[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #61040: Provide a framework for plugin onboarding experiences

[WordPress Trac]

#61040: Provide a framework for plugin onboarding experiences
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 Reporter:  jorbin       |       Owner:  (none)
     Type:  enhancement  |      Status:  new
 Priority:  normal       |   Milestone:  Awaiting Review
Component:  Plugins      |     Version:
 Severity:  normal       |  Resolution:
 Keywords:               |     Focuses:  administration
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Comment (by kevinwhoffman):

 Replying to [comment:18 jason_the_adams]:
 > It seems like the question as to whether pressing "Activate" should load
 an onboarding experience keeps coming up. I feel like we're trying to find
 a one-size-fits-all solution as our answer to this question — as we
 consider things like WP-CLI, remote installation, bulk activation, and so
 forth. I think that's a mistake.
 >
 > Consider this one scenario:
 > 1. I download GiveWP
 > 2. I install GiveWP
 > 3. I click "Activate" for GiveWP
 > 4. I'm redirected to onboard GiveWP
 >
 > That's how it's worked for years (and for many other plugins), and I've
 never heard of a user describe this as confusing behavior. I think it's a
 mistake to mess up this UX in the name of it having technical difficulties
 (e.g. it's done by hijacking the redirect).

 Yes, the redirect method has been used for years, but it doesn't mean it's
 right. Having prototyped the original GiveWP onboarding wizard, I think
 the redirect method was a mistake. At the time, we were following the lead
 of large plugins like WooCommerce and Yoast. In doing so, we perpetuated
 the unpredictability of the "Activate" button.

 Now when a new user installs a plugin, they have no idea whether the
 "Activate" button will simply activate the plugin or redirect them to an
 entirely different page.

 Consider this scenario, which is the default behavior for a WordPress
 plugin:

 1. I download ACF
 2. I install ACF
 3. I click "Activate" for ACF
 4. ACF is simply activated like the button suggests, and nothing more

 That's different behavior compared to GiveWP, but how would you know what
 to expect?

 Imagine if clicking "Get" in the App Store caused some apps to open
 immediately, but there's no way of telling which apps will do that until
 you try them. That's what the redirect experience is like for new users of
 each WordPress plugin.

 With the changes to AJAX plugin activations, the redirect method creates
 even more unpredictability. Now if I click "Activate" and then ''try to go
 anywhere else in WP Admin'', I'm going to be redirected to that plugin's
 onboarding experience regardless of whether I'm trying to view my Posts,
 Pages, Tools, Settings, etc.

 The proposed filter and "Configure" link would restore some consistency to
 the plugin activation experience while still giving plugins with first-
 time onboarding experiences a clear method of directing users to their
 preferred next step. We could even consider making the "Configure" text
 filterable by plugin developers so the button can say "Start Onboarding,"
 "Continue Onboarding", etc. based on the configuration that's been done so
 far. That's the type of clarity and control that I hope this framework can
 offer to developers and users alike.

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/61040#comment:22>
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