Can't pull plugins from the global $GLOBAL['tgmpa']?

[redlagoon]

I got TGMPA to work, it displays everything correctly, yet, when I try to pull data from the instance, it just doesn't come. Please note that I've used the generator for TGMPA using themeforest settings, as such:

http://prntscr.com/jqorge

Here's my input / output, used in multiple places:

$tgmpa = isset( $GLOBALS['tgmpa'] ) ? $GLOBALS['tgmpa'] : TGM_Plugin_Activation::get_instance();

var_dump( $tgmpa );

Which results in:

object(TGM_Plugin_Activation)#1100 (17) { ["plugins"]=> array(0) { } ["sort_order":protected]=> array(0) { } ["has_forced_activation":protected]=> bool(false) ["has_forced_deactivation":protected]=> bool(false) ["id"]=> string(5) "tgmpa" ["menu":protected]=> string(21) "tgmpa-install-plugins" ["parent_slug"]=> string(10) "themes.php" ["capability"]=> string(18) "edit_theme_options" ["default_path"]=> string(0) "" ["has_notices"]=> bool(true) ["dismissable"]=> bool(true) ["dismiss_msg"]=> string(0) "" ["is_automatic"]=> bool(false) ["message"]=> string(0) "" ["strings"]=> array(0) { } ["wp_version"]=> string(5) "4.9.6" ["page_hook"]=> NULL }

There's no registered plugins.

But as you can see, the plugin clearly recognizes the plugins that need to be installed:

http://prntscr.com/jqoqid

The whole process of installing / updating works.

Any ideas?

Edit 1: As I thought. I lost the race and didn't catch tgmpa_register soon enough. Here's what I did:

add_action( 'tgmpa_register', '_amnth_register_required_plugins' );
add_action( 'tgmpa_register', function() {
    $tgmpa = isset( $GLOBALS['tgmpa'] ) ? $GLOBALS['tgmpa'] : TGM_Plugin_Activation::get_instance();

    var_dump( $tgmpa->plugins );
});

It seems TGMPA loses the plugin list as soon as that one hook is over, or rather, when it's "done" with them? What am I missing? Trying to make use of the list outside the plugin.

[jrfnl]

You may be running the call to get_instance() too early. Try running it on action init, prio 11.

[redlagoon]

@jrfnl Works if I hook it to init as expected!

But I'm thinking this could be problematic if I try to use it on other plugins / front-end. Any ideas on how to transport the data?

[jrfnl]

I'm not sure what you are asking.

[redlagoon]

@jrfnl

I'd like to improve upon TGMPA and allow a front-end screen for it (together with other options), so, a setup on its own, but without the need to go to the back-end. But I don't have access to TGMPA's registered instance, just its clean instance, so, it seems that if I call TGMPA on the front-end, it's empty, I just see its skeleton, while, if I call it on init as you suggested, it works.

It seems that this won't ever work, so perhaps I should create an admin page and redirect the user to it?

[jrfnl]

Correct. TGMPA is designed not to work to front-end as that could be considered a security risk.

[redlagoon]

Got it. Can mark as solved.