Playground Builder

• Contributors: akirk
• Tags: blueprints, demo, sandbox, developer-tools, wp-app
• Requires at least: 6.0
• Requires PHP: 7.4
• Tested up to: 7.1
• Stable tag: 1.0.0
• License: GPL-2.0-or-later
• License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Build shareable WordPress Playground links: pick plugins, themes, WordPress and PHP versions, a language and a start page, then copy the link.

Description

Try it in WordPress Playground

Try it in OpenStation — the same app opened in desktop mode with the OpenStation plugin.

Playground Builder is a WordPress app for creating shareable WordPress Playground links. It helps you build a Playground configuration by searching WordPress.org plugins and themes, choosing runtime settings, and copying either a Query API link or a full blueprint link.

Instead of hand-writing blueprint JSON, you pick what you want in a two-panel interface: search the plugin and theme directories on the left, watch your build take shape on the right, and copy the finished link when it looks right. That link boots a throwaway WordPress in the browser with exactly those plugins and that theme installed — useful for bug reports, demos, workshop handouts, support replies, and "try my plugin" buttons in a README.

The app picks the simplest link format that can express your build. As long as everything comes from WordPress.org, it emits a short Query API URL. The moment you add a package that Playground cannot resolve by slug — a GitHub or GitLab repository, or a plain ZIP URL — it switches to a blueprint link and tells you why. You can inspect the generated blueprint JSON at any time before copying.

The app is powered by the WpApp framework, so it lives at /playground-builder/ on your site, separate from your theme, while still using WordPress routing, translations, and plugin loading. Nothing you select is installed on the site that runs Playground Builder; the selection only describes the sandbox that the link will launch.

Features

• Search WordPress.org plugins and themes.
• Add multiple plugins and one active theme to a Playground build.
• Use GitHub, GitLab, or ZIP URLs for custom plugins and themes.
• Choose WordPress version, PHP version, site language, and landing page.
• Generate WordPress Playground Query API links for simple builds.
• Generate blueprint links when custom package sources require them.
• Preview the generated blueprint JSON.
• Copy the finished Playground link.
• Includes fallback plugin and theme suggestions when wordpress.org cannot be reached.
• Translatable with the playground-builder text domain.

Installation

1. Upload the playground-builder directory to wp-content/plugins/.
2. Run composer install if the vendor/ directory is not already present.
3. Activate Playground Builder in WordPress.
4. Visit /playground-builder/.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the app appear?

The app is available at /playground-builder/ after activation.

Does this install plugins or themes on my WordPress site?

No. The selected plugins and themes are used to generate a WordPress Playground link. They are installed inside the launched Playground environment, not on the site running Playground Builder.

Why are there two link modes?

Simple builds can use Playground's Query API parameters. Builds that include custom Git or ZIP sources need a blueprint, so Playground Builder switches to a blueprint link when required.

Can I use plugins or themes that are not on WordPress.org?

Yes. Paste a GitHub, GitLab, or ZIP URL into the search field. Playground Builder will add it to the generated blueprint as a custom package source.

Does it need an internet connection?

Searching queries the WordPress.org plugin and theme directories, so results need a connection. If wordpress.org cannot be reached, the app falls back to a small built-in list of well-known plugins and themes so you can still assemble a build.

Can I build more complicated blueprints?

For steps beyond installing packages and setting versions, the app links out to the Playground Step Library, which covers the full blueprint step vocabulary.

Screenshots

1. The Playground Builder app for searching plugins and themes, selecting runtime options, and copying a Playground link.
2. Choosing plugins on a phone: the search field above the results, each with the button that adds it to the blueprint.

Changelog

1.0.0

• Initial release.

Development

composer install

The main plugin file is playground-builder.php, the WpApp template is in templates/index.php, and the app assets are in assets/.