Uploading your custom plugin to the WordPress Plugin Directory and managing it with TortoiseSVN is similar to performing normal SVN operations. Below is the full step-by-step guide:
1️⃣ Apply for a Plugin and Get SVN Access
Go to the WordPress plugin submission page and submit your plugin (ZIP file or source code).
After it passes the review, you will receive:
- The SVN repository URL, e.g.:
https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/xenice-seo/ - Your SVN credentials (tied to your WordPress.org account)
WordPress’s official SVN repository uses a fixed directory structure:
/trunk/ → Main development directory (latest code)
/tags/ → Version snapshots (for each official release)
/branches/ → Optional development branches
2️⃣ Install and Configure TortoiseSVN
Make sure TortoiseSVN is installed.
After installation, right-clicking inside Windows Explorer will show options like:
TortoiseSVN → Checkout / Update / Commit
3️⃣ Checkout the Plugin SVN Repository
Create a local folder, for example:C:\wordpress-plugins\xenice-seo
Right-click the folder → SVN Checkout
- URL of repository:
https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/xenice-seo/ - Checkout directory:
choose the created local folder
Click OK, and TortoiseSVN will create the directories:trunk, tags, branches.
4️⃣ Upload Your Plugin to trunk
Place your plugin source code inside the local trunk folder.
Example structure:
xenice-seo/
│-- xenice-seo.php
│-- readme.txt
│-- assets/
│-- includes/
Right-click the trunk folder → TortoiseSVN → Add
Add all new files/directories to version control.
Then commit:
Right-click trunk → TortoiseSVN → Commit
Write a message, such as:
Initial commit of xenice-seo plugin
Click OK to submit.
After the commit is successful, your plugin will appear in the WordPress repository under trunk.
5️⃣ Publish a New Version (Create a Tag)
Every time you release a new official plugin version, create a snapshot under tags:
Right-click trunk → TortoiseSVN → Branch/Tag
- To URL:
https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/xenice-seo/tags/1.0.0 - Create from:
HEAD revision (latest)
Write a commit message and confirm.
Once completed, WordPress will recognize tags/1.0.0 as the plugin version 1.0.0.
6️⃣ Important Notes When Submitting
- The readme.txt must follow the official WordPress readme standard.
- Plugin files must be placed inside trunk/ — not in the root directory.
- For each new release, create a new tags directory, do not overwrite older versions.
✅ Summary of the Workflow
- Apply for plugin approval
- SVN Checkout
- Upload code to
trunk - Commit
- Create tag for release version
- Publish