By: Ronald Huereca (@ronalfy)

HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY TAKE OVER A WORDPRESS PLUGIN

WordCamp DFW 2016 - September 24th, 2016

@ronalfy

What do you see when you add new plugins?

@ronalfy

Lots and lots of code…

@ronalfy

I mean a lot…

Over 40,000 plugins are in the plugin directory

Let’s break that down…

@ronalfy

With over 1.4 Billion downloads*

* Adjusted for inflation

@ronalfy

@ronalfy

How much is the plugin directory worth to you?

@ronalfy

The plugin directory is a priceless resource available

with just a single click

@ronalfy

Why do the developers code the plugins?What’s the motivation?

@ronalfy

Developer motivations…

• Coded the plugin for a job

• Give to the WordPress community

• Résumé building

• Hobby

• Make Money

Developers come and go…

@ronalfy

Plugin abandonment• Life

• No exit plan

• Leaves the WordPress community

• Support overload

• No financial or development support

@ronalfy

Let’s take a look at a few developers

Matthew Sparrow

• Member of the WordPress community since 2013

• Started coding at 13

• Most popular plugin has 90,000+installs

https://profiles.wordpress.org/kidsguide/

Ajay D’souza

• Member of the WordPress community since 2003

• Plugin and theme developer

• Core contributor

• Most popular plugin is on 60,000+ sites

https://profiles.wordpress.org/ajay/

Chris Wiegman

• Member of the WordPress community since 2010

• Security expert

• Most popular plugin was acquired by iThemes

• iThemes Security currently has over 800,000 installs

https://profiles.wordpress.org/chriswiegman/

@ronalfy

To avoid plugin abandonment, one way is to takeover plugin development

@ronalfy

Taking over a plugin starts with an IM, tweet, support thread,

pull request, or perhaps an email

Tip: Developers speak in code

@ronalfy

Easy Updates Manager

@ronalfy

My plugin takeover experience started with

ignorance

@ronalfy

Disable Plugin and Theme Updates

@ronalfy

Disable Updates ManagerThis plugin did almost exactly what I was trying to do

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Disable Updates Manager…

• Had 10,000 + installs

• Did almost exactly what I needed it to do

@ronalfy

A brief history of Disable Updates Manager

• Started by a 13 year old developer in September 2013

• Was originally designed to stop all plugin and theme updates

• Was aided by a second developer to add more options

• Was left to maintenance-limbo in December of 2014

@ronalfy

Rather than compete, I decided to collaborate

In February of 2015, I emailed Matthew

@ronalfy

His Response Was Very Positive

Hello Ronald,

The plugin that you made looks very professional and well made. It is funny that you contacted me because I was just thinking of redoing the Disable Updates Manager plugin. I would love to have some help redoing it. Your plugin would be a great addition to it.

Let me know if you would like to help, Matthew

@ronalfy

Thus Began the Collaboration

• We renamed the plugin Easy Updates Manager

• We created a YouTube Channel

• We began re-coding the plugin

• We created documentation

• We started testing like crazy

@ronalfy

Easy Updates Manager Today

@ronalfy

Easy Updates Manager…• Has over 90,000 installs

• Averages 7,000 downloads per update (record is 8,989)

• Averages 400 downloads per day

• 70 5-star ratings with a 4.8 average

• Roughly 5-10 support requests a week

@ronalfy

Gravity Forms Google Analytics Event Tracking

@ronalfy

The takeover started with a pull request

@ronalfy

Hi Nathan,

I just wanted to let you know I'm interested in submitting a pull request for your Gravity Forms Event Tracking plugin hosted on GitHub.

I wanted to gauge interest, so I submitted a ticket.

If you could take a look at it, I would be most appreciative.

Thanks!

Ronald Huereca

@ronalfy

The plugin chugged along and then this

happened…

@ronalfy

@ronalfy I don't have time to work on this as I'm no longer really working with wordpress or even PHP that much. Do you

want to take ownership of the repository?

https://github.com/ronalfy/wordpress-gravity-forms-event-tracking/issues/23

I took over the plugin and tried to give it away…

@ronalfy

@ronalfy

Gravity Forms Google Analytics Event Tracking Today

@ronalfy

Gravity Forms Google Analytics Event Tracking…

• Has over 9,000 installs

• Averages 30 downloads per day

• 13 5-star ratings with a 5.0 average

• Roughly 1-2 support requests a week

@ronalfy

That’s just my story…

@ronalfy

There are a ton of WordPress developers out there…

@ronalfy

Let’s look at some larger examples

• Forked from Jigoshop • Acquired by Automatic in May of 2015 • Powers ~30% of all online stores • Has over 1 million installs

@ronalfy

• Acquired from Yoast in April of 2016 • Has over 1 million installs

@ronalfy

• Acquired by Automattic in August of 2014 • Rolled into Jetpack March of 2015 • Jetpack has over 1 million installs

BruteProtect

@ronalfy

@ronalfy

Remember, developers speak in code

• Start with an email and a pull request

• Help out with support

• Asked to be added as a GitHub contributor

• Do the hard work (testing, code reviews)

• Use your network

• Don’t be afraid to fork

@ronalfy

Questions???