Well, it is long overdue, but it is coming soon, successor to old GD Star Rating plugin is called GD Rating System and it will be released on December 17, 2015. This is the official announcement and the short introduction to this new plugin.
Intro
GD Rating System is a new plugin, written from scratch with nothing in common with old GD Star Rating. I decided against using the same name because it is not simply a new version of the old plugin. GD Rating System uses a powerful modular architecture that will allow for an easier way of adding new features in the future and avoid massive core problems GD Star Rating had in the past.
Development of GD Rating System started 3 months ago, and until now almost one month of active development has gone into it. Right now I am about half way through, and until the end of November plugin should be ready for first Beta release. At the moment, the core of the plugin is completed, stars rating method and few other features. On the plugin countdown page, you can see the plugin in action and try it out. More demos will be added later.
Finally, plugin will have two editions: Free and Pro (with many extra features, full support and expanded documentation).
GD Rating System
Check out the release countdown, plugin demo and list of features.
What to Expect with new plugin?
GD Rating System will allow you to rate anything, provided it has a numeric ID. By default, this includes posts (post, page, custom post types), terms (categories, tags, custom taxonomies), users, comments and custom. The plugin is built around rating methods and add-ons. Basic rating method is stars rating. Pro version of the plugin will include additional rating methods, and many more add-ons will be available. The full list of features that should be part of 1.0 version is on the plugin about page.
The plugin will use same admin side interface as other Dev4Press plugins do. Rating logs will use standard WordPress table controls with popups for control. The goal is to provide a standardized and familiar interface to help end users quickly setup the plugin and make it easy to use.
Main rating methods is stars rating. For display, the plugin will be able to use image based stars and font based icons. The goal is to also make everything responsive and tested and working with mobile and small screen devices (still work in progress). Pro version will also have Thumbs Ratings and Like This Ratings methods.
Standard add-ons will include easier posts integration, comments integration and support for Google Rich Snippets. Pro version will have more: support for WP Rest API, Shortcake UI support for shortcodes, Dummy Ratings, Rating trends. And you will have widgets, shortcodes, admin side controls for reviewing and removing votes. Pro version will have more admin tools.
To render the rating blocks, plugin will use templates. Templates are made as standard theme templates and you can create them any way you want, customize and style. Plugin provides objects and functions to render all key elements, and using standard PHP and HTML you can easily create your own templates.
Free and Pro Editions
Developing and maintaining such complex plugin will require a lot of work, and making it free only is not an option. Model with free plugin and paid support was available with old GD Star Rating, but that was not a good solution and it failed to generate enough revenue to make GD Star Rating development viable.
But, GD Rating System will have Free edition that will include basic features most website need, and if you need more, you can always upgrade to Pro edition and take advantage of many additional features and gain access to support and expanded knowledge base. Pricing and licensing will be similar to other Dev4Press plugins, and the price will be announced on December 1, 2015. From December 10 until the plugin is released, Pro license will be available with 50% discount and access to Alpha / Beta versions.
Stay tuned for more
In the coming weeks, I will release more information about plugin features. You will be able to see the plugin in action on main Dev4Press blog in the next week or so.
Let me know if you have any questions about the new plugin or suggestions. And make sure to check the plugin start page and test the small demo there.
