OpenStation vs Simple Client Dashboard

wp-admin forgets. OpenStation doesn’t. You know the moment. You’re deep in a post and you need one image from the Media Library. You click over, find it, click back, and everything you had going is gone. Your scroll position, your half-typed thought, the three other things you had queued up in your head. That’s not a bug you hit. That’s the design. wp-admin shows you one screen at a time, and every navigation throws the last one away. It has worked this way since 2003, like a fridge that empties itself every time you close the door. WordPress has rebuilt almost everything else. The editor, the site editor, the patterns, the styles. The admin’s one-screen-at-a-time model is the layer nobody touched. OpenStation touches it. Install it and admin screens become draggable, resizable windows. Edit a post while the Media Library sits open next to it. Drag an image from one window straight into the other. Keep comments open in the corner. Reload the browser and your window layout — open pages, positions, sizes, and window states — comes back where you left it. OpenStation itself is free, GPL, and opt-in per user. One click in the admin bar turns it on for you. One click turns it off. Nobody else on your site sees anything change, and deactivating the plugin restores the classic admin exactly. No Core patches and no lock-in. Optional AI providers may charge for their service. Built and maintained by Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, Jetpack, WooCommerce, and Tumblr. Work on more than one thing at once Admin pages open as windows, including pages added by most other plugins. Drag them, resize them, snap them, tile them, minimize them to a taskbar. The admin menu becomes a dock of icons. Two editors open at once is one click away. Never lose your place Moving between open windows leaves each page in place. Across reloads, OpenStation remembers your open pages, window positions, sizes and states, virtual desktops, and focus. Closing a window with unsaved changes warns you first. A desk you can actually put things on Drop posts, media, and links right onto the wallpaper. Sort them into folders. Trash them to a Trash that actually holds things. The stuff you’re working on this week can just sit out where you can see it. One desktop per job Virtual desktops, the way your operating system does them. One for writing. One for the store. One for comment triage. One for that redesign you keep poking at. Switch between them without closing anything. Find anything with Cmd+K The full WordPress command palette, plus slash commands from your plugins, all under one keystroke. Turn on the optional AI assistant and you can ask it things like “which post had the comment asking for the recipe?” and it searches your own content to answer. (Requires an AI provider configured in Settings → Connectors on WordPress 7.0+. Details under “External services” below.) See how your site fits together The Corkboard is an interactive, zoomable map of how your posts, pages, and products link to each other. Pan around it. Find the orphans. Find the hubs. Running a store? Orders, Products, Coupons, and Customers become browsable folders with stock and sale ribbons. Open a customer to see their lifetime spend and what they buy most. Follow a product to its buyers, or a coupon to who redeemed it. Make it yours Wallpapers, from color presets to animated scenes to your own photo. Live widgets pinned to the desktop: drafts, stats, recent comments, a focus timer. Uploadable desktop themes, including a built-in Legacy theme that brings the old WordPress blue back in one click. And Mio, a soft-body desk companion that drifts across your wallpaper and gets bumped around by your windows. Off by default. You’ll turn it on. For developers Extend OpenStation through documented PHP and JavaScript APIs. Register windows, icons, wallpapers, widgets, commands, and settings tabs through stable openstation_register_* PHP APIs and a typed JavaScript API; customize dock items through documented hooks; add AI tools with the WordPress Abilities API. Copy-paste examples live in the developer docs on GitHub. External services No external service is required for OpenStation’s desktop interface. The optional AI Assistant and two user-initiated enrichment features make the external requests described below. AI Assistant The optional AI Assistant sends data to the AI provider you configure in WordPress’s Settings → Connectors (for example OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google). Generation is routed through WordPress 7.0’s built-in AI Client, which supplies the credentials stored in Connectors. The plugin never handles an API key itself. With no provider configured in Connectors, no external AI requests are made. When the AI Assistant is enabled and a user invokes it (via Cmd+K or the slash-command palette): What is sent: the user’s prompt, the conversation history for the active session, and tool-call metadata. The plugin’s built-in tools (search_posts, search_pages, search_comments) run WordPress’s native keyword search and may include excerpts of the matching posts/pages/comments in tool results, which are then sent back to the provider as part of the agentic loop. When it is sent: on user-initiated AI requests, and (if an administrator enables “Score new comments with AI”) on comment-save hooks for spam analysis. Posts, pages, and taxonomy terms are not sent automatically. Why it is sent: to obtain model completions and tool-call decisions that drive the AI Assistant. Who provides the service: whichever provider you configured in Settings → Connectors. Which provider (and endpoint) receives the data depends entirely on that configuration. Review the chosen provider’s own terms and privacy policy (e.g. OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google). URL shortcut favicons When an authorized user creates a desktop shortcut to an external URL, OpenStation asks that URL for its page HTML and favicon so the shortcut can display the site’s icon. The request is made from your WordPress server and sends the requested URL, the server’s IP address, an OpenStation user-agent string, and normal HTTP request metadata to the operator of that site. This happens only when a user creates the shortcut. The destination site’s terms and privacy policy apply. WordPress.org plugin information When an authorized user opens or refreshes parts of OpenStation’s Plugins window, OpenStation may request public plugin details, update metadata, and review excerpts from WordPress.org. These requests send plugin slugs, the site’s locale, and normal HTTP request metadata to WordPress.org. This information is used only to display and manage plugins. Review the WordPress.org Privacy Policy. OpenStation’s OAuth relay does not contact a service by itself. Third-party plugins that configure the relay may contact their own providers and are responsible for disclosing those services. Credits OpenStation is brought to you by Automattic. The plugin is open source under GPLv2-or-later; contributions are welcome on GitHub. Third-party libraries The plugin bundles the following third-party JavaScript library, loaded on demand only when a feature that needs it is in use: PixiJS (MIT License) — used by the Corkboard window, built-in canvas wallpapers (e.g. the animated WordPress logo), the Mio desk companion, and the Inkfall typing game. PixiJS is loaded from the plugin’s own assets/vendor/ directory; no CDN requests are made. Data files The Inkfall game’s word list (assets/games/inkfall/words.txt) is generated from the following sources (attribution also ships in the file’s header): FrequencyWords by Hermit Dave (CC-BY-SA 4.0) — English word-frequency ranking derived from the OpenSubtitles corpus. english-words by dwyl (Unlicense) — used as a validity filter. LDNOOBW English list (CC-BY 4.0) — used as an exclusion filter.

Simple Client Dashboard offers a new “Admin” user role, which fits perfectly between the default WordPress roles for Administrator and Editor access. This allows clients and Webmasters to manage their website content without you having to worry about critical settings or information being removed or adjusted. Preserve your hard work Avoid unexpected messes and troubleshooting sessions One-click access restriction Incorporate Into Your Clients Site with Ease Getting started with Simple Client Dashboard is a breeze — unlike other full user-role solutions that eat up your time, this one won’t have you scratching your head or testing endlessly. Simply install this on your client’s site right from the get-go and it’s smooth sailing from there. There’s little to no setup required, just install Simple Client Dashboard, and you’ll instantly have access to the new “Admin” user role. If you’d like to adjust the “Admin” role, the free plugin offers a clean and tidy interface so that you can make adjustments. And, Simple Client Dashboard Pro, lets you further customize permissions for more advanced third party plugins. Give Clients and Webmasters The Access They Need Restrict access to only the features and functions they need to manage their site – without breaking it! Restrict their capabilities and permissions just enough to make sure no unexpected problems arise as they begin working on their website. Simple and Clean “Admin” Role Editing Interface The Simple Client Dashboard offers a clean and straightforward editing interface for the new “Admin” role. Effortlessly make updates to the permissions and abilities that your clients have on their websites with a few clicks. Simple Client Dashboard creates a new user role named “Admin” which is similar to the default “Administrator” role, but with the following changes: Hides Non-essential and Troublesome WordPress Dashboard Items Hide the WordPress Settings menu Hide the WordPress Plugins menu Hide the WordPress Tools menu Hide the WordPress Users menu Hide the WordPress Appearance > Editor tab Disable the theme installation button Disable theme-switching buttons Disable the WordPress Core Updates button (More options in Simple Client Dashboard Pro) Simple Client Dashboard PRO also provides Third Party Plugin Constraints Upgrade to Simple Client Dashboard Pro to get even more control over how the Admin role can interact with popular third party plugins. Other user role solutions expect you to enter raw code names for permissions or are limited to capabilities that WordPress exposes by default. While Simple Client Dashboard takes it a step further by custom coding beyond standard WordPress permissions. Advanced Custom Fields – Hide ACF menu and settings, including definitions, rules, and fields. Custom Post Types – Restrict ability to create Custom Post Types. Contact Form 7 – Restrict the ability to create new forms, delete forms, and edit forms but allow the Admin role to view submissions. Draw Attention – Restrict ability to add Draw Attention images. Easy Digital Downloads – Allow the Admin role to manage products, manage customer payments, manage reports & sales data, and/or manage settings Five Star Business Profile and Scheme – Hide business profile settings. Gravity Forms – Restrict the ability to create new forms, delete forms, and preview forms. Only allow the Admin role to edit forms and view submissions. iThemes Security – Hide iThemes security menus and settings. Jetpack – Hide the Jetpack stats. LearnDash – Restrict permissions to edit courses, assignments, groups and the group leader. Ninja Forms – Restrict the ability to import and export forms, manage settings or extensions, and view the system status. Only allow the Admin role to edit forms and view submissions. Redirection – Remove permission to manage URL redirection settings. Revolution Slider – Restrict access to the Revolution Slider menu. Simple Custom CSS – Hide option to add CSS. SiteGround Optimizer – Hide the Optimizer settings menu. Sucuri Scanner – Hide security scan information. TablePress – Hide the TablePress Options screen. Only allow the Admin role to show, edit, import, and export TablePress content. The Events Calendar – Restrict the Admin role’s ability to manage and delete events, venues, and organizers. WooCommerce – Hide the settings. Only allow the Admin role to edit & view products, coupons, or orders, allow the Admin role to view reports. Wordfence – Hide the Wordfence Dashboard Widget WordPress Plugins – Restrict ability to install, activate, update, edit, and delete plugins. WordPress Themes – Restrict ability to install, update, switch, edit, or delete themes. Only allow the Admin role to edit theme options such as widgets, menus, and the Customizer. WP All Import – Remove ability to use WP All Import Settings Menu. Yoast SEO – Hide Yoast SEO settings menu and hide the SEO meta box when editing pages/posts. 2.1.7.1 New: Added support for Jetpack Stats 2.1.7.0 New: Added GoPricing Plugin Support New: Added Revolution Slider Plugin Support New: Added Boss Theme Support New: Added Canvas Theme Support New: Added Genesis Theme Support 2.1.6.1 Fixed: members_get_capabilities() conflict with Members plugin Fixed: CF7 issues with update Improved: EDD capabilities 2.1.6.0 New: Added Ninja Forms Plugin Support New: Added LearnDash Plugin Support New: Added Envato Toolkit Plugin Support New: Added CPTUI Plugin Support New: Added Wordfence Plugin Support New: Added Google Analytics Plugin by Yoast Support New: Added Divi Theme Support New: Added NativeChurch Theme Support Update: Improved Portuguese Language Support Fixed: Contact Form 7 Support 2.1.5.0 New: Added Settings link in plugins list New: Added Easy Digital Downloads Module New: Added iThemes Exchange Module New: Added WooCommerce Module New: Added Event Espresso Module New: Added Events Calendar Module New: Added WP All Import Module New: Added Siteground SuperCacher Module New: Theme support for Avian theme New: Theme support for Cardinal theme New: Theme support for Ken theme New: Theme support for Total theme Update: Improved Gravity Forms Module Update: Improved i18n New: Serbian Language Support New: Portuguese Language Support (PT & BR) Fix: multisite activation bug with _blogs() function Fix: Improve Yoast SEO module Fix: Fatal error with CF7 module Fix: config array error on Multisite Fix: removed Administrator from editable roles 2.1.3.1 Improved: Show Yoast metabox when editing pages (still hide settings) by default 2.1.3.0 New: Hide Users menu (often requested, and really the webmaster user couldn’t do much in this screen anyway) New: Add support for ACF5 (hide Custom Fields Menu compatible with new version) New: Add support for Contact Form 7 New: Add support for iThemes Security 2.1.2.1 New: Add support for TablePress [https://wordpress.org/plugins/tablepress/] 2.1.2.0 Multisite bugfix: Prevent webmaster from removing users from individual sites Multisite bugfix: Stop removing Settings & Tools from network administrator 2.1.1.1 New: Now hides non-essential dashboard items Fixed: Fixes a conflict with Mizzo theme (thanks djesch) 2.1.1.0 New: Add support for Sucuri Scanner [https://wordpress.org/plugins/sucuri-scanner/] New: Add support for Advanced Custom Fields [https://wordpress.org/plugins/advanced-custom-fields/] New: Remove tools menu – so webmaster users can’t import/export/migrate/find&replace 2.1.0.9 New: Add support for Ultimate Branding [http://premium.wpmudev.org/project/ultimate-branding/] 2.1.0.8 Improved: Add Gravity Forms edit_forms capability as an option (only allows entry viewing by default) via filter: add_filter( ‘td-webmaster-user-roleoption_cap_gravityforms_edit_forms’, __return_true ); 2.1.0.7 New: Remove settings menu from wp-admin 2.1.0.5 New: Remove capability to delete users 2.1.0.4 New: Add “editor” cap for role so plugins checking for “editor” explicitly work 2.1.0.3 New: Remove capabiilty to add, edit, promote users New: Remove capability to update core 2.1.0.2 Initial Release