Version Checking / Updating

[A Former User]

I'm just wondering how you're all managing in-app updates (either for the entire plugin, or individual expansions)?

I recently wrote a method that (warning: ugly) crawls the text on a specific web-page on my Shopify Store for the text "Current Version: X" then plays out some math against the current version (either hardcoded in my Interface script for the main plugin, or in a manifest file per expansion).

Obviously this is a gross way to handle it but I'm pretty green when it comes to stuff like this, and I plan on switching to Gumroad so I'm just curious if there's better ways to check for a latest version, and typically what that sort of process involves, before just going ahead and re-adding "Current Version: X" to every product store page lol

Cheers :)

[d.healey]

I have two methods. For my host plugin I pull the tags from my git repo. Each time I make a new release it gets a new tag.

For the expansions I have a Wordpress/WooCommerce plugin I made that pulls the version numbers from the file names of my downloadable products.

[orange]

@iamlamprey

In the plugins, I am using manual check method to prevent the server load. On the server, there is a JSON file that holds the latest version number, and the plugin compares the version numbers.

I am also using the same JSON files with an html code to fetch & show the latest product versions on the website automatically.

[A Former User]

@orange I've decided to go the JSON route (it seems like every time I have a problem JSON is somehow the answer lol)

With regards to server overload & download speeds, reckon it's fine to host these on Dropbox or Github? Trying to get as far away from Google Cloud as possible :)

[orange]

@iamlamprey I haven't checked Dropbox's https://........?dl=1 direct download link method for this purpose yet. If it works, then it would be ok.

But a JSON file in the following format takes up approx. 100 bytes of space, not even 1 kilobyte. It is a very small file compared to Woocommerce's complex and space-consuming JSON data. So it wouldn't cause overload issue even if you put these on your server.

{
  "Name": "Your Plugin",
  "MajorVers": "1",
  "MinorVers" : "0",
  "MaintenanceVers" : "0"
}

[A Former User]

@orange Yeah sweet it should be fine then, thanks for that!

[Matt_SF]

@orange said in Version Checking / Updating:

{
  "Name": "Your Plugin",
  "MajorVers": "1",
  "MinorVers" : "0",
  "MaintenanceVers" : "0"
}

@iamlamprey i'm using the same kind of JSON data but I've created a custom wordpress)endpoint which echoes the data on plugins launch and displays a notification dot on the GUI. IDK if you can do that with shopify.

[A Former User]

@Matt_SF said in Version Checking / Updating:

IDK if you can do that with shopify.

good thing I'm moving to Gumroad ;)

[Matt_SF]

@iamlamprey said in Version Checking / Updating:

good thing I'm moving to Gumroad ;)

I started with gumroad but quickly move to WordPress as I was not satisfied with it. It works yes, and you don't have to worry about anything but posting your products but (IIRC, it was years ago) they take a percentage of course plus they charge legal taxes, which can be quite an amount - that said, it depends on the prices of your products and if you plan to live of it or if you just want to make extra money... Be sure to take all the details into account. If you have questions maybe I can help.

[A Former User]

@Matt_SF I appreciate that :)

Yeah the main reason for the switch is just my hatred of keeping track of bills, and the fact that they provide hosting for "free", I'm not making enough to justify all the shopify plugins and cloud storage fees atm

[Matt_SF]

@iamlamprey no problem! It's just a matter of calculation.
With a wordpress solution you can use a minimal setup and keep your expenses very low. From the top of my head, I would say 100$/year for security, and (for example) a host provider like Hostinger offers small hosting solutions for 100/150$/year, even less. If you have little traffic on your website, it can get you started.
About keeping track of your sales, this is done automatically within woocommerce, and you can of course export your data to an excel sheet.

(others please correct me if I'm forgetting something)

[d.healey]

I started with gumroad too. It is much cheaper to host your own solution but also more work. Another option you might want to consider is PayHip, it's just like gumroad but last time I checked it was a little cheaper.

[orange]

@iamlamprey Wordpress-Woocommerce is one of the best price/performance solutions out there. WooCommerce powers more than 30% of all e-commerce websites all over the World.

However, one of the most critical tasks when using this system is to constantly update it. If the update is not done well, hacking is inevitable, because there are too many Wordpress sites, hackers primarily attack these systems. With updates, current vulnerabilities are continually being fixed.

So Keep updating your website to make it secure and compatible - Make your website fast with premium Theme & high quality WP plugins - use a good Hosting Service - use a Firewall WP plugin.

[Matt_SF]

@orange said in Version Checking / Updating:

use a Firewall WP plugin.

I use wordfence, do you use something else?

[d.healey]

use a Firewall WP plugin.

This is a last line of defense so don't rely on it alone.

If you're using managed hosting then a lot of the server side security will be handled for you - but you'll pay for it.

If you have your own host (I'm using vultr) then the server side security is mostly up to you, so take the time to set it up. Even if you have the greatest wordpress firewall plugin it will do nothing if your server is an easy vector.

Also use 2FA on everything if you aren't already, and use a password manager so you even you don't know your passwords :)

[orange]

@Matt_SF said in Version Checking / Updating:

I use wordfence, do you use something else?

Yes I use it too.

@d-healey said in Version Checking / Updating:

If you have your own host (I'm using vultr) then the server side security is mostly up to you, so take the time to set it up.

Having your own server system is the biggest vulnerability. You can't have the front security systems of a good hosting company (many of which are expensive, high-tech services) on your own personal host or server. So don't rely on that setup. It is wise to pay a little price rather than incur much greater damage later on.

This is a last line of defense so don't rely on it alone.

It is not the only one defense, but it is one of them.

• Firewall blocks repeated failed account logins and brute force attacks.
• Updates will prevent vulnerability/compatibility issues.
• A good Hosting company takes a lot of front security services for you.
• 2FA should be used for every user, not only for admin.

[d.healey]

@orange

Having your own server system is the biggest vulnerability. You can't have the front security systems of a good hosting company

I use a cloud-host which has some of the advantages of both a managed service but with more freedom to do your own stuff (if you know what you're doing). With vultr you can easily install different front end interfaces. I use CyberPanel, but there's plesk and cpanel, etc. For a managed version of vultr there is Cloudways which is pretty good value.

[orange]

@d-healey I am using Kinsta. It is a cloud based system, and it eliminates the need to use CyberPanel or cPanel. It is a very fast system designed and optimized/customized only for Wordpress, which is incredibly fast compared to cPanel and other Hosting companies. It also has a Staging environment that allows you to try and see it on the server before updating or modifying it.

[d.healey]

@orange

It is a serverless system

Tell me more.

Edit: I just took a look at their site. Looks like cloudways but more shiny.

[A Former User]

y'all out here playing buzzword bingo with your fancy plugins