=== Cirv Pulse ===
Contributors: cirvgreen
Tags: core web vitals, performance, page speed, lighthouse, seo
Requires at least: 5.8
Tested up to: 6.9
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 1.0.0
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Real-time Core Web Vitals monitoring inside WordPress. Track LCP, INP, CLS and get actionable performance recommendations without leaving your dashboard.

== Description ==

**Know your Core Web Vitals without leaving WordPress. Cirv Pulse monitors your Lighthouse performance score and tells you exactly what to fix.**

Google uses Core Web Vitals as a ranking factor. If your LCP is slow, your CLS is high, or your INP is poor — you're losing rankings and traffic. Cirv Pulse puts these numbers on your WordPress dashboard with clear pass/fail indicators and fix-it recommendations.

= Why Core Web Vitals Matter =

* **Google ranking factor** - CWV directly impacts search rankings since 2021
* **User experience** - Slow sites lose 53% of mobile visitors (Google data)
* **Conversion rates** - Every 100ms of latency costs 1% in conversions
* **Competitive edge** - Most WordPress sites fail CWV (your competitors included)

= Free Features =

**One-Click Performance Scan**
Enter any URL and get a complete Core Web Vitals report in 10-30 seconds. No account needed. Powered by the free Google PageSpeed Insights API.

**5 Key Metrics Tracked**
* LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) — loading performance
* INP (Interaction to Next Paint) — interactivity responsiveness
* CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) — visual stability
* FCP (First Contentful Paint) — perceived load speed
* TTFB (Time to First Byte) — server response time

**Color-Coded Score Dashboard**
Green (Good), Yellow (Needs Improvement), Red (Poor) — see your performance status at a glance with an overall 0-100 score.

**Smart Recommendations**
Rule-based performance engine analyzes your scores and generates specific, actionable fixes. Not generic advice — recommendations tailored to your actual metrics.

**Scan History**
Last 10 scans stored so you can track improvements over time.

= Perfect For =

* **SEO professionals** - Monitor client sites from their WordPress dashboards
* **Agencies** - Deliver performance reports without external tools
* **E-commerce** - Track product page performance across your catalog
* **Bloggers** - Ensure fast load times for better rankings
* **Anyone** who wants to know their Lighthouse score without opening Chrome DevTools

= Works With Everything =

Cirv Pulse works with any WordPress theme, page builder, or hosting provider. It scans your live pages via Google's API — compatible with Elementor, Divi, Gutenberg, WPBakery, and more.

== Installation ==

= Automatic Installation =

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard
2. Navigate to **Plugins > Add New**
3. Search for "Cirv Pulse"
4. Click **Install Now**
5. Click **Activate**
6. Go to **Cirv Pulse** in your admin menu

= Manual Installation =

1. Download the plugin ZIP file
2. Navigate to **Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin**
3. Choose the ZIP file and click **Install Now**
4. Click **Activate**
5. Go to **Cirv Pulse** in your admin menu

= After Activation =

1. Navigate to **Cirv Pulse** in your admin sidebar
2. Go to the **Run Scan** tab
3. Enter your homepage URL (pre-filled by default)
4. Click **Analyze Performance**
5. View results on the **Dashboard** tab

= Optional: API Key =

The plugin works without an API key (limited to ~25 scans/day). For higher limits, get a free key at [Google Cloud Console](https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/credentials) and enter it in Settings.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= What are Core Web Vitals? =

Core Web Vitals are three metrics Google uses to measure user experience: LCP (loading), INP (interactivity), and CLS (visual stability). They directly affect your search rankings.

= Do I need a Google API key? =

No. The plugin works without one using the free PageSpeed Insights API. An optional API key increases your daily scan limit from ~25 to 25,000.

= Does this slow down my site? =

No. Cirv Pulse only runs scans when you click "Analyze Performance." It does not add any code to your frontend pages. Visitors never see or experience it.

= How accurate are the scores? =

Scores come directly from Google's PageSpeed Insights / Lighthouse engine — the same tool Google uses to evaluate your site for ranking purposes.

= What is INP? =

INP (Interaction to Next Paint) replaced FID as a Core Web Vital in March 2024. It measures how quickly your site responds to user interactions like clicks and taps. Under 200ms is good.

= Can I scan any URL? =

Yes. You can scan any publicly accessible URL, including competitor websites. Just paste the URL and click Analyze.

= Will this work on my hosting? =

Yes. Cirv Pulse uses `wp_remote_get()` to call Google's API, which works on virtually all WordPress hosts including shared hosting.

== Screenshots ==

1. Dashboard - Core Web Vitals overview with color-coded scores and overall rating
2. Run Scan - One-click performance analysis for any URL
3. Recommendations - Actionable fix suggestions based on your metrics
4. Scan History - Track performance improvements over time
5. Settings - API key configuration and debug options

== Changelog ==

= 1.0.0 - February 2026 =
* **Initial Release**
* Google PageSpeed Insights API v5 integration
* 5 CWV metrics: LCP, INP, CLS, FCP, TTFB
* Color-coded score dashboard with overall 0-100 rating
* Rule-based recommendation engine
* Scan history (last 10 scans)
* Cross-sell integration with Cirv Box and Cirv Guard
* Debug logging system
* 5-tab admin interface (Dashboard, Scan, History, Settings, Go Pro)
* Multisite compatible

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 1.0.0 =
Initial release of Cirv Pulse. Monitor your Core Web Vitals directly from WordPress with free Google PageSpeed Insights integration.

== Additional Info ==

**Privacy & GDPR Compliance:**
Cirv Pulse sends your page URL to Google PageSpeed Insights API for analysis. No personal data is collected or stored by the plugin. Google's privacy policy applies to the API call. No tracking cookies are set.

**Related Plugins:**
* **Cirv Box** - Schema.org structured data for better Google rankings
* **Cirv Guard** - WCAG accessibility compliance scanning
* More Cirvgreen plugins coming soon

**Support & Documentation:**
* Built-in help in plugin settings
* Online documentation: https://cirvgreen.com/docs/cirv-pulse
* Support forum: WordPress.org support forum
* Email: support@cirvgreen.com

== Third-Party Service Usage ==

This plugin uses the **Google PageSpeed Insights API** to analyze web page performance.

* **Service:** Google PageSpeed Insights API v5
* **URL:** https://www.googleapis.com/pagespeedonline/v5/runPagespeed
* **Data sent:** The URL you enter for scanning
* **When:** Only when you manually trigger a scan
* **Privacy policy:** https://policies.google.com/privacy
* **Terms of service:** https://developers.google.com/terms

No other third-party services are used. An optional API key from Google Cloud Console can be configured to increase rate limits.
