What is envato's stance on a premium auto updater plugin?

I recently finished developing an auto updater plugin that simplifies the process of updating any plugin or theme or item that is hosted on a server.

I am only now considering the possibility that envato might not allow such a plugin if they have one in the pipeline.

What do you guys think?

It might be helpful to note that the plugin is intended to update specific files and is downloaded automatically from a protected folder on the developer’s server, and those files are then overwritten. In other words, it would be impossible to gain access unless you owned a plugin that was auto updating.

I am also half way through completing a specific variable or code snippet updater for more lightweight precise updating.

1. Search the Marketplace for similar plugins (by tags)
2. The best way to know is to try uploading it and wait for your inspector

pint said
...it would be impossible to gain access unless you owned a plugin that was auto updating.

Nothing on the web is “impossible”

Thanks for the reply.

Upon searching (by tags) I have seen similar examples of this type of script – which gives me confidence.

Also the script is not limited to envato plugins, it can be used for any plugins or themes you create, even ones that are sold outside of this marketplace.

So hopefully, if all goes well, you could be seeing this on the marketplace soon.

iapcsolutions said

pint said
...it would be impossible to gain access unless you owned a plugin that was auto updating.

Nothing on the web is “impossible”

Lol, agree.

iapcsolutions said
Nothing on the web is “impossible”

Unless you are a hacker, or we are dealing with a hacker, i.e. criminal offence where I am from… it would be extremely difficult, bordering on impossible, thanks to CHMOD

Would you mind telling me, besides hacking into my server, how you could access these files? I am curious.

P.S. it wouldn’t make any sense to hack into a developer’s server to get files that wont even make up 50% of the actual plugin as they are only files that needed to be updated.

It would make even less sense when the files are not actual updates but instructions to update specific variables.

pint said
P.S. it wouldn’t make any sense to hack into a developer’s server to get files that wont even make up 50% of the actual plugin as they are only files that needed to be updated. It would make even less sense when the files are not actual updates but instructions to update specific variables.

Sure but, if they can gain access to the server via your plugin, they’ll find even more than that.

Good point, but there is always an exception to every exception.

Sounds like a great idea to me.

Envato already has a solution in place for wordpress themes on Github

pint said
Would you mind telling me, besides hacking into my server, how you could access these files? I am curious.

One wouldn’t even need to be a hacker. If you’re using license codes to verify a purchase, it could be as simple as someone spreading around a legitimate license code.