🚀 RELEASE: v1.0

Author: austinginder

captaincore-helm.php

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 /**
  * Plugin Name:  CaptainCore Helm
  * Description:  Take the helm of your WordPress admin.
- * Version:      0.3.0
+ * Version:      1.0.0
  * Author:       CaptainCore
  * Author URI:   https://captaincore.io
  * License:      MIT License
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
   exit;
 }
 
-define('CCHELM_VER', '0.3.0');
+define('CCHELM_VER', '1.0.0');
 define('CCHELM_FILE', __FILE__);
 define('CCHELM_DIR', plugin_dir_path(__FILE__));
 define('CCHELM_URL', plugin_dir_url(__FILE__));

changelog.md

@@ -1,5 +1,59 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 1.0.0 - 2026-01-12
+
+**Major Release: The Island Update**
+
+This release marks a complete reimagining of the CaptainCore Helm experience. We have moved away from modifying the native WordPress Toolbar and introduced "The Island"—a unified, floating dock that stays out of your way while keeping essential tools within reach.
+
+### Added
+
+*   **The Helm Island:** A floating, centralized dock that replaces the standard top WordPress Admin Bar. It provides access to the Quick Menu, a dynamic Action button, and system status indicators without cluttering the screen.
+*   **Smart Context Menu:** The Island automatically detects where you are (e.g., editing a Page, viewing settings, or browsing a custom post type) and provides a popup menu containing links to related sibling pages.
+*   **Dark Mode (Easter Egg):** An experimental dark theme for the admin interface. Type "dark mode" into the Quick Menu search bar to toggle it.
+*   **Error Page Navigation:** The Island is now injected into standard WordPress error pages (`wp_die`), ensuring you never lose navigation access during permission errors, maintenance modes, or white screens.
+*   **Loading Status Indicators:** Instant visual feedback when navigating. The Island displays a spinner and the destination URL path (e.g., `Loading /wp-admin/plugins.php`) so you always know the system is reacting.
+*   **Query Monitor Integration:** Added a dedicated status indicator on the Island. It mirrors Query Monitor's native behavior, changing colors for warnings/errors and toggling the QM panel overlay on click.
+*   **Focused Admin Layout:** The classic `wp-admin` interface has been modernized.
+    *   The sidebar menu and footer are now hidden.
+    *   Page content is centered in a "canvas" layout (max-width 1200px) with a clean white background and rounded corners for a focused workspace.
+*   **Extended Builder Support:** The Island now intelligently adapts its position and z-index to float seamlessly above popular page builders, ensuring tools are available without obstruction:
+    *   Elementor
+    *   Divi Builder
+    *   Beaver Builder
+    *   Bricks Builder
+    *   Etch
+*   **Dynamic Action Button:** A context-aware button on the Island that changes function based on your location:
+    *   **Frontend:** Shows an "Edit" icon (links to Post Edit, Builder, or Dashboard).
+    *   **Backend:** Shows a "View" icon (links to the frontend permalink).
+*   **Toast Notifications:** Non-intrusive popup notifications for UI actions (e.g., hiding the menu).
+
+### Changed
+
+*   **Zero-Layout Shift:** The Context Menu logic has been moved from JavaScript to server-side PHP. This ensures links render immediately on page load, eliminating visual "flashes" or layout shifts.
+*   **Performance:** The menu snapshot logic now uses content hashing. Updates are only written to the database when the menu structure actually changes, significantly reducing write operations on page load.
+*   **Keyboard Shortcuts:**
+    *   Updated the global trigger shortcut to align with modern command palette standards.
+    *   **Mac:** `Cmd + Option + K`
+    *   **Windows:** `Ctrl + Alt + K`
+*   **Navigation Logic:**
+    *   **Simplified Navigation:** Removed the requirement to hold modifier keys (`Cmd` / `Ctrl`) to navigate cards. Once the menu is open, standard Arrow Keys (`Up`, `Down`, `Left`, `Right`) work immediately.
+    *   **Selection:** Press `Enter` to select the active card or sub-item immediately.
+*   **UI Polish:**
+    *   The Quick Menu now features a refined aesthetic with updated shadows, blur effects (backdrop-filter), and cleaner typography.
+    *   External links within the Quick Menu are now automatically detected and marked with an external icon.
+
+### Fixed
+
+*   **Plugin Install Screen:** Fixed an issue where the "Add Plugins" screen would occasionally load without content by enforcing the featured tab as the default view.
+*   **Z-Index Conflicts:** Resolved overlapping issues with high z-index elements in various themes and site editors.
+*   **Iframe Navigation:** Fixed navigation issues when using Helm inside builder iframes (like Divi or Customizer) by forcing top-window navigation.
+
+### Removed
+
+*   **Top Admin Bar:** The default WordPress toolbar is now completely hidden in favor of the Island UI when Helm is active.
+*   **Admin Footer:** The default WordPress footer text and version number are hidden to reduce visual noise.
+
 ## 0.3.0 - 2025-08-12
 
 ### Added

manifest.json

@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@
     "author": "<a href=\"https://captaincore.io\">CaptainCore</a>",
     "author_profile": "https://captaincore.io",
     "donate_link": "https://github.com/sponsors/austinginder",
-    "version": "0.3.0",
-    "download_url": "https://github.com/CaptainCore/Helm/releases/download/v0.3.0/captaincore-helm.zip",
+    "version": "1.0.0",
+    "download_url": "https://github.com/CaptainCore/Helm/releases/download/v1.0.0/captaincore-helm.zip",
     "requires": "5.6",
     "tested": "6.8.2",
-    "requires_php": "5.6",
+    "requires_php": "7.1",
     "added": "2025-08-10 16:00:00",
-    "last_updated": "2025-08-12 16:00:00",
+    "last_updated": "2026-01-12 18:00:00",
     "homepage": "https://captaincore.io/helm",
     "sections": {
         "description": "Take the helm of your WordPress admin."