Requirements
Before installing Maxi AI Core, make sure your environment meets the following requirements.
Server Requirements
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| PHP | 7.0 or higher |
| WordPress | 5.0 or higher |
| Transport | HTTPS |
Required PHP Extensions
- libsodium (
sodium) — used for encrypting API keys at rest. Most modern PHP installations include it by default. - cURL — used by WordPress for all outbound HTTP requests.
- JSON — standard in PHP; required for data serialisation.
Tip: You can verify the sodium extension is active by checking phpinfo() or running php -m | grep sodium on the command line.
Required WordPress Plugins
Maxi AI Core depends on companion plugins that expose WordPress to external AI agents:
| Plugin | Required When | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| MCP Adapter | Always | Bridges WordPress abilities to the MCP (Model Context Protocol) so external agents can call them |
| Abilities API | WordPress versions prior to 6.9 | Registers and manages abilities that agents can discover and execute |
Note: From WordPress 7.0 onward, the Abilities API is bundled with core, so the standalone plugin is no longer needed. If you are on an older version of WordPress, install it as a regular plugin.
Maxi AI Core checks for these dependencies gracefully — it will still activate without them, but no agent will be able to discover or run abilities until they are present.
AI Provider Access
You need an API key from at least one supported provider:
| Provider | Models |
|---|---|
| OpenAI | GPT-4, DALL-E 3, Vision |
| Anthropic | Claude (text, vision) |
| OpenRouter | Multi-model aggregator |
| Replicate | Flux image models |
| BFL | Black Forest Labs / Flux models |
| Local | Self-hosted endpoints |
You can add multiple providers. The API key you choose determines which models are available to your agents.
License
Maxi AI Core requires an active license. After purchase you will receive a license key to enter in the plugin settings.
A 7-day grace period applies after expiration, and the plugin caches its license status for 24 hours in case the licensing server is temporarily unreachable.
Optional Integrations
These plugins are not required but unlock additional abilities when active:
- WooCommerce — enables e-commerce abilities (product management, order queries, etc.).
- Yoast SEO — enables the
maxi/set-yoast-term-seoability for managing term SEO metadata.
HTTPS Requirement
Your WordPress site must be served over HTTPS. The MCP protocol transmits WordPress application passwords with every agent request — serving over plain HTTP would expose those credentials in cleartext.
Next Step
Once your environment meets these requirements, proceed to Installation.