How do I test my plugin without affecting the main application

1. Create a Staging or Test Environment**

One of the most effective ways to test a plugin is by setting up a separate staging or test environment. This environment should be an exact replica of your live application in terms of functionality, design, and content. This approach is particularly useful for platforms like WordPress, where you can create a staging site that mirrors your live site but is not accessible to the public[5].

2. Use a Local Development Server**

For plugins that require a server environment, such as Minecraft plugins, setting up a local development server can be beneficial. This allows you to test your plugin in isolation without affecting the main server. You can run a separate instance of the server on your local machine or a different machine, ensuring that it mimics the production environment as closely as possible[10].

3. Unit Testing and Integration Testing**

Implementing unit tests and integration tests can help ensure that your plugin functions correctly without impacting the main application. Unit tests focus on individual components of your plugin, while integration tests verify how these components interact with each other and the application. This approach is useful for plugins developed in environments like Gradle, where you can use tools like JUnit for testing[3][7].

4. Backup and Restore**

Before testing a plugin in a staging environment, make sure to create a backup of your data. This ensures that if anything goes wrong during testing, you can restore your environment to its original state. For platforms like WordPress, using a backup plugin or manual backup methods is recommended[5].

5. Manual Testing**

Manual testing involves manually interacting with your plugin in the staging environment to ensure it behaves as expected. This can be time-consuming but is essential for catching user experience issues that automated tests might miss. For complex plugins, it's advisable to have multiple users test the plugin to gather diverse feedback[5].

6. Debugging and Error Handling**

During testing, it's crucial to enable debug modes or use tools that provide detailed error messages. This helps in identifying and fixing issues promptly. For example, in WordPress, you can enable debug mode by setting `WP_DEBUG` to `true` in your `wp-config.php` file[5].

7. Composite Builds (Gradle)**

For Gradle plugins, you can use composite builds to include your plugin project directly into a consuming project. This allows you to test changes without publishing the plugin, making it easier to iterate and debug your plugin in a controlled environment[3].

By following these strategies, you can effectively test your plugin without disrupting the main application, ensuring that it is stable and functional before deployment.