Automattic / Automattic/php-toolkit

Feature: Support arbitrary front matter metadata, categories, tags, author, featured image and SEO fields

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#87 0 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
Dominant language
PHP
Stars
22
Forks
5
PR merge metrics
No merged PRs in 30d

Description

### Summary
Push MD supports a fixed set of basic front matter keys (`title`, `date`, `status`, `description`). We should add support for arbitrary front matter metadata key-values. To begin, create hooks for front matter meta data, and add support for hierarchical categories, tags, author attribution, featured image, and SEO fields, complete with strict push validation to prevent typos.

We can create "master" reference files for categories etc, and support CRUD based on changes in these files. All this should respect the user permissions though. Special case: for authors - no create / delete support.

### Features & How They Should Work

1. **Extensible Arbitrary Front Matter Meta Support (Primary Feature)**:
- Add developer hook framework allowing any custom post meta or third-party plugin metadata to be registered, exported, and imported via Markdown front matter:
- `push_md_supported_frontmatter_keys`
- `push_md_export_frontmatter`
- `push_md_import_frontmatter`
- `push_md_export_author` & `push_md_import_author`

2. **Master Reference Files & Strict Validation**:
- Generate `categories.md`, `tags.md`, and `authors.md` during checkout/seed.
- Pushing a post with an unknown category, tag, or author that is not in WordPress or the reference files should trigger a strict validation error to prevent typos.

3. **Categories, Tags, Authors & Featured Image**:
- `categories`: Support YAML lists, JSON arrays (`["Cat A", "Cat B"]`), or comma-separated strings. Full support for hierarchical category paths using `"Parent > Child"` (e.g., `Tech > WordPress`).
- `tags`: Support YAML/JSON lists or comma-separated tag strings.
- `author`: Match author by display name, username (`user_login`), nicename, or email address.
- `featured_image`: Resolve local path or attachment URL to WordPress attachment ID.

4. **Built-in SEO Metadata**:
- Build on top of the front matter hooks: supports `seo_title`, `seo_description`, and `seo_focus_keyword`.
- Automatically map to **Rank Math** or **Yoast SEO** post meta depending on which plugin is active.

### Acceptance Criteria
- [ ] Custom front matter keys can be registered via `push_md_supported_frontmatter_keys`.
- [ ] Front matter list parser supports YAML lists, JSON arrays, and comma-separated strings.
- [ ] Hierarchical categories (`Parent > Child`) parse and map correctly.
- [ ] Unknown terms/authors trigger a push validation error.
- [ ] Permission checks
- [ ] SEO fields map automatically to Rank Math / Yoast SEO meta.
- [ ] No creation or deletion of users from `authors.md` sync. Only updates.

Contributor guide

No contributing guide indexed for this repository

Research direction

No implementation files or tests are named; start by locating the existing front-matter checkout, import/export, and push-validation entry points, then review the proposed hook names and permission rules. Done means the listed acceptance criteria are covered, including list formats, hierarchical terms, strict validation, SEO mappings, and no author creation or deletion.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
php, wordpress
Domain
backend, content
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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