As a new developer, I recently submitted my first plugin for review, expecting the process to be relatively quick. However, several months have passed, and my plugin is still awaiting approval.
I understand that the Obsidian team is facing an overwhelming number of plugin submissions, and reviewing each one thoroughly is a time-consuming task that requires significant expertise. The reviewers deserve compensation for this valuable work.
My suggestion: Would it be possible to introduce a paid review channel? I believe most plugin developers would be willing to pay a reasonable fee to:
- Receive professional feedback
- Get a faster review process
- Support the review team’s work
This paid option wouldn’t replace the free review process but would provide an alternative for developers who need more timely responses.
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Even though a supporter of equality, I also see the value in having such a service. The Obsidian team and reviewers put in significant effort, and they certainly deserve compensation for their work.
However, this could also create a disadvantage for developers who may not be able to afford it, such as students. Many great plugins have been developed by students, and if a large number of developers opt for the paid service, it could significantly delay the review process for others.
I believe the current first-come, first-served approach works well. If a paid service were to be introduced, perhaps it could focus on providing more detailed feedback rather than expediting the review process—provided this is manageable for the Obsidian team. However, how well such a system would integrate with the existing FCFS mechanism remains uncertain.
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It’s not exactly first come - first serve model now. They use multiple factors to prioritize the queue, and chronological order is just one of those factors. For example, easier plugins are usually reviewed before more complicated ones
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This approach seems unfair. I understand the frustration with delays in plugin submissions, but charging a fee to expedite the process is not the right solution. Most Obsidian plugin developers offer their creations for free, without expecting payment. Introducing a fee to bypass the queue puts pressure on others to pay, disadvantaging those who cannot afford or are unwilling to do so, while encouraging developers who want to profit, as they can offset their costs by paying to accelerate the review process and gain earlier exposure.
Even if the fee is labeled as “optional,” developers who choose not to pay will still face delays. While the review process is crucial for plugin safety, Obsidian does not require official approval for plugin sharing. Tools like BRAT and manual installs allow developers to gather real user feedback before official approval, which can often be more valuable than early visibility. I checked your repo and saw that you’ve already implemented this, so please stay chill.
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