=== Blast Slider ===
Contributors: felipewp0
Donate link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=FJL4HB8BZX62U
Author URI: https://github.com/felipegbpr
Tags: slider, carousel, gutenberg, elementor, posts
Requires at least: 5.8
Tested up to: 6.8
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 1.0.0
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Create beautiful post carousels with Gutenberg, Elementor, or the [blast_slider] shortcode. Simple, responsive, and blazing fast.

== Description ==

Blast Slider lets you create customizable and responsive post carousels using the Gutenberg block editor, Elementor, or a simple shortcode. Perfect for showcasing recent posts, featured content, or blog categories.

**Features:**

- Gutenberg block support
- Elementor widget support
- Shortcode `[blast_slider]` support with multiple attributes
- Responsive layout with Swiper.js
- Show/hide post title, image, date, and excerpt
- Adjust number of posts and visible slides
- Enable/disable loop and autoplay
- Lightweight and blazing fast

Great for blogs, portfolios, news sites, and more.

== Installation ==

1. Upload the plugin files to the `/wp-content/plugins/blast-slider` directory, or install the plugin through the WordPress plugins screen directly.
2. Activate the plugin through the 'Plugins' screen in WordPress.
3. Use the Gutenberg block editor, Elementor, or the `[blast_slider]` shortcode to insert a carousel into your content.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Does this plugin require Gutenberg or Elementor? =  
You can use either Gutenberg or Elementor — the plugin supports both.

= Can I use it with custom post types? =  
Not yet. The current version supports only standard WordPress posts.

= Is it responsive? =  
Yes, the carousel is powered by Swiper.js and is fully responsive on all devices.

= Why is a placeholder image rendered using <img> instead of wp_get_attachment_image()? =  
The placeholder image used by Blast Slider is a static local file included in the plugin. Since it is not part of the WordPress media library, it does not have an attachment ID, and therefore cannot be used with `wp_get_attachment_image()`. The <img> tag is rendered safely using `wp_kses()` to comply with WordPress security standards.

== Shortcode ==

You can use the `[blast_slider]` shortcode to display a customizable post carousel anywhere on your site — including inside the Classic Editor, widgets, page builders, or templates.

**Basic Usage:**
```
[blast_slider]
```

**Available Attributes:**

- `numberOfPosts` — Total number of posts to display. Default: `6`
- `autoplay` — Enable automatic slide change. Accepts `true` or `false`. Default: `false`
- `autoplaySpeed` — Time in milliseconds between slides (if autoplay is enabled). Default: `3000`
- `theme` — Visual theme of the slider. Accepts `light` or `dark`. Default: `light`
- `showTitle` — Show the post title. Accepts `true` or `false`. Default: `true`
- `showImage` — Show the featured image or a placeholder. Accepts `true` or `false`. Default: `true`
- `showDate` — Display the post publication date. Accepts `true` or `false`. Default: `true`
- `showExcerpt` — Show an excerpt of the post. Accepts `true` or `false`. Default: `true`
- `loop` — Enable infinite loop for the slider. Accepts `true` or `false`. Default: `false`
- `slidesPerView` — Number of visible slides at once. Default: `3`
- `slidesPerGroup` — Number of slides to move per navigation step. Default: `3`
- `spaceBetween` — Space between slides in pixels. Default: `20`

**Example:**
```
[blast_slider numberOfPosts="8" slidesPerView="2" autoplay="true" autoplaySpeed="5000" loop="true" theme="dark"]
```

**In PHP templates:**
```php
echo do_shortcode('[blast_slider numberOfPosts="4" showTitle="false"]');
```

**Notes:**
- If the number of posts is not divisible by `slidesPerGroup` and `loop` is enabled, the slider will be filled with empty slides to maintain smooth looping.
- When no posts are found, a fallback message is shown.
- If no featured image is set, a default placeholder image is displayed.

== Screenshots ==

1. Frontend preview of Blast Slider
2. Gutenberg editor block preview
3. Elementor widget preview
4. Settings dashboard preview

== Development ==

This WordPress.org release contains only compiled production assets.

The full source code (including development files) is available in the project's development repository.

To build from source:

1. npm install
2. npm run build  

== Third-party libraries ==
- Swiper v12.0.2 — MIT License — https://github.com/nolimits4web/swiper

== Changelog ==

= 1.0.0 =
* Initial release
* Gutenberg and Elementor integration
* Post carousel with loop, autoplay, and responsive layout
* Shortcode with full attribute support
* Settings for image, title, excerpt, and more

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 1.0.0 =
First public release with support for Gutenberg, Elementor, and shortcode.