=== Comments – EchoThread ===
Contributors: cigan1
Tags: comments, comment moderation, spam protection, threaded comments, privacy
Requires at least: 5.8
Tested up to: 7.1
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 1.2.0
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

A fast, privacy-first Disqus alternative for WordPress: threaded comments, reactions, and ML spam filtering. No ads, no tracking, no data resale.

== Description ==

**EchoThread** is a lightweight, privacy-first comment system — a modern [Disqus alternative](https://echothread.io) that doesn't sell your readers' data or inject ads. This plugin drops EchoThread into any WordPress theme with no code: enter your site key, choose where comments appear, and you're live.

It's a thin wrapper around the hosted EchoThread widget (~55 KB gzipped, loaded async from a CDN). All storage, rendering, moderation, and spam filtering happen in the hosted service, so the plugin adds **no tracking, no database tables, and no page-weight beyond the widget script**.

= Why EchoThread =

* **Privacy-first** — no ad tech, no third-party trackers, no data resale. GDPR-friendly.
* **AI / ML spam filtering** — machine-learning moderation catches AI-generated comment spam that keyword filters miss.
* **Real moderation controls** — a per-site restricted-word list, ban or trust individual commenters in one click, and auto-close discussions on older posts.
* **Threaded replies & reactions** — a modern discussion UX, not a flat list.
* **Fast** — one async script, zero render-blocking, no jQuery.
* **Free tier** — get started without a credit card.
* **Disqus migration** — import your existing comments via WXR so no conversations are lost.

= How it works =

1. Create a free account and a site at [echothread.io](https://echothread.io/register?utm_source=wordpress&utm_medium=plugin&utm_campaign=readme).
2. Install and activate this plugin.
3. Go to **Settings → EchoThread Comments**, paste your **shortname** and **API key**.
4. Choose placement — *Replace the theme comments* (recommended), *Append below content*, or *Manual* via the `[echothread]` shortcode.

That's it. Comments render on your posts immediately.

= Privacy =

This plugin loads `https://cdn.echothread.io/widget.js` on singular posts/pages where comments are enabled. The widget communicates with the EchoThread API to load and post comments. The plugin itself sets no cookies and collects no personal data. See the [EchoThread privacy policy](https://echothread.io/privacy) for how the hosted service handles comment data.

== Installation ==

1. Upload the `threadbridge-comments-for-echothread` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`, or install via **Plugins → Add New**.
2. Activate the plugin through the **Plugins** screen.
3. Visit **Settings → EchoThread Comments** and enter your site **shortname** and **API key** from your EchoThread dashboard.
4. Save. Comments appear on your posts according to the placement you chose.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Do I need an EchoThread account? =

Yes — create one free at echothread.io. The plugin needs your site's shortname and public API key.

= Is the API key safe to expose? =

Yes. The API key is a public, embeddable credential designed to live in page HTML. It only lets visitors load and post comments on your registered site; it cannot access or change your account.

= Will this slow down my site? =

No. The widget is ~55 KB gzipped, loads asynchronously from a CDN, and never blocks page rendering. The plugin adds no other assets.

= Can I migrate my existing WordPress or Disqus comments? =

Yes. Export your WordPress comments from **Tools → Export** (WXR), then import them in your EchoThread dashboard. Disqus XML exports are also supported.

= Does the plugin track my visitors? =

No. The plugin adds no analytics, no cookies, and no third-party trackers.

= How do I show comments somewhere specific? =

Set placement to **Manual** and add the `[echothread]` shortcode wherever you want the thread to appear.

== Screenshots ==

1. The whole setup: paste your shortname and API key, choose where comments go, save. No code, no database tables.
2. EchoThread on a post — threaded replies, emoji reactions, and one-tap Google or GitHub sign-in. No ads anywhere in the thread.
3. The hosted moderation queue: ML spam filtering flags the junk before readers see it, and you can approve, reject, ban, or trust a commenter in one click.
4. The same thread on a phone — the widget is responsive out of the box and inherits your theme's light or dark mode.

== Changelog ==

= 1.2.0 =
* Renamed to “Comments – EchoThread”. Same plugin, same settings, same slug — the old name hid what it actually does. The settings screen now lives under **Settings → EchoThread Comments**.
* The feature list now mentions the moderation tools that shipped alongside it: a per-site restricted-word list, per-commenter ban/trust, and auto-closing discussions on older posts.

= 1.1.0 =
* Fixed: "Replace the theme comments" now works on block themes. Block themes render a comments block instead of calling the classic comments template, so on every default theme since Twenty Twenty-Two the recommended placement silently did nothing and the native comments stayed put.
* Fixed: on classic themes the widget no longer breaks out of the content column. The replacement template re-declares the comment area's wrapper, so themes that constrain comment width keep constraining it.
* Tested up to WordPress 7.1.

= 1.0.0 =
* Initial release: settings page (shortname, API key, placement, theme, accent color), replace/append/shortcode placement, async widget loading, WXR migration guidance, multisite-safe uninstall.

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 1.2.0 =
A rename only — the plugin is now “Comments – EchoThread” and its settings screen is at Settings → EchoThread Comments. No configuration changes, nothing to redo.

= 1.1.0 =
Fixes "Replace the theme comments" on block themes, where it previously did nothing. Recommended for anyone on Twenty Twenty-Two or later.

= 1.0.0 =
First release of ThreadBridge Comments for EchoThread.
