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Plugin

A plugin is an optional software component that extends or modifies a host application’s capabilities through an extension or integration mechanism.

How 6 Manning books explain it

WordPress Power Toolkit: Harness AI to build next-level websites

A WordPress plugin is an installable software extension that adds or modifies functionality in a WordPress installation.

How it is used
Adds site capabilities such as security, forms, menus, search optimization, and media features without requiring code.
How deep it goes
Defines plugins, gives selection and conflict-isolation procedures, and demonstrates packaging AI-generated PHP as an uploadable plugin.
Examples
Uses Wordfence, UpdraftPlus, AIOSEO, mega-menu tools, and a GMT date-and-time sidebar widget.
What you can do after
Operate/configure plugins by selecting, installing, activating, maintaining, and isolating conflicting extensions.

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Logs and Telemetry

A plugin is an independently implemented software component that extends an application's capabilities through a defined integration interface.

How it is used
Composes Fluent Bit event pipelines from input, filter, and output building blocks.
How deep it goes
Defines plugin roles and interfaces, then defers extension-language trade-offs to later treatment.
Examples
Uses dummy input help, stdout output selection, CLI pipeline controls, and Go input/output plugin code structure.
What you can do after
Operate/configure plugins through Fluent Bit CLI controls and assess external-extension deployment requirements.

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Build an AI Agent (From Scratch)

An agent skill is a reusable capability that packages knowledge or procedures for carrying out a class of tasks.

How it is used
Organizes agent capabilities without placing every detailed tool instruction in every prompt.
How deep it goes
Works through folder layout, three disclosure levels, Python discovery, prompt generation, sandbox upload, and a PDF-merge execution flow.
Examples
Uses a PDF-merge SKILL.md with pypdf and traces selection, documentation reading, code execution, and output confirmation.
What you can do after
Build it from scratch by loading skill metadata, listing summaries in the prompt, and making skill folders available in a sandbox.

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AI Agents in Action

A plugin is a registered capability consisting of functions that a Semantic Kernel can expose for use in conversations or interactions.

How it is used
Extends agents and chat interfaces with well-defined actions such as API calls, web searches, recommendations, and data retrieval.
How deep it goes
Explains plugin types, folder structure, registration, invocation, and chat exposure, while deferring complete production testing.
Examples
Uses movie recommendations, TMDb movie searches, temperature conversion, weather retrieval, creative writing, meal planning, and news APIs.
What you can do after
Build and operate plugins that expose semantic prompts or native code to Semantic Kernel agents and chat sessions.

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LLMs in Production

OpenAI Plugins are extensions that let ChatGPT access third-party tools and external APIs.

How it is used
Connects ChatGPT with third-party tools and external APIs.
How deep it goes
Explains configuration, hosting, registration, review, and operational limitations without detailing API implementation.
Examples
Uses weather lookup, web search, OpenAPI configuration, and ai-plugin.json as concrete integration examples.
What you can do after
Build it from scratch by describing an API, defining plugin metadata, hosting files, and submitting the integration for review.

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Terraform in Depth: Infrastructure as Code with Terraform and OpenTofu

A plugin is a software component that extends a host application's capabilities through a defined extension interface.

How it is used
Extends TFLint with generic, provider-specific, or custom policy rules for Terraform static analysis.
How deep it goes
Configures enablement, presets, versions, sources, exclusions, and inline exceptions, while custom plugin development requires Go.
Examples
Demonstrates Terraform, AWS, Azure, and Google plugins alongside Make targets, diagnostics, disabled rules, and inline ignores.
What you can do after
Operate/configure TFLint plugins to initialize rule sets, customize checks, and handle justified exceptions.

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Related concepts

These guides are generated from the text of Manning books by Manning's knowledge graph and link to the sections they draw on. The full books are available on liveBook and at manning.com.