Automatically Update Plugin without user interaction

  • sqzr

    (@sqzr)


    7 years ago

    I am developing a plugin and I would like my plugin to auto-update. By auto-update I mean, it will somehow know that a new version is available and automatically update without user interaction.

    • Does the WordPress API have functions/ability to automatically update/install a new version of a plugin without user interaction?
    • I’ve looked into this and it seems that automatically updating plugins without user interaction is not ‘WordPress standard practice’ or ‘not the way things are done’. Do you agree and is this true?
Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
  • necafasu

    (@necafasu)

    For me, I wouldn’t want any plugin to be auto updated on my site.
    What if the plugin that has been auto updated has a conflict on my site? I wouldn’t know it because it has been auto updated and I have no chance for me to test it first before it has been updated.

    For me, I wouldn’t want any plugin to be auto updated on my site.

    I second this.

    I also highly doubt a plugin that did this would be accepted for hosting in the .org plugin repository (and possibly even commercial repositories, if they’re responsible).

    If the plugin is available at https://www.ads-software.com/plugins/ then the ability for users to update your plugin will be handled for you.

    If you’re not hosting it there then there are services, like https://wp-updates.com, where you host the plugin with them and they distribute updates, or you can bundle a library like https://github.com/YahnisElsts/plugin-update-checker to update your plugin from your own hosting or GitHub/Bitbucket etc.

    That will give WordPress the ability to receive and apply updates to your plugin, but the decision of when to update, and whether to do so automatically, should be entirely up to the user.

    Moderator Steven Stern (sterndata)

    (@sterndata)

    Volunteer Forum Moderator

    If you look at the WordFence plugin, it offers an auto-update option. Download the plugin and look at their code to see how they do it.

    It’s not something I’ve enabled on any of my sites,but it is doable.

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
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