WP Plugin Dooodl
Review

Dooodl

Dooodl is a unique WordPress plugin developed by Ronny Welter, which was first released on 2009-09-20 was. With over 60+ active installations Dooodl offers an innovative way to increase a blog's interactivity by creating and saving doodles. The plugin functions similarly to a guestbook but is more visually appealing and entertaining. By allowing doodles to be created and displayed interactively, Dooodl stands out from other plugins. The target audience is mainly visitors to blogs who appreciate visual and interactive content, with the plugin being used especially in child-friendly and creative environments. The average rating is 3.9 out of 5 stars from a total of 8 reviews in the official WordPress Plugin Directory. The following paragraph provides a detailed look at the plugin's features and characteristics to examine Dooodl's use cases and effectiveness.

"I use it on a website for kids and they love it."

Features - Extensive and flexible functionality

Dooodl offers remarkable functionality beyond basic doodling. The plugin not only allows creating and saving drawings but also provides versatile display options. Doodles can be shown via a widget, shortcodes, or with plugins that support custom post types. This flexibility gives users numerous ways to integrate and customize doodles on their site.

"It works and is fun."

Free Features - No extra cost yet versatile

• Doodling feature - Visitors can create small doodles and save them on the site.
• Versatile display options - Doodles can be flexibly integrated into the site via various methods.

License - Free usage options

Dooodl is available as a free plugin, making it an attractive choice for blog owners who want to offer interactive content to their visitors at no extra cost. Users appreciate the ability to easily add a fun and child-friendly component to their site. Reviews highlight that the ease of use and the fun the plugin provides are particularly valued, although some wish for more features and technical improvements.

"I spent all day working on a site for our art center and decided to look for fun plugins. This one is charming."

Technical details - Insight into the internal structure

Dooodl uses a custom post type called "dooodl" to store created doodles in the database. Management of these post data is handled via WordPress standards, increasing flexibility when integrating with other WordPress components. Doodles can be displayed either via a simple widget or by using shortcodes on the website. This suggests that rendering the drawings is achieved both through direct database queries and filesystem access, providing users with a seamless and responsive experience. The backend structure and storage are kept minimalistic, likely to optimize load times and manage storage efficiently. Interesting for developers is the ability to extend and customize the plugin via API interfaces and hooks, offering room for individual adaptations.

System requirements - Requirements for using Dooodl

For proper operation of the Dooodl plugin at least PHP version 7.4 or higher is required. The plugin also needs a WordPress installation with WordPress version 2.7 or higher. It has been tested up to WordPress version 6.6.0. The current plugin version number is 2.3.0. The last update in 2024-07 ensures compatibility with common WordPress installations and ensures users benefit from the latest improvements and security updates.

"After installation it could not be activated. WordPress warned that it could not be activated because it caused a 'critical error'."

Quality - Positive experiences but room for improvement

The quality of the Dooodl plugin is rated mixed in reviews. Some users are impressed by the functionality and the fun application, especially since the plugin adds a creative and interactive component to websites. The ease of use and the ability to use it at no extra cost are highlighted positively, making it a popular choice for child-friendly platforms.

However, there are also critical voices pointing to technical limitations. Activation issues due to fatal errors have been reported, hindering usage for some users. There is also a desire for further development of the plugin to include higher resolutions or additional tools, indicating potential for future improvements.

"Wish it had been developed further with somewhat higher resolution and more tools."

Support - Experiences and contact options

Support for the Dooodl plugin is only limitedly addressed in the plugin description, suggesting there is little specific information about contact options or response times. According to available information, there are no documented user experiences with support, neither positive nor negative.

To get help, users can visit the plugin's support forum on WordPress.org. Alternatively, the developer's commercial support is available. These support options suggest that the developer at least provides a basic help channel for users, although further details are lacking.

Overall, the limited information suggests there may be potential for future improvements here, especially to actively optimize user experiences through better support.

"Wish it had been developed further with somewhat higher resolution and more tools."

Rating - User experiences and technical notes

The average rating of the Dooodl plugin is 3.9 out of 5 stars, based on 8 reviews in the WordPress Plugin Directory. These reviews reflect both praise and criticism. Many users appreciate the interactive and fun nature of the plugin. The plugin is especially popular on child-oriented sites.

"It's really great to draw on my site and receive drawings from others."

Not all experiences are positive. Some users report technical difficulties, especially with activating the plugin, which failed due to system errors.

"After installation it could not be activated. WordPress warned that it could not be activated because it caused a 'critical error'."

Despite mixed reviews, the plugin remains popular with many because of its free use and creative possibilities, even though users wish for further development and improvements in features and resolution.

"I use it on a website for kids and they love it."

Criticism - Technical problems and potential for improvement

The WordPress plugin Dooodl has received a variety of criticisms in its user reviews. A frequently mentioned issue is plugin activation being affected by system errors. Users report "fatal errors" occurring during installation that make use impossible. These technical difficulties raise questions about the plugin's stability and reliability.

Additionally, requests for improvements in functionality and overall quality have been expressed. Some users would like expanded features and higher resolution for created drawings. The lack of further development and the absence of regular updates are also points users criticize in their reviews. These aspects suggest that despite its creative approaches and free availability, the plugin still has room for strategic and technical improvements.

"After installation it could not be activated. WordPress warned that it could not be activated because it caused a 'critical error'."

Conclusion - A versatile solution with development potential

The WordPress plugin Dooodl, developed by Ronny Welter, offers users a free, creative way to make their websites interactive. Especially in child-friendly environments it is popular thanks to its doodling-based features. It offers high adaptability through various display methods, enabling seamless integration into websites.

Nevertheless, user reviews reveal that there are technical difficulties during installation that can hinder usage. There is also a desire for additional features and better image resolution. While flexible use and the entertaining offering of the plugin are prominent, there are clear opportunities for improvements in user experience and stability. The potential for further development remains to continuously optimize the plugin and increase user satisfaction.