A couple of the plugins listed here show up on Extend with warnings about not having been updated in the last two years. You can ignore those warnings. They haven’t been updated because they were written correctly in the first place.
Best Plugin for…?
Great big list of best plugins in several categories (forms, user management, security, etc.)
Workflow
Improving workflow in a multi-author blog
If Edit Flow is too much, try a combination of Editorial Calendar, Peter’s Collaboration Emails, and Peter’s Post Notes
Post Formats
Post Formats UI plugin makes it easier to add posts in different formats
The difference between post formats and post types
Custom Fields and Meta Boxes
save yourself a lot of trouble and use the meta boxes class to create your custom fields
Custom Post Types and Taxonomies
Introduction to taxonomies in 2.8, a refresher with new features in 3.0, and a movie database example
Custom post type and taxonomy code generator
Course post types example (.zip)
Creating a faceted search form with taxonomies and Relevanssi
Post type switcher and Convert post types plugins
Developing Themes and Plugins
Secure coding techniques presentation and Data validation in the Codex
Plugin options starter kit or Options framework
Debug tools:
- List all hooked functions
- Hook Sniffer
- Show Template
- Debug Toolbar
- Debug Bar Extender
- Debug Queries
- Debug Objects
- Log Deprecated Notices
- Debogger
- Theme Demo Bar
Creating Themes
Building a theme (old, but still good)
Theme development training wheels (newer, but somewhat less comprehensive)
Child themes in the Codex and child theme basics tutorial
example: Boston University’s theme framework and child themes
Using the settings API in theme options pages
Using the theme customizer in your own themes
Making a custom control for the customizer
Using the theme customizer instead of options pages
The proper way to modify or add a loop
Creating Plugins
Using the settings API in plugins part 1, part 2
Plugin development best practices
Adding scripts and styles to your plugin’s admin screen only
Adding help to your plugin’s screens (see also the WP Help plugin)
more APIs: filesystem, HTTP, rewrite, shortcode
Integrating with external APIs
JavaScript, jQuery, and JSON
Script libraries included with WordPress (spoiler: including jQuery, in compatibility mode)
Media
Allowing more MIME type uploads: PJW MIME Config plugin
Adding more file type filters to the media library
Defining custom image sizes, adding them to the insert dialogue, and using them in loops
Building Flickr-like attachment pages for your theme
Displaying non-image attachments
Embedding external media via oEmbed and adding oEmbed providers
Listing Users
Creating a shortcode to list all authors
Creating a user directory, part 1: changing profile contact fields
Creating a user directory, part 2: building the page template (with microformats)
Multisite
Aggregating posts from subsites: Network Shared Posts plugin
Other practical multisite functions
Show site ID columns in multisite
Security
The basics (note the first comment)
WP Security: cutting through the BS
On vulnerability reports and responsibility
The Almost Perfect .htaccess File for WordPress Blogs
10 awesome .htaccess hacks for WordPress
Scaling
Architecture, caching, and project management for scale
WordPress as…
issue tracker ($)
job board ($)
Changing WP’s Default Stuff
Changing strings (menu labels, etc.)
Influential Sites Using WP
Importing to WP
Presentation on importing: slides, video
Documentation, Discussion and Help
News and Events
Developer Blogs
Nacin, Westi, Otto, Jaquith, Scribu
Things to Avoid
WPMUDev plugins aren’t inherently evil, but the “one-time” purchase is actually a subscription that will bill you monthly unless you cancel — and by canceling you lose access to updates and support. Use plugins from the official repository instead.
Thesis is a theme framework that replaces many built-in WP functions and hooks with its own. This is inherently evil, in that it breaks plugin compatibility. Use Genesis, Headway, Thematic, Hybrid, or just about any other framework instead.
Brilliant collection, thank you!
One thing your blog missing however: social share buttons. Had to insert the link to facebook manually )
There are a ton of plugins for that. Jetpack includes social buttons, or you could use a dedicated plugin like AddThis.
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant, Stephanie. Bookmarked as a reference. One addition though: Maybe a couple of links on Multilingual WP?
BTW cute little guy you have there :) I have a son of the same age, they are adorably destructive at this age, aren’t they? :)
Good call! That category is not in the giant list of plugins. There are two major players, WP Mulitilingual and qTranslate. WPML is much more flexible, and gives your content editors and translators a better interface. It also lets you create a role for translators and allow them to edit only the translations, not the original posts. This is ideal if you’re outsourcing the translation.
There is also Multilingual Press plugin, which I’m utilizing on my recent project and it looks solid so far and a totally plugin-less approach (a bit outdated, but good article)
This is truly a great collection. Good job Stephanie.
P.S. your comment box styling is all wacky.
Bleh. I’m using the Chateau theme temporarily while I finish my redesign. Must be a problem there.
Awesome list! Thanks for sharing.
Btw, link to Westi’s blog (section Developer Blogs) is broken.
Thanks! Fixed.
Thank you soooo much for the this list.
Also, I was considering to go with DIY Themes as many reputed blogs use it. Thanks for the recommendation…
Thanks for share,Really great collection..
Awesome list! Thanks for sharing.
Great job Stephanie
That was in detail. I should learn shortcodes as no shortcode plugin comes with complex integrations. Thanks for the article :)