How can I code WordPress plugin software updates?

Question

This question is probably suitable for all software updating. How does software updating normally work? I have developed a WordPress plugin and now I want to code the updating module. The plugin checks for new updates and if an update is available, the user is notified.

The easiest part is done. A hook to check for new updates is up and running and if a new version available, a notification is shown to the users.

Now comes the hardest part. The new version of the plugin is hosted in my server. Should I need to replace all the files with the new files or only the updated part. I will have a new version as a ZIP file. How can I implement this in WordPress?

Is your plugin open-source? If so, just submit it to the WP Subversion repository, I think updates are done automatically from that. If this is closed source, look at the WP core code for this, and modify it for your requirements. — halfer, Oct 17 '13 at 06:36
@halfer Could you please tell me which core file I have to edit — Vishnu Sureshkumar, Oct 17 '13 at 06:43
I don't know without looking at it, you'll need to do some research. Find the svn/git repo for WP, or download a copy and look through that. Also, have you searched for "Wordpress plugin update system" in a search engine? — halfer, Oct 17 '13 at 06:58

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited Aug 15 '21 at 23:03

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You should be uploading your plugin to the WordPress repository.

WordPress then tells your users about any updates and allows auto updating. Hosting it yourself is not a good way to do things.

edited Aug 15 '21 at 23:03

Peter Mortensen

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answered Nov 07 '13 at 19:39

fisicx

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score 0 · Accepted Answer · edited Aug 15 '21 at 23:04

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The answer for the question is in Automatic Updates For Private And Commercial Plugins.

edited Aug 15 '21 at 23:04

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jan 05 '14 at 13:01

Vishnu Sureshkumar

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While maybe an answer, SO aims to provide answers, not links (which potentially might go offline) to answers. – kontur Jul 21 '17 at 08:31
The link still works, but can you [summarise in your answer](https://stackoverflow.com/posts/20933845/edit) before the link breaks? (But ***without*** "Edit:", "Update:", or similar - the question/answer should appear as if it was written today.) – Peter Mortensen Aug 15 '21 at 23:04

How can I code WordPress plugin software updates?

2 Answers2