=== Init Recent Comments – Templated, Modern, Minimal ===
Contributors: brokensmile.2103  
Tags: comments, recent comments, widget, shortcode, template  
Requires at least: 5.5  
Tested up to: 6.8  
Requires PHP: 7.4  
Stable tag: 1.0  
License: GPLv2 or later  
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html  

Display recent comments with customizable templates and clean CSS. Lightweight, flexible, and built for modern WordPress sites.

== Description ==

**Init Recent Comments** is a developer-friendly plugin that lets you display the latest comments anywhere via a simple shortcode. It uses clean HTML, minimal CSS, and fully customizable templates.

No widgets, no bloated options. Just lightweight, extendable code — made for real sites.

Key design goals:

- Templated rendering with override support from themes
- Clean CSS you can disable or replace
- REST-ready architecture (future-proof)
- No jQuery, no nonsense

Perfect for blogs, news sites, or anyone who wants a better way to show active discussions.

== Features ==

- Simple shortcode: `[init_recent_comments]`
- Template-based rendering (`comment-item.php`, `wrapper.php`)
- CSS can be disabled to use your theme's design
- No widgets, no jQuery, no frontend bloat
- Developer-ready: extend with filters, REST, and lazy loading (planned)
- Translation-ready (`.pot` included)

== Usage ==

Use the shortcode anywhere:

`[init_recent_comments number="5" maxheight="400px"]`

Attributes:

- `number` – Total comments to show (default: 5)
- `maxheight` – Optional max height with scroll and hidden scrollbar (example: `300px`)

To override templates, create the folder in your theme:

    your-theme/
    └── init-recent-comments/
        ├── wrapper.php
        └── comment-item.php

== Installation ==

1. Upload the plugin folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`
2. Activate via **Plugins → Init Recent Comments**
3. Use the shortcode `[init_recent_comments]` in any page or widget
4. Optional: Visit **Settings → Init Recent Comments** to disable built-in CSS

== Screenshots ==

1. Settings page with CSS toggle

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Can I disable the plugin’s CSS? =  
Yes! Go to **Settings → Init Recent Comments** and check the box to disable built-in styling.

= Can I customize the comment HTML? =  
Absolutely. Copy `templates/comment-item.php` and `templates/wrapper.php` to your theme to override the output.

= Will this plugin slow down my site? =  
No. It uses `get_comments()` with sane defaults, no extra queries, no JavaScript.

== Changelog ==

= 1.0 – June 16, 2025 =  
- Initial release  
- Static shortcode `[init_recent_comments]`  
- Basic settings page to toggle CSS  
- Template override support  
- Clean CSS with disable option

== License ==

This plugin is licensed under the GPLv2 or later.  
You are free to use, modify, and distribute it under the same license.