How to Create a WordPress Plugin with ChatGPT

Hello, fellow WordPress aficionados! Do you want to create a WordPress plugin but are unsure where to begin? Don’t worry; I’ll use my knowledge to help you through the procedure. When equipped with the proper tools and skills, creating a WordPress plugin can be a pleasant and rewarding endeavour. So let’s get started with the steps!

Can you create a WordPress plugin with ChatGPT?

Initially, I shared the same query. ChatGPT lacks the capability to independently produce a fully functional WordPress plugin. Nevertheless, it can certainly assist you throughout the development process by offering code snippets and guidance.

Developing a WordPress plugin necessitates proficiency in programming, a deep understanding of the WordPress platform, and familiarity with languages like PHP, JavaScript, and CSS. While ChatGPT cannot generate an entire WordPress plugin for you, it can prove helpful by providing suggestions and support during the development journey. For instance, you can utilize ChatGPT to generate code snippets for specific plugin features or seek advice on resolving coding challenges.

To summarize, ChatGPT can serve as a valuable resource in the creation of a WordPress plugin, but it cannot substitute the need for programming skills and expertise in WordPress development.

How to create a WordPress plugin with ChatGPT?

You can choose any type of plugin you like. The steps below are just an example of my experience using Chatgpt while creating a WordPress plugin.

EXAMPLE 1: Creating a plugin that automatically replies to comments

Step 1: Plan your plugin

It’s critical to have a clear understanding of what you want your plugin to do before you begin developing. For instance, I want to develop a plugin that responds to comments on my website automatically. I’ll refer to it as the plugin for auto-reply comments.

Step 2: Set up your development environment

You’ll need a development environment, which consists of a code editor and a local or remote web server running WordPress, before you can begin coding. Any well-known coding editor is acceptable, including Visual Studio coding and Sublime Text.

Step 3: Create your plugin folder and PHP file

Name a new folder “auto-reply-comment” in the “wp-content/plugins” directory. Make a new PHP file called “auto-reply-comment.php” inside that folder.

Step 4: Add header information

Add the following header information to your PHP file:

<?php
/**
* Plugin Name: Auto Reply Comment
* Plugin URI: http://yourpluginurl.com/
* Description: Automatically replies to comments on your website.
* Version: 1.0
* Author: Your Name
* Author URI: http://yourname.com/
**/

Step 5: Write your code

Now it’s time to start coding! For our example, we’ll use the WordPress comment_post hook to trigger our auto-reply function whenever a new comment is posted. Here’s an example code snippet:

function auto_reply_comment($comment_id) {
    $comment = get_comment($comment_id);
    $author_email = $comment->comment_author_email;
    $reply_content = "Thank you for your comment!";
    
    wp_mail($author_email, "Auto Reply Comment", $reply_content);
}

add_action('comment_post', 'auto_reply_comment');

This code gets the author’s email from the new comment, creates a reply message, and sends it using the WordPress wp_mail() function.

Step 6: Test your plugin

After writing your code, it’s crucial to thoroughly test it. Make verify your plugin is operating as intended by activating it from the WordPress dashboard. By posting a comment on your website, you may check to see if it works by looking for an auto-reply email.

Step 7: Submit your plugin

If you’re satisfied with your plugin, you can either share it independently or add it to the WordPress plugin repository. A wonderful place to share your plugin with the community and solicit comments is the WordPress plugin repository.

The popular plugins Yoast SEO, Contact Form 7, Jetpack, and WooCommerce are a some to look at for ideas. These plugins provide a variety of features, from online store creation to search engine optimisation for your website.

EXAMPLE 2: Creating a plugin that automatically posts links on social media platforms

Steps 1&2 will remain the same as given above. Do the 1st and 2nd steps from above and then continue doing the following steps.

Step 3: Create Your Plugin Folder and PHP File

Create a new folder in the “wp-content/plugins” directory and name it “social-media-poster”. Create a new PHP file inside that folder and name it “social-media-poster.php”.

Step 4: Add Header Information

Add the following header information to your PHP file:

<?php
/**
* Plugin Name: Social Media Poster
* Plugin URI: http://yourpluginurl.com/
* Description: Automatically posts links to your articles on social media platforms.
* Version: 1.0
* Author: Your Name
* Author URI: http://yourname.com/
**/

Step 5: Write Your Code

Now it’s time to start coding! To post links to social media platforms, you’ll need to use the APIs provided by those platforms. You’ll need to obtain API keys from each platform and include them in your plugin. Here’s an example code snippet that shows how to post a link to Twitter using the Twitter API:

function post_to_twitter($post_id) {
    // get the post object
    $post = get_post($post_id);
    
    // get the post title and permalink
    $title = $post->post_title;
    $permalink = get_permalink($post_id);
    
    // build the tweet message
    $message = "New article: " . $title . " " . $permalink;
    
    // post the tweet
    // replace $consumer_key, $consumer_secret, $access_token, and $access_token_secret with your own keys
    require_once 'twitter-api-php/autoload.php';
    use Abraham\TwitterOAuth\TwitterOAuth;
    $connection = new TwitterOAuth($consumer_key, $consumer_secret, $access_token, $access_token_secret);
    $connection->post("statuses/update", ["status" => $message]);
}

add_action('publish_post', 'post_to_twitter');

When a new article is published, this code uses the publish_post hook to activate the post_to_twitter Function. It obtains the article’s title and permalink before creating a tweet message and sending it to Twitter via the Twitter API.

You can post links to other social media networks like Facebook and Instagram by using the appropriate APIs.

Step 6: Test Your Plugin

After writing your code, it’s crucial to thoroughly test it. Make verify your plugin operates as intended by activating it from the WordPress dashboard. Try it out by adding a new article to your website and checking to see whether it gets shared on social media.

Step 7: Submit Your Plugin

If you’re happy with your plugin, you can submit it to the WordPress plugin repository or distribute it. The WordPress plugin repository is a great way to share your plugin with the community and get feedback.

How to create a WordPress plugin without coding?

It is indeed possible to create a WordPress plugin without coding by utilizing website builders and plugin builders that offer a drag-and-drop interface. The following steps outline the process of creating a WordPress plugin without coding:

1. Select a plugin builder: Explore the various online plugin builders available, such as PluginPress, AppPresser, or WordPress Plugin Maker, and choose the one that aligns with your requirements.
2. Sign up or create an account: Once you have decided on a plugin builder, sign up or create an account on the platform to access its features.
3. Choose plugin features: Determine the functionalities you wish to include in your plugin. For instance, if your goal is to add a contact form to your website, select the contact form feature from the available options.
4. Customize the plugin: Personalize the plugin according to your preferences. This entails selecting colors, fonts, and other design elements to ensure a tailored appearance.
5. Preview and publish the plugin: Before making your plugin available, preview it to ensure that everything functions as intended. Once satisfied with the outcome, publish the plugin on your WordPress website.

It is important to acknowledge that while creating a WordPress plugin without coding can be advantageous for simple plugins, it may not be suitable for complex plugins that require advanced functionality. In such cases, it may be more beneficial to hire a developer or consider learning coding skills yourself.