How to make updates for free plugins and extensions compatible with Watchful

Watchful automatically detects when software updates are available for the add-ons/extensions installed on websites. 

It does this by examining sites for compatible software.

For developers, it is easy to make your software updates compatible with Watchful and available to all Watchers. Details are provided below for various types of software.

Free WordPress plugins on wordpress.org

For WordPress developers, simply ensure that your plugin is compatible with and listed on the official WordPress plugin directory at wordpress.org. 

Free Joomla extensions

For cost-free extensions, simply follow the official documentation for supporting the Joomla updater which applies for Joomla 2.5 and greater:

• https://docs.joomla.org/J3.x:Developing_an_MVC_Component/Adding_an_update_server
• https://docs.joomla.org/Deploying_an_Update_Server

Watchful does not support updates for plugins below Joomla 2.5.

Paid plugins & extensions

We currently support updates for premium WordPress plugins and commercial Joomla extensions through our centralized license manager. We have prepared separate FAQ that describes how developers should proceed to add support for their plugins/extensions to the license manager.