Shaun Scovil

Written as a platform for plugin developers, this simple-yet-powerful plugin allows you to run a custom WP_Query using shortcode, then display the results any way imaginable using compatible nested shortcodes.
<h4>How It Works</h4>
Add the following shortcode to any WordPress post or page:
<pre><code>[wpquery orderby="rand"] [wpq_index] [/wpquery]
</code></pre>
In the example above, the <code>[wpquery]</code> shortcode performs a WP_Query using orderby=”rand” to display the results in random order. A full list of query parameters can be found here: <a href="https://codex.wordpress.org/Class_Reference/WP_Query#Parameters" title="WP_Query" rel="nofollow ugc">WP_Query</a>.
Next, the nested <code>[wpq_index]</code> shortcode displays the results of the custom WP_Query as an unordered list of post title links.
<h4>Why It Rocks</h4>
Written as a platform for plugin developers, this simple-yet-powerful plugin allows developers to write compatible plugins that manipulate the way post data is displayed – without needing to write functions and shortcode parameters to first retrieve the post data.
The <code>[wpq_index]</code> shortcode function included in this plugin is just a simple example of what it can do. Any plugin that performs a WP_Query could be rewrtitten and optimized to work with this plugin, eliminating a lot of unnecessary code.
Best of all, this plugin gives users total control over the WP_Query being performed!

Shaun's WP Query Shortcode

This extensible plugin allows you to run a custom WP_Query using a simple shortcode, then display the results using compatible nested shortcodes.

chrisguitarguy

Tom Lynch

Custom Post Type Selector allows you to select which post types should be included in the main loop of your blog, including custom post types.
If you find this plugin useful please <a href="http://supportus.cancerresearchuk.org/donate/" rel="nofollow ugc">donate to Cancer Research UK</a>, and let me know what think you via <a href="http://tomlynch.co.uk" rel="nofollow ugc">my website</a>.
Special thanks to <a href="http://christopherdavis.me" rel="nofollow ugc">Christopher Davis</a> for his help getting the <a href="https://gist.github.com/1864416" rel="nofollow ugc">core functionality</a> working on <a href="https://codex.wordpress.org/IRC" rel="nofollow ugc">#wordpress</a>.

Custom Post Type Selector

Custom Post Type Selector allows you to select which post types should be included in the main loop of your blog, including custom post types.

Shaun's WP Query Shortcode vs Custom Post Type Selector