[wp-docs] WIKI - WPHacks

[Craig Hartel]

I just thought of something else in regards to WP Mods...

Not to be bureaucratic or anything, but I think that there should be two
levels of mods for WP. One is "WP APPROVED" and the other is just "Community
Mods."

I personally don't think it's up to WP to keep track of every single mod out
there, and then documenting it. I think that providing a forum for them is
enough. I think that the mods that DO get special mention, or treatment,
would be WP APPROVED.

How does one receive the WP APPROVED stamp?

- The mod must, in spirit and design, adhere to the philosophies of the
WordPress mandate/vision.
- Code must be semantically correct and must be valid XHTML and/or CSS.
- Appropriate credit must be given for ideas or code snippets used from
other sources.
- The mod must be documented fully and include installation instructions.
- Have the mod up and running on a few sites, demonstrating the
functionality of the mod.

In return, WordPress would

- Include the mod in a specific WP Mod showcase section of the WP site
- Allow the author(s) to display a badge showing their mod as being WP
APPROVED
- Promote the mod as being an official WP mod.
- Include the mod documentation in the WP documentation.

My point with all of this? If you set a high standard for WordPress, which I
believe has been done, then any enhancement or add-on should adhere to the
same principles. If mods look, feel, and run like they were slapped
together, then that is what people will associate with WP itself. Many of
the mods available now have most of these principles anyway. Some are
tightly coded and have good documentation. I think that mod authors should
really be rewarded through recognition and promotion for a job well done,
but they should also realise that getting to be an "official" mod has some
basic requirements. Certainly many of the community would likely help the
authors by testing the mods and even helping in other ways.

Anyway, for me, the bottom line is that if you want the tool kit to be
considered as one of the best, then the mods need to be in the same league.
Most of them probably are, but the onus for documentation and such must be
on the authors.

Just me thinking out loud! :)

Craig.