Let’s be real: installing addons in most platforms feels like surgery with a spoon. File copying, core editing, sweating over whether you broke the site again... it’s chaotic. But now? Sngine has leveled up with a Plugin System that changes the game completely. And no, I’m not just hyping—it’s actually fun to use.

What Even Is This Plugin System?

This isn’t some clunky installer or drag-and-drop fantasy. The Sngine Plugin System is a structured, smart way to build, install, and manage addons without touching core files. Each addon is like a little self-contained package that plugs right in—no file hunting, no core overwrites, no mess.

It uses a simple folder structure inside /modules with optional support for:

• init.php (load logic)
• user.init.php (loogic for logged in users only)
• profile.init.php (add logic for profile)
• admin.php (admin UI)
• settings.php (addon-specific config)
• version.json
• docs.json
• plugin.json
• install.php   
• uninstall.php
• update.php  
• update.sql
• droptables.sql
• hooks (template hook templates)

And guess what? It also supports injecting code into core template files and even PHP logic like bootloader.php, profile.php, and more—automatically. You don’t have to lift a finger (except to click “Install,” obviously).

Installation: One Button, No Drama

Once your plugin is zipped properly, you can just upload it from the admin panel and hit Install. It’ll handle SQL, create backups, insert hook templates, and do all the dirty work behind the scenes. No more uploading files via FTP and praying nothing explodes. If you've ever installed something on a Sngine site before, this will feel like cheating (but legal).

Hook Injection: Templates Just Got Smart

Want to drop your custom feature into the newsfeed? User profile? Sidebar? Admin menu? Easy. With the Plugin System Base, your addon can inject Smarty templates into any theme file at the exact spot you choose. You pick a marker, define your hook block, and boom—it’s like you wrote it there yourself (but with 10x less stress).

PHP Hook System: Because Addons Deserve Logic, Too

This isn’t just a front-end party. The plugin system lets you inject backend logic into PHP files like class-user.php and bootloader.php. You can define actions and filters, similar to how WordPress works (but without the bloat), so your plugins can modify behavior, not just visuals.

Documentation & Structure: No Guessing Games

Each addon also comes with a plugin.json for metadata, a version.json for updates, and an optional docs.json for tutorials and changelogs. This means users (or your future self) can know exactly what the addon does, what changed, and how to use it—without needing to decode ancient PHP.

But What’s So Different About This?

In the past, Sngine addons felt like random code drops. Some worked. Some didn't. Updating them usually meant replacing files manually and hoping nothing clashed. With the plugin system, all of that is modular, reversible, and much cleaner. You can now:

• Activate and deactivate addons safely
• Run install and uninstall scripts
• Manage hook injections without breaking themes
• Keep all your addons organized and version-controlled

Basically, the chaos is gone. You can finally develop and use addons without needing a backup plan (or a backup of the backup).

Still a Work in Progress (But Totally Usable)

The plugin system is still in its early days—let’s not pretend it’s flawless just yet. There’s cleanup to do, rough edges to polish, and plenty of features we still plan to add. But honestly? It’s already powerful enough to get your hands dirty and start building real addons. That’s why we’re sharing it now. You don’t have to wait for version 99.9. Test it, break it (gently), and start playing with what’s already there. We’ll keep improving it as we go, but you can start building today.

Final Thoughts

If you’re still coding Sngine addons the old way, it’s time to evolve. The Plugin System isn’t just a convenience—it’s a complete shift in how addons are developed and installed. Cleaner code, easier deployment, safer updates... and dare I say, even kind of fun.

Give it a shot. You’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. Download Plugin System 

Start your own social network today!