Get plugin version number from WordPress plugin directory - wordpress

Question

Can someone point me out to how can I retrieve the up to date version number of a plugin via its web page from the WordPress plugin directory?
For example, in http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/advanced-custom-fields/
I want to grab the 4.0.1

Answer 1

You can interact with the WordPress Repository API:
The WordPress Repository API is the API used to fetch plug-in and theme information.
http://wp.tutsplus.com/tutorials/creative-coding/interacting-with-wordpress-plug-in-theme-api/

Answer 2

I use the following in a plugin of mine. Check the comments for details.
/**
* Function used to print the data
*/
function b5f_print_repository_info( $echo = true )
{
// Grab data and do nothing if fail
$plugin_data = b5f_get_repository_info();
if( false === $plugin_data )
return;
// Custom function used to format the rating
$total_downloads = number_format_i18n( $plugin_data['total_downloads'] );
$rating = b5f_format_rating( $plugin_data['rating'] / 20 );
$updated = date_i18n( get_option( 'date_format' ), strtotime( $plugin_data['updated'] ) );
$num_rating = number_format_i18n( $plugin_data['num_ratings'] );
$version = $plugin_data['version'];
if( $echo )
echo 'Your stuff using the variables above.';
else
return 'Your stuff using the variables above.';
}
/**
* Call WP API and return the data
*/
function b5f_get_repository_info()
{
$plugin_url = 'http://wpapi.org/api/plugin/advanced-custom-fields.json';
// Cache
$cache = get_transient( 'my_plugin_transient' );
if( false !== $cache )
return $cache;
// Fetch the data
if( $response = wp_remote_retrieve_body( wp_remote_get( $plugin_url ) ) )
{
// Decode the json response
if( $response = json_decode( $response, true ) )
{
// Double check we have all our data
if( !empty( $response['added'] ) )
{
set_transient( 'my_plugin_transient', $response, 720 );
return $response;
}
}
}
return false;
}
/**
* Auxiliary function to format the Rating
*/
function b5f_format_rating( $number, $cents = 1 )
{
// Check if value can be dealt with
if( !is_numeric( $number ) )
return $number;
if( !$number ) {
$rating = ($cents == 2) ? '0.00' : '0';
}
else {
if( floor( $number ) == $number ) {
$rating = number_format( $number, ($cents == 2 ? 2 : 0 ) );
}
else {
$rating = number_format( round( $number, 2 ), ($cents == 0 ? 0 : 2 ) );
}
}
return $rating;
}
And the following is a shortened version of the response, description and stats fields are really big.
Array
(
[added] => 2011-03-25
[author] => Array
(
[name] => Elliot Condon
[url] => http://www.elliotcondon.com/
[profile] => http://profiles.wordpress.org/elliotcondon
)
[average_downloads] => 1415.61
[contributors] => Array
(
[contributor-Elliot Condon] =>
)
[download_link] => http://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/advanced-custom-fields.zip
[hits] => 0
[homepage] => http://www.advancedcustomfields.com/
[last_update_details] => 2013-04-30 17:36:06
[last_update_stats] => 2013-04-30 17:36:05
[name] => Advanced Custom Fields
[num_ratings] => 905
[rating] => 98
[requires] => 3.0.0
[sections] => Array
(
[description] => <p>Advanced Custom Fields is
)
[slug] => advanced-custom-fields
[stats] => Array
(
[2011-11-09] => 683
)
[tags] => Array
(
[tag-admin] => admin
[tag-advanced] => advanced
[tag-custom] => custom
[tag-custom-field] => custom field
[tag-edit] => edit
[tag-field] => field
[tag-file] => file
[tag-image] => image
[tag-magic-fields] => magic fields
[tag-matrix] => matrix
[tag-more-fields] => more fields
[tag-post] => Post
[tag-repeater] => repeater
[tag-simple-fields] => simple fields
[tag-text] => text
[tag-textarea] => textarea
[tag-type] => type
)
[tested] => 3.5.1
[total_days] => 539
[total_downloads] => 763012
[type] => plugin
[updated] => 2013-04-30
[version] => 4.1.0
)