[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #11127: Improve plugin compatibility check

[WordPress Trac]

#11127: Improve plugin compatibility check
---------------------------+------------------------------------------------
 Reporter:  sirzooro       |       Owner:  ryan       
     Type:  enhancement    |      Status:  new        
 Priority:  normal         |   Milestone:  2.9        
Component:  WordPress.org  |     Version:  2.8.5      
 Severity:  normal         |    Keywords:  needs-patch
---------------------------+------------------------------------------------
Description changed by dd32:

Old description:

> When you install new plugin via WordPress backed, it checks if
> 'Compatible up to' version specified in plugin's readme.txt file is big
> enough. If not, WP displays warning 'This plugin has not been tested with
> your current version of WordPress.'. In general such check is a good
> idea, but it needs improvement. When WP Team finishes new major WP
> release, such message is OK (e.g. when someone will try to install plugin
> tested up to 2.8.5 on 2.9), because API or other internal details may
> change. But when we have security or bugfix release, API usually stays
> the same, so most plugins do not require update. Unfortunately current
> warning message is misleading for beginners, and some of them posts
> questions like 'Does plugin X works with WP 2.8.5, because WP says it was
> not tested with this version?'. I am sure there are many more ones who
> will decide to not install plugin and find another one, which will be
> marked as compatible. In order to avoid such questions plugin's author
> have to release new plugin version with updated 'Tested up to' tag. This
> takes time, especially if someone (like me) has many plugins. Therefore I
> suggest to skip this warning in case of version mismatch introduced by
> security/bugfix WP releases (e.g. 2.8.5 - 2.8.6, or 2.8 - 2.8.6).

New description:

 When you install new plugin via WordPress backed, it checks if 'Compatible
 up to' version specified in plugin's readme.txt file is big enough. If
 not, WP displays warning 'This plugin has not been tested with your
 current version of WordPress.'.

 In general such check is a good idea, but it needs improvement. When WP
 Team finishes new major WP release, such message is OK (e.g. when someone
 will try to install plugin tested up to 2.8.5 on 2.9), because API or
 other internal details may change. But when we have security or bugfix
 release, API usually stays the same, so most plugins do not require
 update.

 Unfortunately current warning message is misleading for beginners, and
 some of them posts questions like 'Does plugin X works with WP 2.8.5,
 because WP says it was not tested with this version?'.

 I am sure there are many more ones who will decide to not install plugin
 and find another one, which will be marked as compatible.

 In order to avoid such questions plugin's author have to release new
 plugin version with updated 'Tested up to' tag. This takes time,
 especially if someone (like me) has many plugins.

 Therefore I suggest to skip this warning in case of version mismatch
 introduced by security/bugfix WP releases (e.g. 2.8.5 - 2.8.6, or 2.8 -
 2.8.6).

 (edit by dd32: added some paragraphs to make it readable)

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Ticket URL: <http://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/11127#comment:3>
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