Title: Bigfoot Open Wall Author: iBigfoot Published: November 9, 2026 Last modified: November 9, 2026 --- Search plugins ![](https://ps.w.org/bigfoot-open-wall/assets/banner-772x250.png?rev=3792896) ![](https://ps.w.org/bigfoot-open-wall/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=3792896) # Bigfoot Open Wall By [iBigfoot](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ibigfoot/) [Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/bigfoot-open-wall.0.3.3.zip) * [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/bigfoot-open-wall/#description) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/bigfoot-open-wall/#reviews) * [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/bigfoot-open-wall/#installation) * [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/bigfoot-open-wall/#developers) [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/bigfoot-open-wall/) ## Description Bigfoot Open Wall brings public posts from Mastodon, Pixelfed and other RSS/Atom feeds together in one responsive, chronological social wall for WordPress. Feeds are fetched server-side and cached locally using WordPress transients. Regular page views therefore use cached feed data instead of contacting every configured source again on each visit. No embeds. No bundled analytics. No third-party JavaScript. No scraping. Bigfoot Open Wall is designed for site owners who publish or follow content across the open social web but still want their own website to remain the central place where visitors can find that activity. Features include: * Mastodon RSS support * Pixelfed Atom support * Additional RSS/Atom feeds with custom display names * Per-feed diagnostics for reachability, format, item count and media detection * Manual feed validation from the WordPress admin * Responsive masonry-style layout * Centered source filter bar * Full post text without automatic truncation * Image and multi-image support when supplied by the source feed * Source-aware client-side Load more pagination * Native dynamic Gutenberg block * Shortcode support * Original-item links * WordPress transient caching * Configurable wall width, cache duration, initial post count and batch size * Bundled German interface translation * No bundled analytics or tracking * No third-party JavaScript dependencies The Gutenberg block uses the feeds configured globally under Settings > Bigfoot Open Wall. It can override the initial number of visible posts and can show or hide the source filters. The frontend uses the same PHP rendering and cache logic as the shortcode. Generic RSS and Atom feeds vary in how they expose media. Text, dates and links are generally portable; image support depends on the source feed. Instagram is not included and is not a near-term roadmap priority. Scraping is intentionally not used. Any future proprietary-platform connector would require a suitable official API and a maintainable privacy-conscious implementation. ### External services Bigfoot Open Wall only contacts feed URLs that a site administrator explicitly configures. Configured RSS and Atom feeds are fetched server-side through WordPress. When a feed is refreshed or explicitly checked with Feed diagnostics, the remote feed provider receives a request from the web server. Depending on normal web-server behavior, this can include information such as the server IP address, request headers and the requested feed URL. Normalized feed data is cached locally using WordPress transients. By default, cached feed data is kept for 30 minutes, so regular page views do not request the configured feed sources again on every visit. Media files are not mirrored locally by Bigfoot Open Wall. Images are loaded from the media URLs published by the source feed. This means that when a visitor views a social wall containing remote images, the visitor’s browser may contact those media servers directly and transmit normal request information such as the visitor’s IP address, browser headers and the requested media URL. Bigfoot Open Wall does not itself add analytics, tracking scripts, advertising services or third-party JavaScript. Because Mastodon, Pixelfed and generic RSS/Atom feeds can be hosted by many independent providers, there is no single third-party service or privacy policy that applies to all configured sources. Site administrators should review the privacy policies and terms of the specific feed and media providers they choose to configure. ## Screenshots [⌊Bigfoot Open Wall on desktop: a chronological masonry-style feed with the centered source filter bar for switching between all configured sources or a single feed.⌉⌊ Bigfoot Open Wall on desktop: a chronological masonry-style feed with the centered source filter bar for switching between all configured sources or a single feed.⌉[ Bigfoot Open Wall on desktop: a chronological masonry-style feed with the centered source filter bar for switching between all configured sources or a single feed. [⌊Bigfoot Open Wall settings for Mastodon, Pixelfed and additional public RSS/Atom feeds, shown with neutral example URLs together with the display and caching options.⌉⌊ Bigfoot Open Wall settings for Mastodon, Pixelfed and additional public RSS/Atom feeds, shown with neutral example URLs together with the display and caching options .⌉[ Bigfoot Open Wall settings for Mastodon, Pixelfed and additional public RSS/Atom feeds, shown with neutral example URLs together with the display and caching options. [⌊The social wall on a smaller screen, preserving readable cards, media and source filters in a responsive layout.⌉⌊The social wall on a smaller screen, preserving readable cards, media and source filters in a responsive layout.⌉[ The social wall on a smaller screen, preserving readable cards, media and source filters in a responsive layout. [⌊The native Bigfoot Open Wall Gutenberg block in the WordPress editor, using the globally configured feeds and dynamic frontend rendering.⌉⌊The native Bigfoot Open Wall Gutenberg block in the WordPress editor, using the globally configured feeds and dynamic frontend rendering.⌉[ The native Bigfoot Open Wall Gutenberg block in the WordPress editor, using the globally configured feeds and dynamic frontend rendering. ## Blocks This plugin provides 1 block. * Bigfoot Open Wall Display the configured Bigfoot Open Wall feeds. ## Installation 1. Install and activate Bigfoot Open Wall. 2. Go to Settings > Bigfoot Open Wall. 3. Add a Mastodon RSS feed, Pixelfed Atom feed or another public RSS/Atom feed. 4. Adjust display and caching options if needed. 5. Add the Bigfoot Open Wall block to a page or post. Alternatively, add `[open_social_wall]`. ## FAQ ### Does it require an API key? No. Bigfoot Open Wall uses public RSS/Atom feeds and does not require an API key for the currently supported sources. ### How do I use the Gutenberg block? Add the Bigfoot Open Wall block from the block inserter. Feed URLs remain configured globally under Settings > Bigfoot Open Wall. In the block inspector you can choose the number of posts shown initially and whether source filters are displayed. The block is rendered dynamically on the frontend and uses the same feed and cache logic as the shortcode. ### Is the shortcode still supported? Yes. `[open_social_wall]` remains fully supported and can be used alongside the Gutenberg block. The shortcode name is preserved for backward compatibility. ### Can I add feeds other than Mastodon or Pixelfed? Yes. Use Additional feeds in Settings > Bigfoot Open Wall. Each additional source can have its own display name, which is shown in the source filter bar and on its cards. ### How can I check whether a configured feed works? Open Settings > Bigfoot Open Wall and use the Feed diagnostics section. It shows the latest validation result for each configured source, including feed format, item count, media detection and an actionable error state where available. Use Check feeds now to run an explicit server-side validation. ### How does caching work? Feed data is fetched server-side and cached locally using WordPress transients. The default cache duration is 30 minutes. Normal page views use the cached data until it expires, so configured feed sources are not contacted on every page load. ### Are images cached locally? No. Media files are currently loaded from the URLs supplied by the source feed. This means a visitor’s browser may contact the remote media host when an image is displayed. See the External services section for details. ### Does Bigfoot Open Wall use embeds or third-party JavaScript? No. Posts are normalized from their RSS/Atom data and rendered by the plugin. Bigfoot Open Wall does not bundle third-party JavaScript, analytics or tracking scripts. The Gutenberg editor integration uses JavaScript APIs provided by WordPress itself. ### Does it support Instagram? No. Instagram support is currently deprioritized. If it is explored later, it would use an official API where practical; the project does not scrape Instagram. ### Why can I not load older posts? RSS and Atom sources often publish only a limited number of recent items. Bigfoot Open Wall cannot retrieve history that is not present in the source feed. ### Do cards link back to the original item? Cards link to the item URLs provided by their source feeds and open them in a new tab. A known edge case involving later thread posts can link to the first post of the thread; this is being investigated. ## Reviews There are no reviews for this plugin. ## Contributors & Developers “Bigfoot Open Wall” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin. Contributors * [ iBigfoot ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ibigfoot/) [Translate “Bigfoot Open Wall” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/bigfoot-open-wall) ### Interested in development? [Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/bigfoot-open-wall/), check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/bigfoot-open-wall/), or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/bigfoot-open-wall/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/bigfoot-open-wall/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss). ## Changelog #### 0.3.3 * Clarified plugin author identity and WordPress.org contributor metadata. No functional changes. #### 0.3.2 * Aligned the WordPress.org plugin slug, PHP/JavaScript text domain and Gutenberg block metadata with `bigfoot-open-wall`. * Renamed the installable plugin folder and entry file for the review-requested directory slug. * Renamed and rebuilt bundled German translations for the new text domain. * Preserved all `ibfosw_*` settings and diagnostics, the `[open_social_wall]` shortcode, and the existing Gutenberg block name. * Documented the manual upgrade from the old directory to avoid simultaneous activation. * Limited source-filter and Load more button styling to the plugin component to avoid theme CSS overrides. #### 0.3.1 * Renamed the public product to Bigfoot Open Wall. * Replaced short global runtime identifiers with the unique IBFOSW_/ibfosw_ prefix for WordPress.org review readiness. * Added automatic migration of existing pre-0.3.1 settings, diagnostics, status options and cache metadata. * Updated Gutenberg, admin, privacy-policy helper and documentation names consistently. * Preserved the existing `[open_social_wall]` shortcode and block name for backward compatibility. * Updated roadmap language to reflect the current priority order and the deprioritization of proprietary platform connectors such as Instagram. #### 0.3.0 * Added per-feed diagnostics in Settings > Open Social Wall with reachability, detected format, item count, media detection, timestamp and concise errors. * Added a manual Check feeds now action with WordPress capability and nonce protection. * Added bundled German translations for the plugin settings, diagnostics, Gutenberg controls and frontend labels. * Improved source filtering so Load more works against the complete loaded pool for the selected source. * Improved the Gutenberg block inspector so the effective plugin default is always visible and can be restored explicitly. * Fixed the Gutenberg settings link so it opens the full Open Social Wall settings page instead of a mixed editor view. * Improved format display for configured Mastodon and Pixelfed feeds when automatic detection cannot complete. * Kept diagnostics local to WordPress and added no analytics, tracking or external diagnostic service. #### 0.2.0 * Added a native dynamic Gutenberg block as an alternative to the shortcode. * Added block controls for initial post count and source-filter visibility. * Added a lightweight editor placeholder with a link to the global plugin settings. * Kept feed configuration centralized under Settings > Open Social Wall. * Reused the existing server-side feed, cache and rendering logic without adding a Node/npm build step. * Kept the existing `[open_social_wall]` shortcode fully supported. #### 0.1.1 * Added clearer external-service and privacy documentation. * Added WordPress privacy-policy helper text. * Moved admin CSS and JavaScript into enqueued assets. * Improved card accessibility by avoiding nested interactive semantics. * Replaced direct database transient cleanup with WordPress transient APIs. * Prepared metadata for WordPress.org submission. #### 0.1.0 * Initial public release. * Mastodon RSS and Pixelfed Atom aggregation. * Additional RSS/Atom sources with custom display names. * Responsive masonry layout. * Centered source filters and client-side Load more pagination. * WordPress transient caching. ## Meta * Version **0.3.3** * Last updated **9 hours ago** * Active installations **Fewer than 10** * WordPress version ** 6.0 or higher ** * Tested up to **7.1.4** * PHP version ** 7.4 or higher ** * Tags * [fediverse](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/fediverse/)[mastodon](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/mastodon/) [pixelfed](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/pixelfed/)[rss](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/rss/) [social feed](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/social-feed/) * [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/bigfoot-open-wall/advanced/) ## Ratings No reviews have been submitted yet. [Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/bigfoot-open-wall/reviews/#new-post) [See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/bigfoot-open-wall/reviews/) ## Contributors * [ iBigfoot ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ibigfoot/) ## Support Got something to say? Need help? [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/bigfoot-open-wall/)