jQuery Skeleton Plugin

EXAMPLE.js

$('#element').plugin();  // calls init
$('#element').plugin({ foo: 'bar' });  // calls init and extends the hash into settings   
$('#element').plugin('doSomething');  // calls init (if it hasn't already been done) and calls doSomething
$('#element').plugin('doSomething', { cake: 'delicious' });  // calls init and calls doSomething with the provided argument

jquery.plugin.js

// Rename instances of Plugin and plugin to match your plugin name.

(function($) {
  $.Plugin = function(el, options) {
    var base = this;
    base.$el = $(el);
    base.el  = el;
    base.$el.data('Plugin', base);

    // Default settings, is extended with the hash passed when initializing.
    base.settings = {
    };

    if (options) {
      $.extend(base.settings, options);
    }

    // Function declarations from here on.
    base.init = function() {
    }

    base.doSomething = function() {
      // Additional function example, having 'doSomething' defined isn't required ;)
    }
  };


  $.fn.plugin = function(method) {
    var args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 1);

    return this.each(function() {
      var obj = $(this).data('Plugin');

      if (!obj && typeof(method) === 'string') {
        // Method called without init, need to init.
        obj = (new $.Plugin(this));
        obj.init();
      }

      if (obj && obj[method] && method !== 'init') {
        // Standard method call.
        obj[method].apply(this, args);
      } else if (typeof(method) === 'object' || !method) {
        // Method isn't present or is an hash for settings (init calling style), init only if needed.
        if (!obj) {
          obj = (new $.Plugin(this, method));
          obj.init();
        }
      } else {
        $.error('Plugin method not found: ' + method);
      }
    });
  };
})(jQuery);