Version: 1.0.0
Requires at least: 6.0
Requires PHP: 7.4
Author: Developer Name
License: GPL2+
*/

Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @app-builder to scaffold a new WordPress plugin

Phase 2: Plugin Architecture

Skills to Invoke

• backend-dev-guidelines - Architecture patterns

Actions

1. Design plugin class structure
2. Implement singleton pattern
3. Create loader class
4. Set up dependency injection
5. Configure plugin lifecycle

WordPress 7.0 Architecture Considerations

• Prepare for iframed editor compatibility
• Design for collaboration-aware data flows
• Consider Abilities API for AI integration

Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @backend-dev-guidelines to design plugin architecture

Phase 3: Hooks Implementation

Skills to Invoke

• wordpress-penetration-testing - WordPress patterns

Actions

1. Register action hooks
2. Create filter hooks
3. Implement callback functions
4. Set up hook priorities
5. Add conditional hooks

Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @wordpress-penetration-testing to understand WordPress hooks

Phase 4: Admin Interface

Skills to Invoke

• frontend-developer - Admin UI

Actions

1. Create admin menu
2. Build settings pages
3. Implement options registration
4. Add settings sections/fields
5. Create admin notices

WordPress 7.0 Admin Considerations

• Test with new admin color scheme
• Consider DataViews for data displays
• Implement view transitions
• Use new validation patterns

DataViews Example

import { DataViews } from '@wordpress/dataviews';

const MyPluginDataView = () => {
    const data = [/* records */];
    const fields = [
        { id: 'title', label: 'Title', sortable: true },
        { id: 'status', label: 'Status', filterBy: true }
    ];
    const view = {
        type: 'table',
        perPage: 10,
        sort: { field: 'title', direction: 'asc' }
    };

    return (
        <DataViews
            data={data}
            fields={fields}
            view={view}
            onChangeView={handleViewChange}
        />
    );
};

Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @frontend-developer to create WordPress admin interface

Phase 5: Database Operations

Skills to Invoke

• database-design - Database design
• postgresql - Database patterns

Actions

1. Create custom tables
2. Implement CRUD operations
3. Add data validation
4. Set up data sanitization
5. Create data upgrade routines

RTC-Compatible Post Meta

// Register meta for Real-Time Collaboration
register_post_meta('post', 'my_custom_field', [
    'type' => 'string',
    'single' => true,
    'show_in_rest' => true,  // Required for RTC
    'sanitize_callback' =>