=== Shortlix Carousel for YouTube ===
Contributors: noumanqamar450
Tags: youtube shorts, video carousel, youtube slider, slick slider, video grid
Requires at least: 5.0
Tested up to: 7.0
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 1.5
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

A highly optimized, feature-rich WordPress plugin designed to seamlessly fetch and display your YouTube Shorts in a responsive, customizable carousel.

== Description ==

Built utilizing the highly efficient YouTube Data API v3 structural hidden playlist mechanics, this plugin bypasses tedious standard query loops, ensures fast page speeds via WordPress Transients, and provides a beautiful, native, tab-separated admin dashboard.

### Key Features:
* **YouTube v3 API Integration**: Safely and quickly fetch raw playlist data directly from official Google servers.
* **Smart Performance Caching**: Uses the WordPress Transients API to store video data locally for 12 hours, drastically reducing external API overhead and page load times.
* **Fully Tailored Slick Slider Engine**: Complete responsive controls for infinite looping, arrows, dot navigation, desktop mouse dragging, autoplay speeds, and slide transition timing.
* **Advanced Styling Controls**: Customize card drop shadows, border-radius layouts, background bases, and navigation colors directly from your WP Admin dashboard.
* **Native Tabbed Dashboard UI**: Clean layout built completely matching the native WordPress styling architecture for seamless site management.

== Installation ==

1. Upload the `shortlix-carousel-for-youtube` folder to the `/wp-content/plugins/` directory.
2. Activate the plugin through the 'Plugins' menu in WordPress.
3. Navigate to **YT Shorts Setup** in your sidebar admin menu to input your YouTube v3 API key and Channel ID.
4. Drop the shortcode `[shorcafo_carousel]` onto any post, page, or widget layout area.

== Shortcodes ==

Deploying the carousel slider engine onto your site frontend requires a single tag:
`[shorcafo_carousel]`

### Shortcode Attribute Overrides:
You can conditionally bypass your dashboard global options by declaring inline attributes:
* `api_key`: Explicitly pass an alternative Google developer authorization string.
* `channel_id`: Override the default channel target to render another creator's feed.
* `count`: Set a strict limit on the absolute number of short videos to process.

*Example usage:*
`[shorcafo_carousel count="6" channel_id="UC_EXAMPLE_CHANNEL_ID"]`

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Where do I get a YouTube API Key? =
You can generate a free server-side browser access token by visiting the official Google Developers Console, activating the **YouTube Data API v3** library, and creating a standard credential API key.

= Why are my changes not appearing immediately on the frontend? =
The plugin features an internal security and performance runtime cache using WordPress Transients to keep page loading speeds near instant. Video feeds refresh automatically every 12 hours. If you need to see structural layout changes immediately, modify one of the values inside your **YT Shorts Setup** dashboard or briefly switch your target feed count parameter to clear out the active cache.

= Does this plugin inject script libraries sitewide? =
No. The underlying Slick Slider layout engine, custom CSS variables, and native jQuery dependencies are selectively conditionally enqueued *only* when a target page layout explicitly detects the presence of the `[yt_shorts_carousel]` shortcode asset block.

== Screenshots ==

1. The API connection configuration tab workspace for fast setup verification.
2. Comprehensive configuration controls for managing responsive breakpoints, sliding behaviors, and transition mechanics.
3. Frontend user card interface showing embedded responsive players arranged cleanly inside a scaling slider environment.

== Changelog ==

= 1.4 =
* Fix repository naming constraints and brand guidelines.
* Implement robust escaping optimizations across backend dashboard interfaces.
* Add comprehensive third-party service connection legal declarations.

= 1.0 =
* Initial baseline production engine release.

== External Services ==

This plugin connects to external third-party services to fetch and display video content. 

1. **YouTube Data API v3 (googleapis.com)**
   * **Used for**: Fetching public playlist data and short video details from your designated channel.
   * **Data sent**: Sends API keys, target channel identifiers, and item result counts. No personal user data is collected or tracked.
   * **Links**: [YouTube API Terms of Service](https://developers.google.com/youtube/terms/api-services-terms-of-service) and [Google Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy)

2. **YouTube Embedded Player (youtube.com)**
   * **Used for**: Rendering and playing selected short videos directly in the frontend Slick carousel slider frame wrappers.
   * **Data sent**: Video asset identification tracking codes.
   * **Links**: [YouTube Terms of Service](https://www.youtube.com/t/terms) and [Google Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy)