plugins: add page for publishing plugins to npm

Author: timmywil

order.json

@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@
     "plugins": [
       "finding-evaluating-plugins",
       "basic-plugin-creation",
+      "publishing-plugins",
       "advanced-plugin-concepts"
     ]
   },

page/plugins/publishing-plugins.md

@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+<script>{
+	"title": "Publishing jQuery Plugins to npm",
+	"level": "intermediate"
+}</script>
+
+Publishing jQuery plugins to npm involves several steps to ensure that your plugin is properly packaged, documented, and easily installable for other developers. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to publish your jQuery plugin to npm:
+
+### 1\. Create Your jQuery Plugin
+
+Write your jQuery plugin code and make sure it follows best practices. Include comments to explain the functionality, parameters, and usage of your plugin. Test your plugin thoroughly to ensure it works as expected.
+
+### 2\. package.json
+
+Create a `package.json` file in the root directory of your plugin project. This file contains metadata about your plugin and its dependencies. Here's a basic example:
+
+```json
+{
+	"name": "your-plugin-name",
+	"version": "1.0.0",
+	"description": "Description of your jQuery plugin",
+	"main": "path-to-main-file.js",
+	"keywords": ["jquery", "jquery-plugin", "ecosystem:jquery"],
+	"author": "Your Name",
+	"license": "MIT",
+	"repository": {
+		"type": "git",
+		"url": "https://github.com/yourusername/your-plugin-name.git"
+	},
+	"bugs": {
+		"url": "https://github.com/yourusername/your-plugin-name/issues"
+	},
+	"homepage": "https://github.com/yourusername/your-plugin-name#readme",
+	"peerDependencies": {
+		"jquery": ">=3.5"
+	}
+}
+```
+
+Make sure to replace `"your-plugin-name"`, `"Description of your jQuery plugin"`, `"Your Name"`, `"https://github.com/yourusername/your-plugin-name.git"`, and other fields with appropriate values.
+
+The `"jquery-plugin"` and `"ecosystem:jquery"` are recommended keywords to help other developers find your plugin on npm.
+
+### 3\. Publish to npm
+
+#### 3\.1\. Create an npm Account
+
+If you haven't already, create an account on [npmjs.com](https://www.npmjs.com/signup).
+
+#### 3\.2\. Log in to npm
+
+In your terminal, log in to npm using the command:
+
+```sh
+npm login
+```
+
+Enter your username, password, and email when prompted.
+
+#### 3\.3\. Publish Your Package
+
+Navigate to the root directory of your plugin project and run:
+
+```sh
+npm publish
+```
+
+This command will package your plugin and publish it to the npm registry. For more details, refer to the [official npm documentation](https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/commands/npm-publish).
+
+### 4\. Documentation
+
+Ensure your plugin has comprehensive documentation. You can create a `README.md` file in the root directory of your project, detailing installation instructions, usage examples, API documentation, and any other relevant information.
+
+### 5\. Versioning
+
+Follow [semantic versioning (SemVer)](https://docs.npmjs.com/about-semantic-versioning) principles when updating your plugin. Increment the version number in your `package.json` file accordingly with each release.
+
+### 6\. Maintenance
+
+Regularly maintain and update your plugin to address issues, add features, and stay compatible with the latest jQuery versions.
+
+### Conclusion
+
+By following these steps, you can successfully publish your jQuery plugin to npm, making it easily accessible to other developers. Remember to keep your plugin well-documented, well-tested, and up-to-date to ensure its usefulness and usability within the developer community.