Plugin guidelines.

These guidelines set out what a plugin needs to be listed in the Orbit Plugin Store. Following them keeps the store worth trusting for merchants and helps your plugin through review.

Overview

The Orbit Plugin Store is where developers list plugins that extend Orbit Commerce stores. We want every plugin in it to be one that merchants can trust.

Every plugin submitted to the store is reviewed against the standards on this page before it is listed.

These guidelines may be updated from time to time. Check back before each submission to make sure your plugin meets the current requirements.

Quality standards

Plugins must meet high standards to be listed in the store. We look at the following.

Functionality

  • The plugin must work as described, without errors or crashes
  • Every advertised feature must work in full
  • It must be compatible with the current version of Orbit Commerce
  • It must not slow the store down or hurt page load times
  • It should handle edge cases gracefully without breaking

User experience

  • A clear, easy interface
  • A design consistent with the Orbit Commerce dashboard
  • Helpful error messages and validation feedback
  • Accessible to people with disabilities (WCAG 2.1 AA)
  • Responsive design that works on every screen size

Value

  • The plugin must give merchants clear value
  • Features should not duplicate what Orbit Commerce already does
  • Pricing must be fair and clearly explained
  • Offer a free trial or a free plan where you can

Technical requirements

Every plugin must meet these technical requirements, so that it is secure, fast and compatible.

Security

  • All data must be sent securely over HTTPS
  • User data must be handled in line with GDPR and other privacy law
  • No storing of sensitive payment information
  • Proper input validation and sanitisation to prevent XSS and SQL injection
  • Authentication tokens stored and sent securely
  • Third-party API keys never exposed to the browser

Performance

  • Must not add more than 500ms to page load time
  • Efficient database queries with proper indexing
  • Lazy loading for anything that is not needed straight away
  • Caching where it helps
  • Minimal impact on Core Web Vitals

Code quality

  • Clean, well-documented code that follows good practice
  • Proper error handling and logging
  • No deprecated functions, and no libraries with known vulnerabilities
  • Semantic versioning for every release (for example 1.0.0)
  • A changelog for every version

Compatibility

  • Compatible with the latest version of Orbit Commerce
  • Works in the latest two versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge

Content guidelines

Your listing is how merchants find and judge your plugin. Follow these guidelines to make it work for you.

Plugin name

  • Must describe the plugin's main job accurately
  • Cannot include "Orbit" or "Orbit Commerce" unless you are officially partnered with us
  • Must be unique, and not confusingly close to another plugin
  • Cannot contain special characters or excessive capitals

Description

  • A clear, accurate description of what the plugin does
  • Every key feature and what it does for the merchant
  • Any limits or requirements
  • Setup steps, or a link to your documentation
  • No misleading claims or exaggerated benefits
  • Correct grammar and spelling

Screenshots

  • At least 3 high-quality screenshots (1200x800px recommended)
  • Screenshots must show the plugin actually working
  • No placeholder or mock-up images
  • Images must be current and match the submitted version

Pricing

  • Every fee must be clear up front
  • No hidden charges or unexpected costs
  • Subscription terms must be clearly stated
  • Your refund policy must be stated
  • A free plugin cannot charge for its core features
  • Set prices before VAT: VAT is added, where it applies, when the merchant pays

Prohibited content

The following content and features are not allowed.

Not allowed

  • Malware, spyware or any malicious code
  • Features that breach user privacy without consent
  • Cryptocurrency mining or blockchain activity without clear disclosure
  • Adult content, gambling or illegal activity
  • Hate speech, discrimination or harmful content
  • Material that infringes copyright, or pirated content
  • Plugins that exist only to show advertising
  • Anything that gets round Orbit Commerce licensing
  • Scraping or harvesting merchant or customer data
  • Impersonating other developers or brands
  • False claims about partnerships or endorsements
  • Plugins that need security features turned off

Support requirements

Good support matters to merchants and to your plugin's reputation.

Required

  • Reply to support requests within two working days
  • Documentation for installing and setting up the plugin
  • An FAQ or knowledge base for common questions
  • A way for merchants to report bugs and problems
  • Prompt updates for security vulnerabilities

Recommended

  • Live chat or a ticket system for support
  • Video tutorials for complex features
  • Regular updates and improvements
  • Listening to merchant feedback and feature requests
  • Replying to reviews of your plugin

Review process

Every plugin you submit is reviewed before it is listed in the store. This is what happens.

Only listed plugins are reviewed. An unlisted plugin, shared through install links, stays out of the store.

  1. 1

    Submission

    Submit your plugin from your partner dashboard, with its listing details and at least 3 screenshots.

  2. 2

    Completeness check

    Your partner dashboard checks the listing is complete before it lets you submit: a name, both descriptions, a version, a category and the screenshots.

  3. 3

    Review

    We test your submission for functionality, security and performance, then approve it or email you what to change.

  4. 4

    Decision

    An approved plugin is listed in the store straight away. If you are asked to change something, you can revise it and resubmit at any time.

Updates: when you make a new version current, every store with your plugin moves to it. If the new version asks for more permissions, each store has to approve them first.

Submit your plugin for review.

If your plugin meets these guidelines, we would love to have it in the store.

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