Introducing BigPAPI: A new plugin framework

Professional Network member Kevin Shay doesn't just keep busy by writing for McSweeney's or Modern Humorist, he's busy writing entire new plugin options for Movable Type.

Kevin's latest (and most impressive) addition to his stable of Movable Type plugins is BigPAPI. The amusing name belies some seriously powerful functionality: BigPAPI lets you transform any part of Movable Type's user interface programmatically, or if you want a soundbite: "server-side Greasemonkey for Movable Type".

With BigPAPI in place, you can manipulate the entire experience of working with Movable Type, creating your own plugins that layer on top of BigPAPI with custom functionality. As Kevin shows, entries linked to files, automatic publishing date updating, data from recent entries on your main menu, or even a menu that lets you jump to any function on any of your blogs... those are just some of the examples of what BigPAPI can do.

Of course, with this kind of power and potential, you'll need a good starting point to start hacking on your own. Fortunately, Kevin's written a great new Professional Network article: Developing Movable Type Interface Plugins With BigPAPI.

This new area of functionality can also be paired with Movable Type's customizable user interface templates for maximum flexibility. Together, these options promise the platform will be more capable than ever as we get ready for the release of the powerful new version 3.2.