Plugin PR FAQ (Flo edit)
PR FAQ: Common Ground Plugin Framework
What are we announcing?
We're announcing the launch of Common Ground's plugin system, a major advancement in our platform architecture that enables developers and community members to create custom extensions for the platform. This new system opens up a world of possibilities for customization and new features, allowing the community to actively shape the future of Common Ground.
Who is the user for this?
The plugin framework serves multiple user groups:
Primary users:
- Developers within communities who want to extend Common Ground's functionality
- Technical project admins looking to customize the platform for their specific community needs
- Ecosystem partners who want to integrate their services with Common Ground
Secondary beneficiaries:
- All Common Ground community members who will benefit from enhanced functionality
- Project owners seeking specialized tools for community management and engagement
- Communities with unique workflows that current features don't fully address
Problem
While Common Ground provides powerful core functionality for communities, we recognize some limitations:
- Different communities have unique needs that a one-size-fits-all approach can't address
- The core team can only build so many features at once, creating bottlenecks
- Communities often need specialized integrations with external tools and services
- Users currently can't customize their experience beyond what's offered
- Value creation is limited to what the core platform provides
Solution
Our plugin system solves these challenges by:
- Extensible Architecture: Plugins are rendered within secure iframes, isolating them from the core application while allowing for customization.
- Developer Resources: We've released a JavaScript plugin skeleton via npm that provides a starting point for plugin development.
- Standardized Communication: A documented postMessage API enables plugins to communicate with Common Ground, access data, and trigger actions.
- Community Empowerment: The plugin system transforms Common Ground from a product into a platform, allowing the community to actively contribute to its evolution.
- Future Growth Path: We've designed the system with expandability in mind, with plans to continuously enhance the API's capabilities.
How it works
The plugin system operates through these key components:
- Iframe Rendering: Plugins exist within secure iframes, providing isolation from the core application for security and stability.
- postMessage API: Communication between plugins and Common Ground happens through a standardized postMessage API.
- Developer Tools: The JavaScript plugin skeleton available via npm provides the foundation for interacting with Common Ground.
- Deployment Model: Initially, plugins will be developed and deployed through a controlled process, with plans to streamline this in the future.
- Community Channels: Dedicated channels like #Product and #Product Council will support plugin developers and gather feedback.
FAQ
How secure is the plugin system?