Embed in WordPress
HowdyGo has an official WordPress plugin that makes embedding interactive demos simple. The plugin supports three embedding methods: paste-to-embed, a shortcode, and a Classic Editor toolbar button.
Installing the Plugin
- Download the latest plugin release .
- In your WordPress admin, go to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin.
- Upload the downloaded zip file and click Install Now.
- Click Activate.
No configuration or API keys are needed. You can start embedding demos immediately.
The plugin supports WordPress 6.0+ and PHP 7.4+. It will automatically check for updates from GitHub, so you’ll be notified when new versions are available.
Paste-to-Embed
The simplest way to embed a demo is to paste a HowdyGo share link (e.g. https://app.howdygo.com/share/abc123) on its own line in the editor. WordPress will automatically convert it into a responsive embed using oEmbed.
Shortcode
For more control, use the [howdygo] shortcode:
[howdygo url="https://app.howdygo.com/share/abc123"]Shortcode Options
| Parameter | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
url (required) | — | Your HowdyGo share URL |
launch_screen | false | Show a launch screen before the demo loads |
launch_button_text | "Take a tour" | Button text on the launch screen |
mobile_strategy | "newTab" | How mobile visitors view the demo: "newTab" opens in a new tab, "inline" embeds directly |
Example with all options:
[howdygo url="https://app.howdygo.com/share/abc123" launch_screen="true" launch_button_text="Start Demo" mobile_strategy="inline"]Classic Editor Toolbar Button
If you use the Classic Editor, the plugin adds an “Add HowdyGo Demo” button to the toolbar. Clicking it opens a dialog where you can paste your share URL and configure the launch screen, button text, and mobile strategy. The plugin then inserts the shortcode into your post automatically.
Performance
The plugin caches embed data for 24 hours using WordPress transients, so repeated page loads don’t make additional API calls. On hosts with object caching (like Redis), this is extremely fast. You can customize the cache duration with the howdygo_cache_duration filter:
add_filter( 'howdygo_cache_duration', function() {
return HOUR_IN_SECONDS;
} );What the Plugin Provides
- Responsive embeds that scale to fit your content width
- Three embedding methods to suit any workflow (paste, shortcode, toolbar button)
- Mobile handling with configurable strategy (new tab or inline)
- Optional launch screen with customizable button text
- Server-side caching to minimize API calls
- Automatic updates from GitHub releases