# How I published my first WordPress.org plugin with Cursor, Git, and AI - Link: https://matthummel.com/how-i-published-my-first-wordpressorg-plugin-with-cursor-git-and-ai/ - Published: 2026-09-24T01:23:01+00:00 - Author: Today I published my first plugin on [WordPress.org](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tocguide/):** TOCguide**. It is a Gutenberg Table of Contents block with an optional Reading Guide. No accounts, no tracking, no outside APIs. The listing is live at version 1.6.3. This is a slightly shorter Dev.to version of a longer write-up on my site. The full notes are here: [How I published my first WordPress.org plugin with Cursor, Git, and AI](https://matthummel.com/first-wordpress-org-plugin-tocguide-ai/). ## Why AI mattered for finishing this I am a dad of twins. I also have a full-time job and a freelance WordPress side gig. Evenings and weekends are short. Shipping a Plugin Directory product the old way — every PHPCS pass, every readme tweak, every packaging step — would have sat on a list for years. I used AI tools on purpose: **Cursor** (including cloud agents on the repo), **Grok Bot** for site and content work around matthummel.com, and normal **Git + GitHub Actions** so the machine checks stayed honest. I am not saying AI replaces judgment. I am saying it compressed weeks of typing and rework into hours I actually had. People are right to be careful with AI. Used poorly, it invents APIs, ships insecure PHP, and fights the WordPress.org guidelines. Used with rules, reviews, and CI, it can raise daily output without lowering the bar. Feedback and pushback are welcome in the comments. ## What TOCguide is TOCguide is a single-purpose block plugin. Display name **TOCguide**. Slug, folder, text domain, shortcode, and CSS prefix are all `tocguide`. That one identity mattered for WordPress.org guideline 17 and for long-term support. * Standard TOC: heading levels, nested lists, five Block Styles, sticky/collapse, scroll-spy, smooth scroll offset, auto-insert, `[tocguide]` shortcode, accessible`