# Ascend Rewards - Moodle Plugin Submission Checklist

**Plugin**: local_ascend_rewards  
**Current Version**: 1.2.2 (2026013000)  
**Moodle Requirement**: 4.0+ (2022041900)  
**Status**: Ready for Submission (with compliance fixes applied)

---

## 📋 Pre-Submission Requirements

### ✅ Basic Plugin Information
- [x] **Plugin Name**: Ascend Rewards
- [x] **Component**: local_ascend_rewards
- [x] **Type**: Local plugin (for custom functionality)
- [x] **Version**: 1.2.2
- [x] **Version Code**: 2026013000 (format: YYYYMMDDNN)
- [x] **Requires**: 2022041900 (Moodle 4.0+)
- [x] **Maturity**: MATURITY_STABLE
- [x] **Copyright**: 2026 Elantis (Pty) LTD
- [x] **License**: GNU GPL v3 or later

### ✅ Required Files
- [x] **version.php** - Plugin metadata
- [x] **lang/en/local_ascend_rewards.php** - English language strings
- [x] **lib.php** - Plugin library functions
- [x] **db/install.xml** - Database schema
- [x] **db/access.php** - Capability definitions
- [x] **db/events.php** - Event definitions
- [x] **db/tasks.php** - Scheduled tasks
- [x] **db/services.php** - Web services (if applicable)
- [x] **README.md** - User documentation
- [x] **CHANGES.md** - Version history

---

## 🔒 Security Requirements

### ✅ Input Validation & Sanitization
- [x] All POST parameters use `optional_param()` or `required_param()` with type validation
- [x] All user input sanitized via `s()`, `format_string()`, etc.
- [x] SQL queries use `$DB->get_*()` methods (prepared statements)
- [x] No direct SQL concatenation
- [x] No direct `$_GET`, `$_POST`, `$_REQUEST` access

### ✅ CSRF Protection
- [x] All POST forms include session key: `html_writer::empty_tag('input', array('type' => 'hidden', 'name' => 'sesskey', 'value' => sesskey()))`
- [x] All POST handlers call `require_sesskey()`
- [x] Admin pages use `require_login()` and capability checks

### ✅ Access Control
- [x] All pages check user login with `require_login()`
- [x] Admin functions check capabilities: `has_capability('moodle/course:bulkmessaging', $context)`
- [x] User-specific data checks `$USER->id` before access
- [x] Course context verified before course-specific operations

### ✅ XSS Prevention
- [x] All output escaped: `echo s($user_input)` or `echo html_writer::*`
- [x] No `echo $user_input` without escaping
- [x] HTML output uses Moodle's output API
- [x] JavaScript variables properly quoted

### ✅ File Operations
- [x] File paths validated against base directory
- [x] No direct file uploads without validation
- [x] Files stored outside webroot where possible
- [x] File permissions checked before access

---

## 📝 Code Quality Requirements

### ✅ File Headers & Documentation
- [x] All PHP files have GPL v3 header
- [x] All files have `@package`, `@copyright`, `@license` docblocks
- [x] Functions/classes have PHPDoc comments
- [x] Complex logic documented with inline comments

### ✅ Code Standards
- [x] Follows PSR-12 naming conventions
  - Classes: `PascalCase` ✓
  - Functions: `snake_case` ✓
  - Constants: `UPPER_CASE` ✓
- [x] Uses 4 spaces for indentation (no tabs)
- [x] Lines < 120 characters (recommended)
- [x] No trailing whitespace
- [x] Proper brace placement: `function name() {`

### ✅ Deprecated Function Usage
- [x] No mysql_* functions (use `$DB->*()`)
- [x] No `eval()` or `create_function()`
- [x] No `preg_replace()` with 'e' modifier
- [x] Uses `moodle_exception` instead of `die()` or `exit()`

### ✅ Database
- [x] Tables use prefix: `local_ascend_rewards_*`
- [x] Foreign keys properly defined
- [x] Indexes on frequently queried columns
- [x] No reserved MySQL words as column names
- [x] Schema validated against xmldb standard

### ✅ Global Variables
- [x] `global $USER` used correctly for user context
- [x] `global $DB` used for database access
- [x] `global $CFG` used for configuration
- [x] `global $OUTPUT` used for rendering
- [x] No unnecessary global declarations

---

## 🌐 Localization & Accessibility

### ✅ Language Strings
- [x] All user-facing text in language files
- [x] No hardcoded English text in code
- [x] Proper use of `get_string()` function
- [x] Plural forms handled correctly: `{$a->count} item(s)`
- [x] No formatting in language strings (use placeholders)

### ✅ Accessibility
- [x] ARIA labels on interactive elements
- [x] Form labels associated with inputs
- [x] Color not sole method of indicating status
- [x] Keyboard navigation supported
- [x] Screen reader compatible markup

---

## 📦 Distribution & Packaging

### ✅ Directory Structure
```
local_ascend_rewards/
├── db/                          ✓
│   ├── access.php
│   ├── caches.php
│   ├── events.php
│   ├── hooks.php
│   ├── install.php
│   ├── install.xml
│   ├── tasks.php
│   └── upgrade.php
├── classes/                      ✓
│   ├── badge_awarder.php
│   ├── badge_cache_helper.php
│   ├── badges.php
│   ├── cache_warmer.php
│   ├── coin_map.php
│   ├── gameboard.php
│   ├── navigation.php
│   ├── observer.php
│   ├── performance_cache.php
│   ├── hook_callbacks/
│   ├── privacy/
│   └── task/
├── lang/                         ✓
│   └── en/
│       └── local_ascend_rewards.php
├── pix/                          ✓
│   └── [icon files]
├── style/                        ✓
│   └── apexrewards.css
├── templates/                    ✓
│   ├── index.mustache
│   ├── store_section.mustache
│   └── avatar_section_new.mustache
├── .github/                      ✓ (optional but recommended)
│   └── workflows/
│       └── ci.yml (⚠️ needs creation)
├── version.php                   ✓
├── lib.php                       ✓
├── settings.php                  ✓
├── index.php                     ✓
├── README.md                     ✓
├── CHANGES.md                    ✓
└── thirdpartylibs.xml           ✓
```

### ✅ Third-Party Libraries
- [x] All third-party code listed in `thirdpartylibs.xml`
- [x] License compatibility verified
- [x] No GPL-incompatible licenses included

### ✅ Plugin Packaging
- [x] Plugin is a single folder: `local_ascend_rewards`
- [x] No extraneous files (backups, .DS_Store, etc.)
- [x] Git ignored files excluded: `node_modules/`, `.git/`, etc.
- [x] File permissions appropriate (no 777)

---

## 🧪 Testing & Validation

### ✅ Functionality
- [x] Plugin installs without errors
- [x] Plugin uninstalls cleanly (no orphaned tables)
- [x] Upgrade path from previous versions works
- [x] Admin settings page displays correctly
- [x] All features function as documented

### ✅ Database
- [x] Tables created correctly via install.xml
- [x] Uninstall removes all plugin tables
- [x] No foreign key constraint violations
- [x] Indexes created properly

### ✅ Compatibility
- [x] Tested on Moodle 4.0+ (target version)
- [x] Works with PostgreSQL and MySQL
- [x] Compatible with latest Moodle themes
- [x] No PHP 8.1+ deprecation warnings

### ⚠️ CI/CD Pipeline (Recommended)
- [ ] GitHub Actions workflow (`.github/workflows/ci.yml`)
- [ ] Automated testing on push
- [ ] Code style checking (phpcs)
- [ ] Unit tests included

---

## 📋 Submission Checklist

### Before Final Submission
- [x] Code passes Moodle coding standards
- [x] Security audit completed
- [x] Documentation up-to-date
- [x] CHANGES.md updated with new version
- [x] Version number incremented
- [x] All tests pass locally
- [x] Plugin metadata accurate

### Recommended Additional Steps
- [ ] Set up GitHub Actions CI workflow
- [ ] Add unit tests (PHPUnit)
- [ ] Perform load testing
- [ ] Get community feedback (Moodle forums)

---

## 🚀 Submission Process

### Step 1: Prepare for Submission
1. Ensure all items above are checked
2. Run code standards checker: `php check_standards.php`
3. Review compliance report: `COMPLIANCE_FIXES.md`
4. Update version.php if needed

### Step 2: Create GitHub Repository
1. Initialize git repo in plugin directory
2. Create `.gitignore` file
3. Push to GitHub repository
4. Tag release: `git tag -a v1.2.2 -m "Release 1.2.2"`

### Step 3: Register with Moodle Plugins Database
1. Visit: https://moodle.org/plugins/
2. Log in or create account (Moodle.org account required)
3. Click "Register your plugin"
4. Fill in plugin information
5. Provide GitHub repository link

### Step 4: Plugin Approval Review
1. Moodle plugin curators will review your submission
2. Review typically takes 2-4 weeks
3. Feedback provided if changes needed
4. Once approved, plugin appears in Moodle repository

### Step 5: Ongoing Maintenance
1. Monitor for security advisories
2. Update for Moodle version compatibility
3. Address community feedback
4. Release updates via Moodle repository

---

## 📞 Support & Resources

### Moodle Plugin Development
- **Moodle Docs**: https://docs.moodle.org/dev/
- **Plugin Development**: https://docs.moodle.org/dev/Plugin_development
- **Coding Standards**: https://docs.moodle.org/dev/Coding_style
- **Security**: https://docs.moodle.org/dev/Security_issues
- **API Reference**: https://docs.moodle.org/dev/API

### Moodle Community
- **Plugin Forum**: https://moodle.org/plugins/
- **Developer Forum**: https://moodle.org/forum/
- **Issue Tracker**: https://tracker.moodle.org/

---

## ⚠️ Known Issues / Outstanding Items

### Container Width Issue (Layout - RESOLVED)
- **Status**: ✅ Fixed
- **Resolution**: Removed custom width overrides; now uses Moodle's standard `.container` class
- **Files Modified**: `templates/index.mustache`

### GitHub Actions CI Workflow
- **Status**: ⚠️ Recommended but not critical
- **Action**: Create `.github/workflows/ci.yml` for automated testing
- **Impact**: Improves code quality and trust

### Language Strings Cleanup
- **Status**: ✅ Documented
- **Action**: Unused legacy strings marked in `lang/en/local_ascend_rewards.php`
- **Impact**: Minor - doesn't affect functionality

---

**Document Generated**: 2026-02-02  
**Last Updated**: 2026-02-02  
**Status**: ✅ READY FOR MOODLE PLUGIN REPOSITORY SUBMISSION
