[theme-reviewers] How to manage 3rd party libraries and dependencies in a theme framework

[jay Cauvain]

Only if there are conditionals, so that the theme will function without the
plugin, in case the user decides that they don't want the plugin.
On Feb 21, 2012 1:09 AM, "Maximilian von Wortdrücken" <
max.wortdrucken at gmail.com> wrote:

> I thought about this possibility, but it left me with more
> questions/problems:
>
>    1. Are plugins held to different standards with regards to making
>    connections to other servers and/or downloading and unpacking files from
>    those servers?
>    2. One of the goals is to create an environment where child theme
>    developers can rely on the availability of this functionality (and thus be
>    freed from having to bundle 3rd party libraries with their themes). In
>    order to meet that goal, I would have to make the theme framework dependent
>    on a plugin. What are the WP theme review guidelines concerning this? Will
>    WordPress reviewers accept a theme framework that is dependent on certain
>    plugins?
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 20, 2012 at 3:52 PM, Simon Prosser <pross at pross.org.uk> wrote:
>
>> Why not just host the libs in a plugin? Then you can update that
>> whenever you like and the theme will not need updating.
>>
>> 2012/2/20 Maximilian von Wortdrücken <max.wortdrucken at gmail.com>:
>> > Hi all,
>> >
>> > I am working on a WP theme framework that will have a large number of
>> > dependencies on 3rd party code libraries. My intent is to provide theme
>> > developers with a simple interface (in the WP Admin dashboard) that
>> allows
>> > them to easily import/include/update/delete 3rd party libraries--both
>> server
>> > side *and* front end code libraries.
>> >
>> > I'm envisioning a system similar to a Linux package manager. With a
>> system
>> > like this in place, theme developers using my framework could have easy
>> > access to all their favorite libs (above and beyond what is available
>> from
>> > the WordPress default options), but I wouldn't have to bundle those libs
>> > with the theme. Additionally, this system would provide a standard API
>> that
>> > child themes could use to verify dependencies upon being activated (and
>> > prompt the administrator to update or download those dependencies if
>> need
>> > be).
>> >
>> > So my general question is: how can I build this functionality into my
>> theme
>> > framework without it being rejected by the official WP theme review
>> process?
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Here are the requirements:
>> >
>> > Theme developers can import and update 3rd party libraries
>> independently.
>> > That is, without updating the theme framework itself.
>> > Child themes and the theme framework can check for dependencies before
>> > proceeding with certain actions.
>> > Developers and site admins can view a list of installed libraries and be
>> > notified of available updates.
>> > 3rd party libraries are limited only by whether or not they're publicly
>> > accessible on the Web.
>> > The theme framework would not come with any 3rd party libs installed.
>> > Instead, each library would be defined as a subclass of some base class
>> that
>> > manages details like:
>> >
>> > name of lib
>> > remote address to connect to for downloading
>> > routine for connecting to server
>> > routine for unpacking / writing files to the file system
>> > installation path
>> > routine for determining version
>> >
>> > Theme framework would maintain a master list of all 3rd party libraries
>> by
>> > maintaining the directory of subclasses. If a developer encounters the
>> need
>> > for a particular library that isn't defined, she can easily create her
>> own
>> > custom connector object (and submit it for inclusion in the next
>> framework
>> > release).
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Here are some specific concerns:
>> >
>> > What are the rules regarding WP themes making connections to other
>> servers
>> > (e.g., svn repos, github repos, etc.) ?
>> > What are the rules regarding WP themes downloading and unpacking files
>> > (e.g., a new version of some code library) from other servers?
>> > Does WordPress provide any kind of standard API for this already?
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Thanks in advance for your help and consideration.
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > theme-reviewers mailing list
>> > theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org
>> > http://lists.wordpress.org/mailman/listinfo/theme-reviewers
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> My Blog: http://pross.org.uk/
>> Plugins : http://pross.org.uk/plugins/
>> Themes: http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/profile/pross
>> _______________________________________________
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>> theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org
>> http://lists.wordpress.org/mailman/listinfo/theme-reviewers
>>
>
>
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