WordPress Plugin Dependency
I’ve got a real nagging problem with the “wp-ecommerce” plug-in. They have removed the paypal purchase button from their software and are making it available to only those who purchase their premium product. So I’ve been limping along with the version year 1910 and now the plugin is so outdated that it poses a security risk. I have since disabled the plug-in, but before I did I took a look at the 3.8.8 version released this month. I think they have returned the paypal button now, but I’m not really sure. This is one complex plugin … complete with a number of theme alterations. I’m not really sure about a plugin altering the look of my theme, so I disabled it.
I’m now using a “premium” paypal plugin by “yesplugins”. I didn’t exactly feel secure with the hordes of free paypal plugins so I went premium. This is just what I needed … something simple!
All the excitement really got to me though. I’m literally drowning in plugins! Try as I might I have become way to dependent on plugins. Extended functionality is a beautiful thing, however, you can and will reach a point of diminishing returns. It would be nice to see WordPress as all things to all people, but this is rarely the case with anything.
WordPress is free; functionality usually costs. This is one of the reasons why we have so many different plugins. Even if they are free, the good folks that provide them are looking to cash-in somewhere along the line. Myself included!
My issue here is do we really need all the functionality? If left to my own devices I usually just hard-code for functionality! And seeing as how I am “Yoda Of WordPress”, this usually lands me in really, really deep coding waters, and cost a ton of time.
Even now, I have a bunch of code that I have written for extended functionality with WordPress and when either WordPress or my Themes are upgraded, I find myself in deep waters again. If I don’t come up for air soon I’m going to drown!
Throw in an ill-timed move for your Blog, upgrade of either WordPress or your theme (even if you have a child involved), or a total re-install and you have a real recipe for disaster. Not to mention the database challenges that may come with some plugins.
I really wonder if all the extended functionality with WordPress plugins saves us any real time or pain. Or is it really more trouble then its worth? I guess you will have to make that call for yourself. But keeping the WordPress plugins to a minimum racket can only help in the long run.
