Unlocking the Future of Common Ground: Introducing Our Plugin System!

We're excited to share a significant advancement in Common Ground's architecture: a brand new plugin system! This opens the door for developers and community members to extend the platform's functionality in exciting new ways.

What are Plugins?

Plugins are custom extensions that can be integrated into Common Ground. They're rendered within secure iframes, ensuring the stability and security of the core platform while allowing for a high degree of customization.

How Can I Build a Plugin?

We've made it easy to get started! We've released a JavaScript plugin skeleton available through github. This provides a basic structure and includes a documented postMessage API for communication between the plugin and Common Ground. This API allows plugins to interact with the platform, access data, and trigger actions.

You can create plugins in your community settings. Every plugin also generates a public and private key pair that you can copy-paste into the example plugin, which enables trusted communication between your plugin backend and the Common Ground Platform.

What's Next for the Plugin API?

The postMessage API is just the beginning! We'll be continuously expanding its capabilities to enable even more powerful and innovative plugins. We welcome your feedback and suggestions as we develop this crucial feature.

Get Involved!

• Check out the plugin library on github: https://github.com/Common-Ground-DAO/CGPluginLib
• Check out the example plugin on github: https://github.com/Common-Ground-DAO/CGSamplePlugin
• Join the #Feature ideas channel to discuss plugin development and share your ideas.
• Stay tuned for more detailed documentation and tutorials.

Notes for all options:

• Links are crucial: Replace the bracketed placeholders with actual links to the npm package, GitHub repository (if applicable), and relevant Common Ground channels.
• Target Audience: Consider your audience. The long version is best for developers and technically inclined users. The short version is good for a general announcement.
• Visuals: Include screenshots or a short video demonstrating a simple plugin in action. This will make the announcement more engaging.