=== Modern Comments ===
Contributors: thisisvince
Tags: comments, ajax comments, dark mode, elementor, woocommerce
Requires at least: 6.5
Tested up to: 7.0
Requires PHP: 8.0
Stable tag: 1.0.0
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

A modern, accessible comment experience that enhances — never replaces — the native WordPress comment system. Works with block and classic themes.

== Description ==

Modern Comments restyles and enhances the comment area you already have. It builds on top of WordPress's own comment functions rather than swapping in a separate system, so your comments, moderation, spam filtering, and data stay exactly where they are — they just look and behave better.

Because it hooks WordPress at the comment layer (the comments block and the comment template), it is builder-agnostic by design: the same enhancement applies whether your site uses a block theme, a classic theme, or a page builder.

**Tested and supported**

Support is claimed only for environments that have been directly verified: WordPress block themes (verified with Twenty Twenty-Five) and classic themes (verified with Twenty Twenty-One), the bundled Elementor widget, and WooCommerce product reviews. The plugin is *designed* to work with any standards-compliant block or classic theme. Bricks, Beaver Builder, and Oxygen are not yet officially tested; the plugin is expected to enhance any builder that renders the native comment template, and verified support for those will be added based on testing or confirmed user reports rather than assumption.

**Key features**

* Modern comment cards with avatars, clean typography, and threaded-reply rails — on both block (FSE) and classic themes.
* AJAX comment submission: post without a page reload, with inline validation and correct "awaiting moderation" handling for held comments.
* AJAX load-more: load comments in batches instead of pagination.
* Dark mode: automatic (follows the visitor's OS) plus an optional manual toggle that remembers the choice per device.
* A settings page for accent color, border radius, avatar size, batch size, and feature toggles.
* A native Elementor widget that renders the real WordPress comments, with per-instance styling overrides.
* Accessibility-minded: keyboard focus styles, ARIA live regions for status messages, reduced-motion support.
* Lightweight: no jQuery, assets load only where comments appear.

**What it does not do**

This free version focuses on a beautiful, fast, native comment experience. It does not add reactions, mentions, notifications, media uploads, or social login.

== Installation ==

1. Upload the `modern-comments` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`, or install the ZIP via Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin.
2. Activate the plugin through the Plugins menu.
3. Visit any single post or page that has comments enabled — the comment area is enhanced automatically.
4. Adjust options under Settings → Modern Comments.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Does this replace the WordPress comment system? =

No. It enhances the native system. All comments are stored, moderated, and filtered by WordPress exactly as before.

= Will it work with my theme? =

It is built to work with any standards-compliant block or classic theme, because it targets WordPress's own comment output rather than any specific theme.

= Does it work with page builders? =

It includes a native, tested Elementor widget. Bricks, Beaver Builder, and Oxygen have not yet been officially tested. Because the plugin enhances WordPress's native comment output, it is expected to work with any builder that renders the standard comment template — but please confirm in your own setup before relying on it. Verified support for additional builders will be added over time.

= Is comment submission still secure? =

Yes. AJAX submissions are processed by WordPress's own comment pipeline (the same one the standard form uses), with a verification nonce added on top. Held comments are never displayed as if approved.

= Does dark mode change my whole site? =

No. It styles the comment area only. Full-page dark mode is the responsibility of your theme.

== Screenshots ==

1. Modern comment cards with threaded replies on a block theme.
2. The dark-mode toggle and dark palette.
3. The settings page (accent color, avatar size, toggles).
4. The Elementor widget with per-instance styling controls.

== Changelog ==

= 1.0.0 =
* First public release.
* Modern comment cards for block themes and classic themes.
* AJAX comment submission with safe moderation handling.
* AJAX load-more for comments.
* Automatic and manual dark mode (per-device).
* Settings page: accent color, border radius, avatar size, batch size, and feature toggles.
* Native Elementor widget with per-instance styling.
* WooCommerce product review styling, including dark mode and accent.
* Production hardening: WordPress Coding Standards clean, security/performance/accessibility reviewed, and translation-ready (.pot included).

= 0.9.4 =
* WooCommerce product reviews verified and added to officially supported environments.
* WooCommerce reviews: accent color now applies to the star rating and review Submit button; review form styled as a card so labels stay readable in dark mode.

= 0.9.3 =
* WooCommerce reviews: fix leftover inner border on review cards (specificity), and defer review loading to WooCommerce's native pagination on product pages.

= 0.9.2 =
* Add styling for WooCommerce product reviews (CSS-only, scoped to #reviews). Maps the card design and dark mode onto WooCommerce's review markup.

= 0.9.1 =
* Compatibility claims revised to verified-only: official support is stated solely for environments that have been directly tested (block themes, classic themes, Elementor). Release candidate for 1.0.0.

= 0.9.0 =
* Production-readiness pass: WordPress Coding Standards (PHPCS) clean, security/performance/accessibility audit, translation template (.pot), and removal of development artifacts.

= 0.8.0 =
* Native Elementor widget rendering real WordPress comments with per-instance styling.

= 0.7.2 =
* Load-more batch limit applied correctly on block themes.

= 0.7.0 =
* AJAX load-more.

= 0.6.0 =
* Dark-mode toggle with per-device persistence.

= 0.5.0 =
* Settings page (Settings → Modern Comments).

= 0.4.0 =
* AJAX comment submission with safe moderation handling.

= 0.3.0 =
* Classic-theme support.

= 0.2.0 =
* Block-theme card styling and asset pipeline.

= 0.1.0 =
* Initial architecture and rendering-detection layer.

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 1.0.0 =
First public release of Modern Comments.

= 0.9.1 =
Honest, verified-only compatibility claims. Release candidate for the 1.0.0 public release.

= 0.9.0 =
Production-readiness release: coding-standards clean, audited, and translation-ready.
