Plugin Development

Here is a clean, modular **Scope of Work (SOW)** template tailored for custom WordPress plugin development. You can adapt the items in brackets to match your project's exact features. --- ## **Scope of Work: Custom WordPress Plugin Development** ### **1. Project Overview & Goals** Develop a custom, lightweight, and secure WordPress plugin to provide `[Core Purpose, e.g., automated employee reward tracking / specialized custom post type query]`. The plugin will integrate seamlessly with the existing WordPress architecture without altering core theme files. --- ### **2. Core Features & Functional Requirements** * **Plugin Setup & Architecture:** * Standard WordPress plugin structure compliant with WP coding standards. * Activation/Deactivation hooks with proper database setup and cleanup routines. * Role-based permissions (Restricted to `Administrator` or custom user roles). * **Admin Dashboard / Settings Page:** * Custom admin menu item under `[e.g., Settings / Tools / Custom Top Level]`. * Options page for configuring `[e.g., API keys, default post counts, display preferences]`. * Sanitized input handling and nonce validation on all form submissions. * **Front-End Integration:** * **Shortcodes & Blocks:** Creation of `[ [custom_display_shortcode] ]` or custom Gutenberg Block to render output on any page/post. * **Styling & Assets:** Enqueued CSS/JS files scoped strictly to pages using the plugin features (ensuring zero impact on sitewide page load speeds). * **Data & Backend Management:** * *Database:* `[Option A: Custom database table created on activation / Option B: WP Options API / Option C: Custom Post Types & Meta]`. * *AJAX/REST API:* Asynchronous requests handled via `wp_ajax_*` or standard WP REST API endpoints for seamless UI updates. --- ### **3. Technical & Performance Standards** * **Security:** Full implementation of Nonces, Input Sanitization (`sanitize_text_field`), and Output Escaping (`esc_html`, `esc_attr`). * **Performance:** Optimized SQL queries, leveraging WordPress Transients/Caching where applicable. * **Compatibility:** Compatible with WordPress 6.x+, PHP 8.1+, and major page builders (if applicable). --- ### **4. Out of Scope (Explicit Exclusions)** * Modification or styling of existing theme templates outside plugin shortcodes/blocks. * Third-party plugin conflict resolution for non-standard or deprecated plugins. * Ongoing monthly maintenance or feature additions post-delivery (unless covered under a separate SLA). --- ### **5. Deliverables & Milestones** | Milestone | Deliverable | Target Timeline | | --- | --- | --- | | **1. Architecture & Setup** | Functional skeleton plugin, DB migrations, and admin settings page. | `[e.g., 3 Days]` | | **2. Feature Logic** | Core front-end shortcodes/blocks, backend logic, and API/Database integration. | `[e.g., 1 Week]` | | **3. Testing & Handover** | QA testing, bug fixes, zip file deliverable, and basic installation docs. | `[e.g., 2 Days]` | ---