Announcing Advanced Access Manager (AAM) Version 7

We are excited to announce that Advanced Access Manager (AAM) version 7 is on the horizon! After completing the majority of the internal development work, we are gearing up to launch the stable version soon. The Beta release is already available for those interested in testing the new features and providing valuable feedback.

You can download the latest Beta release of the basic Advanced Access Manager plugin from the official WordPress.org repository by following this linkopen in new window.

If you are also the premium license holder, you can download the latest Beta release of our premium add-on on your license page.

# The Vision Behind Version 7

With AAM version 7, our goal is to introduce a unique access management framework specifically designed for developers. We've received numerous inquiries from users asking how to utilize the AAM API to implement use cases not currently supported. These requests have driven us to create a groundbreaking PHP framework that simplifies the management of access to WordPress website resources.

Our existing AAM system already saves developers an average of 80 hours of development work by utilizing the AAM API. Now, with version 7, we're streamlining this process even further by making the framework more user-friendly, cohesive, and backed by official documentation. This step is crucial in positioning AAM as the go-to tool for WordPress access control management.

# Breaking Changes

Advanced Access Manager 7 represents a substantial backend rewrite, with many features either restructured or removed. The most significant internal change involves how the plugin's settings are stored in the database, making thorough regression testing highly recommended after upgrading to ensure everything functions as expected. Below is an overview of the key breaking changes:

• Database Changes: The structure of data for access controls and configurations in the database has been completely overhauled. An automated migration script will be provided to convert settings from AAM 6 to the new AAM 7 format. However, not all settings will be covered by this script.
• JSON Access Policies: Significant changes have been made to JSON access policies, simplifying the format and removing unsupported resources such as Plugin, Site, and UserLevel. Please refer to the JSON documentation for detailed information about these updates.
• Core Changes: Support for WordPress core level_x capabilities has been removed, as it is no longer supported by WordPress. Consequently, the "User Levels" service has been replaced by the "Users & Roles Governance" service.
• Compatibility Note: Free Advanced Access Manager v7 is not compatible with premium add-on v6. Both the free and premium plugins must be upgraded to version 7 for proper functionality.

# Our Plans

The current version of AAM 7, Beta.1, introduces a significant backend overhaul, leveraging the full potential of the AAM PHP Framework. This release has undergone extensive testing, passing over 1,200 assertions in our newly implemented unit test suite, ensuring a stable foundation.

The first beta version was launched on January 18, 2025, giving our premium and free customers a three-month window to test and transition from version 6. During this period, we will focus exclusively on bug fixes, documentation, and migration support, with no major refactoring planned.

In May 2025, we will officially release the stable version, 7.0.0, enabling all AAM users to upgrade seamlessly through the WordPress Plugins page.

# Report Bugs

If you find any issues with AAM 7 version, please do not hesitate to submit a bug report through our Contact Us form. Thank you in advance!