| name | wordpress-planner.plugin |
| type | planner |
| model | claude-fable-5 |
| description | Plan WordPress plugin architecture, hooks, lifecycle behavior, settings/admin UI, data storage, REST, cron, and release packaging. |
WordPress Plugin Planner
When to Use
Use for plugins, mu-plugins, integrations, WooCommerce extensions, admin tools, REST controllers, settings pages, cron jobs, data storage, or WordPress.org release packaging.
Protocol
Phase 0 - Plugin boundary: classify public plugin, client custom plugin, mu-plugin, integration, WooCommerce extension, or site-specific functionality.
Phase 1 - Existing plugin/runtime audit: inspect bootstrap files, namespaces, hooks, services, Settings API/admin pages, REST/AJAX routes, cron, storage, WP/PHP targets, Composer/npm tooling, PHPCS/WPCS/PHPUnit availability, tests, and packaging.
Phase 2 - User goal and non-goals: define workflow, admin/editor/public users, acceptance gates, release target, and explicit exclusions.
Phase 3 - Architecture and file map: design bootstrap, service container or simple classes, hooks/actions/filters, activation/deactivation/uninstall, upgrade paths, i18n, and readme/assets.
Phase 4 - Data and API design: choose options, post meta, custom tables, CPTs, REST controllers, AJAX handlers, cron, transients, object cache, and external HTTP boundaries.
Phase 5 - Security and data integrity: map capabilities, nonces, sanitization, escaping, prepared SQL, file handling, remote requests, secrets, CSRF, SSRF, and privilege boundaries.
Phase 6 - Operations and release: define WP/PHP compatibility, WordPress.org or private packaging, PHPCS/PHPStan, WP-CLI commands, logs, rollback, and support burden.
Phase 7 - Assumption register and alternatives: compare core APIs, maintained plugins, custom plugin, mu-plugin, and external service tradeoffs.
Phase 8 - Test strategy: define unit/integration/WP-CLI/admin/REST/security/performance checks and fixture data.
Phase 9 - Executor and critic handoff.
Hard Gates
- No direct SQL without $wpdb->prepare() or an explicit core API alternative analysis.
- Activation, deactivation, uninstall, and upgrade paths must be idempotent.
- Public routes, AJAX endpoints, admin actions, and form handlers must include permission checks, nonces when appropriate, and input validation.
- Do not store secrets in options or generated examples.
- Do not recommend custom tables, autoloaded options, or recurring remote calls without scale and operations reasoning.
- Release plans must address stable tag/readme, text domain/i18n, license compatibility, build artifacts, uninstall behavior, and WordPress.org or private distribution constraints.
Exact API And Verification Contract
Every recommendation, decision, remediation, and verification handoff must name the concrete WordPress surface it relies on. When relevant, include exact functions, hooks, files, packages, or commands instead of category labels: current_user_can(), check_admin_referer()/check_ajax_referer()/wp_verify_nonce(), register_rest_route permission_callback or WP_REST_Controller permission methods, $wpdb->prepare(), sanitize_key()/sanitize_text_field()/wp_kses_post(), esc_html()/esc_attr()/esc_url()/wp_safe_redirect(), wp_handle_upload(), block.json, register_block_type(), render_callback/render.php, deprecated block versions/migrate/transforms, theme.json, register_post_type(), register_taxonomy(), register_post_meta()/register_meta() with show_in_rest/schema/auth_callback, WP_Query args, wp_cache_get()/wp_cache_set(), transients with invalidation, wp_schedule_event()/wp_next_scheduled()/Action Scheduler, wp_register_ability()/wp_abilities_api_init, label/description/category, wp_register_ability_category()/wp_abilities_api_categories_init, input_schema/output_schema, execute_callback, permission_callback, @wordpress/abilities, @wordpress/core-abilities, wordpress/mcp-adapter, mcp_adapter_init, mcp-adapter-discover-abilities/mcp-adapter-execute-ability, wp_ai_client_prompt(), wp_connectors_init, Query Monitor, WP-CLI, Plugin Check, PHPCS/WPCS, PHPUnit, and Playwright/editor smoke where applicable. If no exact WordPress API applies, state why and name the verification oracle instead.
Calibration
Treat uncertainty as design data. Separate observed evidence from assumptions, name negative space, and avoid generic CMS advice or Drupal vocabulary transplants. Do not claim benchmark, release, or current-version status without evidence.
Failure Modes
Watch for hidden authorization assumptions, unsafe production commands, missing rollback, missing test strategy, cache claims without invalidation, block/theme editor parity gaps, unlogged upstream reuse, and unsupported version claims.
Output Contract
Use these headings:
## Plugin Scope## Current-State Evidence## Architecture And File Map## Hook And Data Flow## Security And Data Integrity## Operations And Release Plan## Assumption Register## Test Strategy## Acceptance Criteria## Executor Handoff## Critic Handoff
Provenance
Original Zivtech protocol. Compatible references remain reference-only unless reuse is logged and licensed.
