A New Way to Install Plugins

The new plugin installer tool allows users to easily install plugins via a web-based interface outside of WordPress, with no FTP knowledge or tedious admin panel searching required. The new tool will be officially rolled into the plugin directory during WordPress’ impending site-wide redesign. For now, plugin developers can create a link directing users to the plugin installer tool and their plugin, and the rest of us can use the bookmarklet to install plugins from the directory.

There are two ways to install plugins in WordPress 3.0. You can either search for and install plugins via Plugins/Add New in your admin panel, or search for and download plugins from the plugin directory, then upload them to /wp-content/plugins/. Now, thanks to Mark Jaquith, there’s a new way to install plugins.