Personally, I find it annoying when I see a plugin that says “Please do not use this yet.” Why load it up to the WordPress Plugin directory if it is unfinished? Not only is it annoying, but also pointless. Most plugin developers or even most web developers try to develop a finished product. If there are bugs to iron out, then the developer can fix those – at least the plugin is up in its entirety.
Then, while I was looking for a hopefully alternative to Sean Bluestone’s broken WordPress Link Directory before going forth with my own theory, I found DirectoryPress on the WordPress Plugin repository. This is not a plugin. It is a theme and you cannot get it to work unless you go to the DirectoryPress site and purchase a VIP version. Since I last wrote this article, it has been removed.
How clever of the developer to slip that in. A better thing to know that WordPress does indeed moderator the plugin directory and after being informed, they did.
So, what can be learned from this?
1. Do not download obvious plugins that are labeled unfinished.
2. Check the ratings, number of downloads, the developer’s site, and version compatibility. This will prevent you from accidentally unleashing a plugin that is broken.
3. Do not update your plugins immediately. If you notice there is an update, go to the developer’s website to see if there have been any comments by user’s that have found any faults in the plugin.
4. You might want to have a test WordPress version to check plugins out before installing on your live site. OR… you might want to test the plugin on a beta site and test to make sure it is working before installing to the live site.
Please do remember that most of the plugins offered in the WordPress Plugin Repository are free and you might not get support right away. The majority of the plugins have been put together without expecting anything back, so if it is not working, do not harass the developer. Just give them a friendly note.
I wonder how often the plugin directory is looked through and moderated to throw out these types of plugins? Have you stumbled upon unfinished plugins or perhaps have been misled about a plugin?
Great advice Nile. I agree with your thoughts and definitely those plugins should be temporary avoided until they finished and confirm to be useful. But many plugins lovers are still trying to download those plugins deliberately. I will try to spread the words. Thanks for sharing the advice.