Accessing the database from a plugin outside of action hooks

Bootstrapping WordPress from a direct PHP file hit is not a good idea in general, the repository maintainers are right. It is pretty simple to add a custom endpoint using the Rewrite API, so there’s no reason you shouldn’t.

add_action( 'init', function() {
    /** Add a custom path and set a custom query argument. */
    add_rewrite_rule( '^your/custom/path/?$', 'index.php?custom_action=1', 'top' );
} );

add_filter( 'query_vars', function( $query_vars ) {
    /** Make sure WordPress knows about this custom action. */
    $query_vars []= 'custom_action';
    return $query_vars;
} );

add_action( 'wp', function() {
    /** This is an call for our custom action. */
    if ( get_query_var( 'custom_action' ) ) {
        // your code here
    }
} );

Now hit https://yoursite.com/your/custom/path/ WordPress will load and call your code.

An even simpler way would be to use a $_GET parameter.

add_action( 'init', function() {
    if ( !empty( $_GET['custom_action'] ) ) {
        // your code here
    }
} );

And then hit https://yoursite.com/?custom_action=1

Your pick, depending on whether you want a nice URL or you’re satisfied with a less beautiful GET parameter.

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