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Jeff Chandler

Pet Peeve – Akismet Configuration Link Location

akismet configurationSomething that has frustrated me for a long time is trying to figure out where the Akismet Configuration link is. My brain and logical way of thinking always points me to the Settings top level menu only to browse around each area to figure out where it’s at. For some strange reason, the Akismet configuration link is located within the Plugins top level menu. This makes no sense to me. That menu is used to view the plugins page, add plugins, edit plugins but not specifically configure any plugins, except Akismet. It’s with this pet peeve that I request the Akismet Configuration link be moved to within the Settings menu. I don’t think Akismet needs its own top level menu.

If you think the configuration link needs to be moved, let me know where it should go. If you don’t think it should be moved, I want to know why you think it’s a good idea to leave it where it’s at.

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19 responses to “Pet Peeve – Akismet Configuration Link Location”

  6. @donnacha of WordSkill – I agree. I’ve written about this subject before and in fact, there are ways built into WordPress where a Configure or Settings link can be added as a link to plugins on the main Plugins page. Very few plugin authors are doing this technique though and I’m still having to search for configuration pages. Not to mention, some plugin authors think they are so awesome, they deserve to add a top level menu item.

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  8. While you only setup Akismet once for any particular site, you always expect it to fall under Settings (like many others have also said) but no, right there under Plugins is where you’ll find it hiding! ;)

    Are they looking to move it into Jetpack in the near future, who knows; I’ve not read anything like that? — Settings > Akismet and that’ll do me (and everyone else!) :P

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  9. From the Codex, regarding menu placement:

    It is rare that a plugin would require the creation of a top-level menu. If the plugin introduces an entirely new concept or feature to WordPress, and needs many screens to do it, then that plugin may warrant a new top-level menu. Adding a top-level menu should only be considered if you really need multiple, related screens to make WordPress do something it was not originally designed to accomplish. Examples of new top-level menus might include job management or conference management.

    I would prefer if Automattic would lead by example here – likewise with JetPack’s menu placement.

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  11. I prefer the option to provide a new Top-Level menu item called “Anti-Spam” or “Security” or something like that. Akismet settings could be shoved in there, and so could other similar stuff such as WP-Ban and Simple TB Validation.

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  14. I totally quoted the wrong section of that Codex page. Here’s the relevant text, that immediately follows what I quoted above:

    If the creation of a top-level menu is not necessary, decide under what top-level menu to place your sub-level menu item. As a point of reference, most plugins add sub-level menu items underneath existing WordPress top-level menus. For example, the Backup plugin adds a sub-level menu option to the Tools top-level menu. Please note with the taxonomy registration, WordPress automatically creates sub-level menus under the applicable top-level menu to manage those features.

    Use this guide of the WordPress top-level menus to determine the correct location for your sub-level menu item:

    Dashboard
    Information central for your site and include the Updates option for updating WordPress core, plugins, and themes.
    Posts
    Displays tools for writing posts (time oriented content).
    Media
    Uploading and managing your pictures, videos, and audio.
    Links
    Manage references to other blogs and sites of interest.
    Pages
    Displays tools for writing your static content called pages.
    Comments
    Controlling and regulation reader to responses to posts.
    Appearance
    Displays controls for manipulation of theme/style files, sidebars, etc.
    Plugins
    Displays controls dealing with plugin management, not configuration options for a plugin itself.
    Users
    Displays controls for user management.
    Tools
    Manage the export, import, and even backup of blog data.
    Settings
    Displays plugin options that only administrators should view (also see Creating Settings Pages).

    Note what it says about the Plugins menu, specifically:

    Plugins
    Displays controls dealing with plugin management, not configuration options for a plugin itself.

    I don’t think Akismet has anything to do with “Plugin management”.

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