[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #49132: Remove translation files when a plugin no longer exists

[WordPress Trac]

#49132: Remove translation files when a plugin no longer exists
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 Reporter:  audrasjb     |       Owner:  (none)
     Type:  enhancement  |      Status:  closed
 Priority:  normal       |   Milestone:
Component:  I18N         |     Version:
 Severity:  normal       |  Resolution:  wontfix
 Keywords:  has-patch    |     Focuses:
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Comment (by knutsp):

 > I kindly disagree on this point, as validate_active_plugins use
 deactivate_plugins function which removes the plugin from active_plugins
 site option. So the plugin data is actually deleted from the plugin
 option, isn't it?

 No. Plugin data can be anything in the database, a db table or several
 options. Such may only be removed by the plugin itself, executed from the
 `uninstall_$plugin` or it's own uninstall.php file.

 I can understand the wish to clean up unnecessary files, but deleting
 language files should only happen when properly deleting (uninstalling) a
 plugin. A cleanup of either files, options or db tables that has become
 obsolete because of file deletion outside WordPress admin should be plugin
 territory.

 Do not assume all language files in wp-content/languages folder is
 downloaded from wp.org since translation plugins optionally put their
 (source and compiled) files there (but warn that they can be overwritten
 by language packs, and they may or may not keep a backup).

 A recommended way to check is a plugin is causing an error is to
 temporarily rename it. If no one visits the Plugins screen in that time,
 these plugins are not even deactivated (just not loaded).

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/49132#comment:9>
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