WordPress 3.x for the sake of your sanity
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This document summarizes a workshop about using WordPress and BuddyPress for a university website project. It discusses installing and setting up WordPress and a WordPress Multisite network, important plugins, custom post types and taxonomies, costs, speed and security best practices. It also covers installing and configuring BuddyPress to add a social network layer. Key strengths are noted as the easy setup, flexibility, large user community and ability to customize sites independently while deploying rapidly on a limited budget.
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WordPress 3.x for the sake of your sanity
- 1. a HighEdWeb 2010 workshop
- 2. For fun and profitFor fun and profitthe sake of your sanity
- 3. TodayMe, my project, andWordPressFeatures, installation, and setting up the networkPlugins and customizationBuddyPress
- 4. Borking sites since 1994.Since 2005 only Web staff on campus of ~3500 students & 400 faculty/staff. Fourth year on the HighEdWeb conference program committee; just chaired regional HEWEB event.HigherEdExperts presenter – OpenSource CMS Fair: WordPressMU, April 2010.Technical reviewer for Apress book Beginning WordPress 3.0 by Stephanie Leary released in June.Launched WPMU in May 2009. Alone.ME, a name I call myself
- 5. The Project Circa 2005Zero dedicated web staffNo budget16,000 html filesRampant duplicationHeaders and navigation files (template)Images4700 broken linksNo searchNo site mapNo processNo hopeMS FrontPage
- 6. Welcome to the Jungle Baby
- 7. We’ve always done it that way
- 8. The project circa 2010WordPress 3.0.1402 Users~ 55 Sites5500+ PagesSite searchAnalytics
- 9. Getting here
- 10. Getting here2005 - .asp template files. Cleaned up navigation, duplication, and revoked access for all content editors. 2007 - Individual WP installs on external server. Started giving access back to departments.2009 – WPMU matures with 2.7, install in January, launch with 10 sites in May.
- 11. Major weaknessesLacks native reusable content & site-wide internal linking systemRequires plugins to optimize speedCritical plugins can conflict or become unsupported as WP versions advanceDisjointed and incomplete advanced documentationHeavy use of pages can be problematicLacks native workflow
- 12. Major strengthsEasy setup & themingShallow end-user learning curveHighly flexibleHuge user communityThere’s a plugin for that…Standard server requirementsExtreme RSS capabilitiesLow cost startup
- 13. Costs – Year 1Premium Themes (supported) - $150MUSupport.net (paid support forum) - $100WPMUDev.org - $420/yr or $79/1 month access to supported premium pluginsGravityForms - $39Custom plugins - $300VPS - $45/monthTotal ~ $1879
- 14. Big pictureSupports all basic requirements of our campusAble to heavily customize each department independently (themes & plugins)Rapid deploymentSignificant improvements at every major release. Possible to implement and admin in single person office with no internal support and within limited budget
- 15. Core featuresPosts, pages, linksFile uploadsWidgets1-click upgradesFlexible themingCustom header & background supportAccessibility support*Custom menusUser managementUnlimited usersCommentsTrackbacks/PingbacksRSS feedshttp://codex.wordpress.org/Version_3.0
- 16. Technical InfoRequirements:PHP version 4.3 or greaterMySQL version 4.1.2 or greaterSuggestions:PHP 5.2+MySQL 5.0.15Apache or Nginx
- 17. Intermission
- 18. “The famous 5-minute install”No, really. It’s that easy.Upload the filesCreate the dbRun wp-admin/install.php
- 20. InstallVoila!
- 22. SecurityDon’t use “admin” usernameDon’t use “wp-” db table prefixMove wp-config.phpKeep WP and plugins current*Security pluginsWP Security ScanWordPress Exploit ScannerWordPress File MonitorZombie homepageSource: WordPress Security by Brad Williams
- 23. SpeedSpeed TestCacheWP Super CacheW3 Total CacheCDNCDN ToolsCompressionWP HTTP CompressionWP HTML Compression
- 24. The NetworkSubdirectory vs. subdomainwww.site.edu/subdirectorysubdomain.site.eduUsers.htaccessPermalinks (mod_rewrite)SecurityCache (mod_rewrite, file expiration)wp-config.phpPimp your wp-config.php/wp-content/blogs.dir
- 25. Handynetwork pluginsLogin As±Editor LogNew Blog DefaultsGlobal Header ±Google Analytics*Login Image ±Domain MappingMulti-Site Site List ShortcodeContent Monitor*Premium, ± Unsupported
- 26. Handy site pluginsEnable Media ReplaceList child pagesList child attachmentsExclude PagesGravity FormsKB Advanced RSS WidgetTinyMCE AdvancedWP SubtitleWidget LogicContent AuditEdit FlowEditorial CalendarCustom Post Type UI
- 27. Custom post types & taxonomiesDefault post types:Posts, PagesAttachmentsRevisionsMenu ItemsPotential usesCourse descriptionsMedia databaseSeminar seriesEmployee DirectoryDefault TaxonomiesCategoriesPost TagsMenusLink CategoriesPotential UsesVideoPeople
- 28. Pro TipsDO BACKUPS! A lot…for real…not kidding.Check your error logs regularly.Plan your plugins, consider expected future features and your timeline. Sometimes the cleanup isn’t worth it.Theme frameworks. You’re welcome.
- 29. …not too distant futureMulti-DBCDNMulti-domainCustom post-types/taxonomiesPlugin auditCustom menusContent audit, editorial calendar
- 31. BuddypressInstant social network for WordPress
- 32. Buddypress?Plugin that adds a social network layer over WordPress.GroupsPublicPrivateBlogsGroupIndividualForumsProfilesFriendsStatus updatesActivity streamsPrivate messagingBuddyPress specific plugins
- 33. Install & SetupPlugins > Add New > Search “BuddyPress” > InstallChoose themeActivate componentsEstablish profile fields
- 34. Component setup
- 35. Profile fields
- 36. / Awesome ResourcesSites & BooksThe WordPress BibleBeginning WP 3.0WPMUDev.orgBuddyPress For DummiesMUSupport.netWordPress on LinkedInPeople on Twitter@andrea_r@wpmuguru@sleary@jimgroom@donncha@lisasabinwilson@ohz@yoast