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WordPress Dev Chat For 7-1-09

WordPress Dev Chat For 7-1-09

By Jeffro on July 1, 2009

So the WordPress development meeting took place today and boy was the atmosphere conducive to discussion. Lots of things discussed while new ideas were generated. Unfortunately, you get a bunch of developers into a chat room and when you announce an idea or feature, the talk immediately turns into implementation which results in an unruly court that needs to be settled down to get back on track. But, the meeting went on and the following are the bullets points that were discussed regarding WordPress 2.9. Jane is currently working on putting the feature list together to be voted upon in a poll that will be published on the WordPress development blog to get a sense of where the end users priority lies.

post thumbnails, mark: The ability to use a custom field key to assign a thumbnail image to a post excerpt.

media albums, mark – The addition of photo albums to display images. I believe this to be different from galleries.

bulk media import API

make adding embeds easier (like viper plugin) – The inclusion of popular shortcodes to support major video sites like YouTube etc.

enable most media settings as defaults that can be overridden on a per image/file or per-use basis.

cropping, resizing, and rotation (in 90 degree increments) for image uploads, filtering – This would be the extend of basic photo enhancement. As a few others said, we really don’t want to see Photoshop in the WordPress write panel for images.

Custom Image Sizes. Instead of hardcoded thumb, med, large (manually configuring maximum image sizes for small, thumbnail etc)

lightboxing images: It’s been decided not to add Lightbox as a core feature just yet.

post types: For WordPress 3.0

page exclude plus reorder for blog nav: nikolayb – The ability to easily remove a page from showing in the navigation menu while also providing UI to sort the order of the menu.

media metadata – The addition of tags and categories to sort media.

uploader feature: ability to choose from most recently used/most often used/marked as favorite files

more default shortcodes. check top ten from wp.com. slideshare and any place that advertises wp.com shortcodes

importers (specifics TBD)

and UI header brushup and uploader UI – I imagine this has to do with the header poll that was announced after 2.7 was released.

That’s about it. Not sure what next weeks topic will be about but if you want to suggest one, you can by visiting the WordPress development updates blog. If you would like to participate in the chat next week, install IRC or an IRC compatible client and connect to the following IRC server.

chat.freenode.net or any random server on the Freenode network and then join this channel at 5PM Eastern time on Wednesdays. #wordpress-dev.

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Testing WP iPhone App

Testing WP iPhone App

By Jeffro on June 30, 2009

Testing the WordPress iPhone app from my iPhone 3g s which is not that bad. More to come soon.

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How To Get Into The WordPress Showcase

How To Get Into The WordPress Showcase

By Jeffro on June 28, 2009

Douglas Hanna works for Automattic as a “Communications Engineer”, where he spends most of his time working running the WordPress Showcase and supporting WordPress.com users. He blogs about customer service at Service Untitled and occasionally uses Twitter as well.

You probably knew that WordPress could be used as a CMS for a simple content website, but did you know that it could also be used as a fully powered CMS for a complex real estate website? What about as a directory of iPhone applications? The short version of it is that WordPress is an excellent platform to do just about any sort of publishing on the web and most people aren’t aware of that. To help address that, the WordPress Showcase was created.

The Showcase aims to show the world what can be done with WordPress and help demonstrate that WordPress has tremendous capabilities as a publishing platform. For people new to WordPress or unfamiliar with the extent of its capabilities, the Showcase shows them some of the most notable, successful, and coolest uses of WordPress around the Internet. Approximately 400 sites are featured in the Showcase and the idea (and hopefully the reality) is that the sites in the Showcase are the best of the best.

For website owners, developers, designers, or business people, the Showcase can help give you instant credibility, some great link juice, a nice traffic boost, or even a personal ego boost. Regardless of your reasons for submitting your site to the Showcase, doing so isn’t difficult or time consuming.

Sites that want to be added to the Showcase need to meet one or more of the four submission criteria, which are as follows:

  • Using WordPress in a unique or innovative way.
  • Attracting tens of thousands of regular readers.
  • Being written by someone famous or especially notable in his or her particular field.
  • Representing a notable organization, government entity, or corporation as an official blog or web site.

If your site fits just one of the criterion, then it’s fine and definitely “Showcase-worthy”. Meeting all four is great (and entirely possible), but not required by any means.

Once you’ve read the criteria and have an idea on how to articulate why your site meets one of more of the items, then just head over to the WordPress Showcase Submission Page, fill out the form, and click submit site. The form asks a few simple questions and takes about two minutes to fill out. Sites that are added will be notified via email within a week or so of the original submission.

If you have any questions about the Showcase, what is and isn’t “Showcase-worthy”, or anything else, head over to this forum topic at the WordPress Tavern Forum and ask. I’ll be monitoring the topic and answering questions as they come up.

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WPWeekly Episode 61 – Could WordPress.com Ever Rebrand?

WPWeekly Episode 61 – Could WordPress.com Ever Rebrand?

By Jeffro on June 28, 2009

wordpressweekly1In this weeks edition of WordPress Weekly, David Peralty is back in full form as we discussed a wide variety of topics ranging from the idea of WordPress.com rebranding, WordPress needing more testers and the first virtual WordCamp. We also give you the skinny on WordPress 2.8.1 Beta 2.

Ad Copy:

This episode of WordPress Weekly is sponsored by, WebDevStudios.com. WebDevStudios is a website development company specializing in WordPress support and development services. Contact them today for help with your WordPress powered website.

Stories Discussed:

WordPress 2.8.1 Beta 2 Released And Do We Need It?
Is WordPress.com Bad for WordPress?
Changelogs Now A Top Level Link
The First Virtual WordCamp
WordCamp Dallas To Be Streamed Live

WordPress Tavern Listener Poll:

Last weeks poll question was: How Should I Review A Theme?

Out of a total of 23 votes, 12 of you said to use a fresh install of WordPress while 11 of you said to use a pre existing install filled with my own content.

This Weeks Poll Question Is: Do You Know The Difference Between WordPress.com And WordPress.org?

Plugin Picks Of The Week:

Jeff – Beta Tester – This plugin will allow you to either stay on one of two development tracks. Either the point release nightlies or the bleeding edge nightlies. The point release nightlites should also be fairly stable but will be available before the branch is ready for beta while the bleeding edge nightlies is the bleeding edge development code which may be unstable at times

David – David’s pick this week is a WordPress theme called Journic.

Last Weeks WordPress Trivia Question:

Where and when was the first wordcamp?

WordPress Trivia Answer:

The first WordCamp conference was held in July of 2006 in San Francisco. Matt Mullenweg pulled this event together in only three weeks time and ended up with about 300 people in the Swedish American Hall.

As an aside: The first international WordCamp event was held in Beijing China on September 1st, 2007. However, not too many people knew of the event. So the first KNOWN international WordCamp event took place in Israel on October 25, 2007

Congrats to Josh Leuze for getting the right answer.

Announcements:

Be sure to download episode 60 of WordPress Weekly which features a one hour interview with Charles Stricklin, host and producer of The WordPress Podcast. Also, Sam Bauers of bbPress has been rescheduled for July 17th.

WPWeekly Meta:

Next Episode: Friday July 3rd, 2009 8P.M. EST

Subscribe To WPWeekly Via Itunes: Click here to subscribe

Length Of Episode:

Download The Show: WordPressWeeklyEpisode61.mp3

Listen To Episode #61:

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The First Virtual WordCamp

The First Virtual WordCamp

By Jeffro on June 24, 2009

virtualAs I mentioned on Twitter yesterday, I was wondering when someone was going to create one of these. That is, a virtual WordCamp. Virtual WordCamp is just like a typical WordCamp event only held online, not constrained by a physical location. The added benefit is that attendees from all over the world can attend. The event is slated to begin on the week of September 14th. The virtual WordCamp will host all sorts of presentations that will appeal to business users, new bloggers, pro bloggers, designers and developers. Those who attend the event will get access to the replays as well.

Better grab a spot fast as this WordCamp has limited the amount of live and recorded presentation passes to 1,000. In order to get a pass, it will set you back $69.95 which they consider to be a bargain. I’m not sure about that considering a typical WordCamp event will cost anywhere from $15.00-$30.00 and that is with a physical location, food, after party, etc. So with the elimination of those perks, I would have figured the price to be pretty low but that is not the case.

You can follow the hashtag #VWC09 on Twitter or follow @virtualwordcamp to stay on top of the event.

Let me know if you plan on attending this event. As for myself, I’m on the fence because of the price.

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WPWeekly Episode 60 – Interview With Charles Stricklin

WPWeekly Episode 60 – Interview With Charles Stricklin

By Jeffro on June 24, 2009

wordpressweekly1In this special episode of WordPress Weekly, I sit down with Charles Stricklin the host of The WordPress Podcast and talked about his foray into WordPress, the difficulties involved with producing the show, podcasting in general, and near the end of the show Charles gives away a free gift which you’ll have to listen for. I thoroughly enjoyed this interview because Charles Stricklin is a large part of the inspiration that lead to me starting the WordPress Weekly podcast.

Ad Copy:

This episode of WordPress Weekly is sponsored by, WebDevStudios.com. WebDevStudios is a website development company specializing in WordPress support and development services. Contact them today for help with your WordPress powered website.

WPWeekly Meta:

Next Episode: Friday June 26th, 2009 8P.M. EST

Subscribe To WPWeekly Via Itunes: Click here to subscribe

Length Of Episode: 1 Hour 4 Minutes

Download The Show: WordPressWeeklyEpisode60.mp3

Listen To Episode #60:

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Could BuddyPress Be The Poster Child Of WordPress?

Could BuddyPress Be The Poster Child Of WordPress?

By Jeffro on June 22, 2009

buddypresslogo Perhaps my point of view is wrong but when I look at how development is taking place for the BuddyPress project and how certain things are being accomplished, I can’t help but think that the BuddyPress project is proving to be a test bed for the way development might happen for the WordPress project in the future. For example, the project roadmap for BuddyPress was recently published online but before it was finalized, users had the chance to vote and rank on items that they felt were important enough to see in earlier versions versus other features. Jane Wells starting with WordPress 2.7 has used PollDaddy to conduct similar surveys in order to measure what the overall community felt should be included in the next release.

Another example is that BuddyPress has the unique ability to use the latest and greatest build of the software right on the site which is accessible to anyone who wants to register an account. You can actually test drive the software as it’s being developed. If any bugs are discovered on the site, they go right into trac or are reported to Andy. I’m not sure how far WordPress.org is going to take this concept, but I can certainly see the opportunity of using BuddyPress features such as the profiles and group blogging on the WordPress.org domain or subdomain with a WordPress bleeding edge install. With all of the activity and blogging taking place within this centralized community, it could be possible to increase the testing environment strictly for the WordPress.org software with any bugs being discovered sent straight to trac. Although, I’m not sure how smart of an idea it is to base your centralized community around bleeding edge software.

Group Development. Thanks to the ability of groups through BuddyPress, Andy Peatling is able to get developers or those interested in creating certain features centralize around one location for feedback, reviews, discussions, etc.

Group creation is now open on this site, why not pick a feature you’d be interested in working on and create a group for it? By doing this you’ll encourage other BuddyPress developers to join in, discuss the feature and give feedback. I’ll be more than happy to take a look at plugins that add roadmap features and consider them for inclusion in the core of BuddyPress. You may even end up as a core committer.

I think it would be cool to see the same kind of workflow make it to WordPress.org but I believe some of this already occurs through trac and other means. However, if WordPress.org were to do something similar to BuddyPress, it would open up the discussion, involvement, and contribution level to a much wider audience in terms of more user level feedback and not entirely developer centric.

Final Thoughts:

Do you think I’ve been able to establish any connections between the two projects or do you think this is all pie in the sky? I know they are both separate projects but I wonder how cool it would be if some of the development processes that Andy is able to accomplish would make it to WordPress.org.

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WPTavern Trivia Game

WPTavern Trivia Game

By Jeffro on June 22, 2009

trivia Longtime listeners of WordPress Weekly know that recently, we’ve started a new segment called WordPress trivia. Up until now, the segment has been used as a means of education and also to have a bit of fun. However, I’ve decided to turn this segment into a game by awarding points to the first three people who answer the question correctly within the comments of that shownotes page. The point system is as follows:

  • Be the first to get it right and earn – 3 points
  • Be the second to get it right and earn – 2 points
  • Be the third to get it right and earn – 1 point

There will be other methods of earning points as well such as through the WPTavern forum and by interacting with me on Twitter. The bonus point amount will be announced along with the question. Only the first person to get the correct answer will receive the bonus point amount.

The scorecard will be kept on the Trivia page along with the rules, how to participate and the prizes that will be up for grabs at the end of the year. Speaking of prizes, if you’re interested in sponsoring this shindig with a prize package, please get in touch with me. At the end of the year, the top point totals will be able to choose their prize until there are no prizes left.

I plan on starting the trivia game with the July 3rd edition of WordPress Weekly. If you have any comments or suggestions related to the game or ideas on how to make this thing rock, let me know.

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What Can You Do With WordPress MU?

What Can You Do With WordPress MU?

By Jeffro on June 17, 2009

AndreaThis is a guest blog post written by Andrea, you can catch her work at, WPMUTutorials.com. You can also follow her on Twitter

With the recent news coming out of WordCamp San Fransisco, and even the buzz from WordCamp RDU, interest is high in WordPressMU, the multi-blog version of single WordPress. We don’t know when, exactly, the merge of the two will be rolled into one package and released, but more code is being blended almost every day.

In case you haven’t checked out WordPressMU, not only is it the software that powers wordpress.com, and has a much talked about plugin suite called BuddyPress, it is flexible enough to power multiple blogs on separate domains.

So what can you do with WordPressMU, that you will soon be able to do with WordPress itself?

Power your own blog network with sub-blogs in the form of blogname.yourdomain.com or yourdomain.com/blogname. The can lead to extensive navigational possibilities that were previously only accomplished by multiple installs or tricky uses of categories.

Power multiple blogs, each off their own domain, on one codebase with one database. No hacks, no tricky configs, no extra files laying around.

Set up a great development site for clients. Instead of a separate install, or working on one at a time, give each client their own working blogs. You can restrict access to certain users who are only logged in and assigned to that particular blog via privacy plugins.

Have super powers. In MU, there’s a default admin user created on installation. This admin is known as the Site Admin and can get in the backend of any blog and edit any information at any time, regardless of blog assignment. You can even add users as co-site admins.

Have multiple Sites in one install. More so than just a separate domain, each Site within a MU install is able to have their own blogs. So you can have MU within MU.

Adding another blog is as simple as revisiting the signup page, or filling out three fields in the backend and clicking a button. Presto! Another blog is created with all the themes you allow access to, and all the plugins already installed.

One thing to remember is that since you are working with one codebase and multiple blogs, they are all stored virtually in the database. The files on the server will be pretty familiar – there’s one theme folder, one plugins folder and a mu-plugins folder for auto-executed plugins. These are plugins that are always on and don’t show in the Plugins menu in the backend. Not all plugins will run from this folder. Since there’s one folder for each, all blogs will share everything in them. Each blog does have their own folders for blog-specific uploads, however.

What does this mean for the general WordPress community? I think it’s huge and exciting news that really pulls WordPress to the forefront of a great website – not “just” a blog, we can all have easy access to truly push-button publishing. Or more blogs, as it will be all rolled in.

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WordPress 2.8.1 Beta By End Of The Week

WordPress 2.8.1 Beta By End Of The Week

By Jeffro on June 17, 2009

So the WordPress development chat in the dev channel on IRC just took place and here is a brief rundown of the information presented within.

  • WordPress 2.8.1 Beta aimed to be release by the end of this week
  • WordPress 2.9 Target date is October 31st
  • Some fixes to high impact bugs are in.
  • Investigate lengthening RC periods depending on RC download numbers
  • Promote upgrading to RCs more
  • Note that we need help testing with the bazillion plugins in existence

The one thing I took out of the chat is the underlying problem that there are simply too few testers. There needs to be more testing on a scale that matches the kind of environments people use WordPress in when a stable version is released. The same core group of people testing each version are beginning to miss things that other people may have found otherwise. Also, more RC testing on established sites that have plugins would be great as it would provide early detection of plugins which might break due to the new version.

I believe the chat for next week will be focused on WordPress 2.9.

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