Looking for info on how to create a plugin

[adb34]

I have found several things that I would like to add to Zencart share with the community but I have no idea how or even where to start building a plugin. Can I have some pointers on where/how to start, please?

[mc12345678]

I have found several things that I would like to add to Zencart share with the community but I have no idea how or even where to start building a plugin. Can I have some pointers on where/how to start, please?

So a plugin, code change, modification, etc... is a set of code to be applied to a store. Bear with me a second. In order for someone to apply it, the action needs to be reproducible. The term plugin as has been used in the ZC forum has loosely meant anything that modifies the standard operation of a base cart. The ideal situation is one where such code changes/additions can be incorporated without modification of the ZC code, but instead a set of files that can be dropped in and provide the desired affect. This is not always possible straight out, but through continued development one might be able to recommend some code changes that could make it possible and not hamper normal operation.

So to that end, effectively you want to come up with a way to provide your feature(s) that is reproducible by others. Further the standard for this is to be able to provide what is necessary to do so against a vanilla install.

There are a number of ways to facilitate giving others the changes needed. You could write a document that identifies what to provide and give a sort of after this code sequence description. You could use files from a particular ZC version documented to show what to add where. You could write all of the code that is added that is external to ZC and advise where to store the files. You could create (duplicate) an auto-installer... I've probably left off an option or two, but regardless you could use a mix of options, but the goal is to offer a way for someone to pick up with what you have provided, install it and get the results that you have gotten and expect.

The other thing to consider in providing your code is to maximize the amount of data protection offered to try to protect others site from being negatively affected by your code.

You should also include whatever licensing is applicable to your code typically some form of GPL.

You should also review the previously submitted plugins to see if yours is more of an update of an existing one or if it is something new. If an update, the polite thing to do is to try to reach out to the previous poster/original author to validate that submission doesn't grossly affect the original goal or have some other negative effect on the code's operation.

Beyond that, initiate a new thread for said plugin and after you have zipped your file and submitted it to include a link to your thread, then let others know that you have submitted the code and do your best to keep them informed. Then remember to check back to your thread and try to offer support on it. No one knows your code better than you. :)

Does that help?

[kobra]

You might find some detail in these links
http://docs.zen-cart.com/Contributing/main
http://docs.zen-cart.com/Contributin...ding_standards

[adb34]

Thank you both of you for the info. I will go away and read all the above help and get back if it has helped or another question pops up.