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manifest / updates / wordpress-git-updater

Git Updater self-updates

Simple plugin to sync wordpress plugins from Git Repos

by Rune Brimer · github.com/chit112/wordpress-git-updater · website

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Install

No release zip yet. The repository archive installs, but the folder name will carry the branch suffix and updates will not flow:

wp plugin install https://github.com/chit112/wordpress-git-updater/archive/refs/heads/main.zip

Ships its own WordPress updater (built-in updater), so new versions show up under Dashboard → Updates.

Readme github.com/chit112/wordpress-git-updater ↗

Git Updater for WordPress

Git Updater allows you to easily install and update WordPress plugins directly from GitHub repositories, supporting both public and private repositories.

Features

  • Private Repository Support: Authenticate using a GitHub Personal Access Token (PAT).
  • Branch Selection: Install plugins from any specific branch (defaults to main).
  • Auto-Updates: Integrates with WordPress's native update system.
  • Robust Installation: Handles filesystem permissions automatically with native PHP fallbacks.
  • Verbose Logging: Debug installation issues with a built-in log viewer.

Installation

  1. Download the git-updater plugin zip: Download Latest Zip
  2. Go to your WordPress Dashboard > Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin.
  3. Upload and activate the plugin.

Configuration

1. Generate a GitHub Token

To access private repositories (and to increase API limits for public ones), you need a GitHub Personal Access Token.

  1. Go to GitHub Settings > Developer Settings > Personal Access Tokens > Tokens (classic).
  2. Click Generate new token (classic).
  3. Give it a Note (e.g., "WordPress Git Updater").
  4. Select the repo scope (for private repositories) or public_repo (for public only).
  5. Click Generate token.
  6. Copy the token immediately.

2. Configure the Plugin

  1. In your WordPress Dashboard, go to Settings > Git Updater.
  2. Paste your GitHub Token in the "GitHub Access Token" field.
  3. Click Save Settings.

Usage

Installing Plugins

  1. Go to Settings > Git Updater > Install New Plugin.
  2. Repository: Enter the full URL (e.g., https://github.com/Let-s-Roll/wordpress-admin-ui) or owner/repo.
  3. Branch: (Optional) Leave empty for main or specify a branch.
  4. Target Slug: The folder name you want for the plugin (e.g., lets-roll-admin).
  5. Click Install Plugin.
  6. The plugin will be installed and automatically added to the monitored list.

Managing Monitored Plugins

The Installed & Monitored Plugins list is read-only to ensure safety and integrity.

  • Monitoring: All installed plugins in this list are automatically checked for updates.
  • Changing Branch: If you need to switch branches (e.g., test develop), Remove the plugin from the list and Re-install it with the desired branch.
  • Removing: Click Remove to stop monitoring a plugin (this does not delete the plugin files).

Updating Plugins

Once a repository is added to the "Monitored Repositories" list:

  1. The plugin will check GitHub for updates every 12 hours (standard WordPress interval).
  2. If the Version header in the remote main branch is higher than your installed version, an update will appear in Dashboard > Updates.
  3. Click update just like a normal plugin!

Troubleshooting

  • Installation Failed?: Check the "Installation Logs" text area at the bottom of the Settings page.
  • GitHub Token: Ensure your token has the correct repo permissions.
  • File Permissions: The plugin attempts multiple methods (WP Filesystem, Native PHP) to handle file moves. If it fails, ensure your wp-content/plugins folder is writable by the web server.

Author

Rune Brimer https://github.com/chit112/wordpress-git-updater