[wp-hackers] WP Plugin Option API

[Robert Deaton]

I think that an easier method for creating plugin options pages could
exist, and at the same time be a method for preventing that clutter.

The first, would be to provide a set of functions that would allow
users to create their own plugin page with much simpler hooks. Instead
of being required to design the form, they could use functions that
would design the form for them.

These same functions could also optionally apply to a Plugin Options
page, where each plugin gets a section in the general Plugin Options
page. This could make plugins much more easy to develop since users
wouldn't have to go through the large amount of hassle creating the
form and later parsing the form.

I think I'll work on designing this as a plugin, but a plugin isn't
the most ideal way to implement this, because it would have to be
activated first in order for other plugins that use its options to
flourish. It would also require that some plugin authors either bundle
the plugin with theirs or ask that users visit a location offsite to
download the plugin. These matters could be solved later though after
such a plugin is finished.

I have quite a bit of code worked up in my head already on how to
implement this, and will go about doing it as soon as my latest
project is finished.

On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 14:29:23 -0500, Mark Jaquith
<mark.wordpress at txfx.net> wrote:
> Owen Winkler wrote:
> 
> > Mark Jaquith wrote:
> >
> >> I've been toying with the idea of creating this API as a plugin, but
> >> it would make life so much easier if something like this were in the
> >> core.
> >
> >
> > The explanation:
> > http://www.asymptomatic.net/archives/2005/03/11/1380/admin-we-have-a-problem/
> >
> >
> > In wp-plugins:
> > http://svn.wp-plugins.org/smalloptions
> 
> Yeah... I saw that.  And while it is very cool, and while it certainly
> solves the clutter, it doesn't reduce the amount of work for
> developers.  Because it is optional, you have to do all the work to make
> it function on its own without your SmallOptions plugin.  If something
> like this were in the core, you wouldn't need to provide a standalone
> method.
> 
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-- 
--Robert Deaton
http://anothersadsong.com