I had this issue on a previous host and discovered this plugin – AutoFTP - which automatically completes the FTP information whenever you try to install plugins and themes. Are you able to install plugins using the standard WordPress dashboard under “Add New” or do you still have to put the FTP information in when you do that? If you have to put that info in for that process to complete, this plugin will also make that process easier.

Let me know how you get along on this. Looking forward to your feedback.

Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. In case it is unclear to any of our readers, Dan is one of the lead developers for PluginBot. If anyone tries PluginBot and comes up with additional suggestions, please be sure to leave those at their support desk, but also be sure to comment here with them. I have found that one idea can spur another idea that’s even better than the original. That’s what makes the WordPress community so strong and valuable – so many people collaborate on projects making them better in the end.

I plan on implementing some of your suggestions in our next PluginBot update.

I had actually looked at WP Quick Deploy (or a similar one) in the past. My biggest turn off to it was that I didn’t get to choose the plugins that were in the list. I could make suggestions, but that may or may not affect the list. I use some really obscure plugins – or at least I don’t find that many people using them – and they were not on the list when I looked before or now. I guess I should chalk that up to me just being a little different anyway.

As for Plugin Central, it fell in that category that two developer friends of mine fell in to. You either have to type in the name or type in the URL of the plugin in the repository. I tried the two that my friends developed and it was more hassle than it was worth to me. One thing that I noticed about Plugin Central was that it does notify you when a plugin needs updating and that is a true extra value. PluginBot does not do that and it would be a nice feature. But, we still come back to the same issue as others that I’ve seen – you have to either type in the name or the URL for it to find your plugin.

While PluginBot is not perfect, it is very close. Perfection would be to have the ability to search the WP Repository and then tick off several boxes of ones that you want. Ultimately, it would be nice to be able to set up “sub-folders” for when I’m testing many plugins that do a similar job to see what works. But, I’m still dreaming. ;)

I appreciate you mentioning these because I had actually forgotten about them. This will help preserve their mention for future readers. If you want to look at them as well, here are the links in the WP Repository.

Plugin Central
WP Quick Deploy

When looking these up, I also found:
WP Quick Deploy Revisited but there seemed to be little difference in it either.

Glad you got something valuable out of this article.

Just when I think I know everything about WordPress, I guess I should think again.

I feel that way every day. Every time I think I have a handle on things, someone comes out with something that tips the scales on me. I’ve got developer friends that are feeding me tips and tricks that I didn’t realize WordPress could do. I guess I should because it’s PHP, but it still amazes me what a powerful platform we have at our disposal.

Keep up the great work yourself and be sure to keep coming back. I’ve got about a dozen articles in various stages of completion that I think will tip the scales for our readers as well. Looking forward to hearing more from you.