Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

WordPress Plugin Development for 2017: Build 14 Plugins Download

WordPress is an incredibly popular content management system that powers almost 35% of all websites on the internet. One of the reasons for its success is the vast array of plugins available for it, which adds to its functionality and customization options. The WordPress plugin directory has over 50,000 plugins available, and this number is growing every day.

If you have some experience with web development and are interested in building your own WordPress plugins, then this article is for you. In this article, we will be discussing WordPress plugin development for 2017 and provide you with a free download of 14 plugins that you can use as a starting point for your own projects.

Getting Started with WordPress Plugin Development

Before we dive into the details of building WordPress plugins, let's briefly go over the basics of WordPress plugin development.

A WordPress plugin is a set of instructions that add specific functionality to a WordPress website. Plugins are written in PHP, which is the server-side programming language used by WordPress. WordPress provides a set of functions and hooks that allow developers to interact with WordPress and customize its behavior.

To build a WordPress plugin, you will need a code editor and a local development environment. We recommend using a free code editor such as Visual Studio Code or Sublime Text and a local development environment such as XAMPP or MAMP. You will also need basic knowledge of PHP and WordPress development.

WordPress Plugin Development for 2017

WordPress plugin development has evolved over the years. In 2017, there were several trends that emerged in WordPress plugin development. Let's take a look at a few of them.

1. Mobile First

As mobile traffic surpassed desktop traffic, site owners began to prioritize mobile users. This led to a trend of building WordPress plugins with a mobile-first approach. This means that the plugins are designed and developed for mobile devices first, and then desktop devices.

2. Customization & Personalization

As more and more WordPress websites began to look similar, site owners started demanding more customization options. This trend led to the development of WordPress plugins that allow for more personalization and customization options.

3. Page Builders

The rise of page builders also had an impact on WordPress plugin development in 2017. More and more site owners wanted to create complex layouts without writing a single line of code. This led to the development of WordPress plugins that integrate with page builders like Elementor or Beaver Builder.

4. Security

Security is always a concern for website owners, and it was no different in 2017. WordPress plugin developers began focusing on building secure plugins that do not compromise website security.

14 WordPress Plugins for Download

To help you get started with WordPress plugin development for 2017, we have compiled a list of 14 plugins that you can download for free. These plugins cover a variety of use cases and provide an excellent starting point for your own projects.

1. Advanced Custom Fields Pro: A powerful plugin that allows for advanced customization of WordPress posts and pages.
2. Contact Form 7: A popular plugin for creating customizable contact forms on WordPress websites.
3. Yoast SEO: A leading SEO plugin for optimizing WordPress websites for search engines.
4. Jetpack: A versatile plugin that offers a host of features, including website security, performance optimization, and social media integration.
5. WooCommerce: A popular plugin for building e-commerce websites with WordPress.
6. Wordfence Security: A comprehensive security plugin that protects WordPress websites from hacking attempts.
7. Gravity Forms: A powerful plugin for creating customized forms and surveys on WordPress websites.
8. Elementor: A drag-and-drop page builder plugin that makes it easy to create complex website layouts without writing code.
9. WPForms: An intuitive form builder plugin that allows for creating contact forms, payment forms, and more.
10. WP Rocket: A performance optimization plugin that speeds up WordPress websites by optimizing images, caching, and more.
11. MonsterInsights: An analytics plugin that provides insights into website traffic and user behavior.
12. NextGEN Gallery: A powerful image gallery plugin that allows for organizing and displaying images on WordPress websites.
13. BackupBuddy: A backup and restore plugin that ensures the safety and integrity of WordPress websites.
14. Polylang: A multilingual plugin that allows for creating multilingual websites with WordPress.

Conclusion

In conclusion, WordPress plugin development for 2017 saw several trends emerge, including customization, personalization, and security. If you're interested in building your own WordPress plugins, be sure to keep these trends in mind. To help you get started, we've provided a free download of 14 plugins that you can use as a starting point for your own projects. Happy coding!