WordPress 2.01

Just a quick note that I have updated my main blog to WordPress 2.01. A painless procedure IMHO and kudos to the WP team for the rapid availability of this update

As always, I followed their upgrade instructions very closely (especially about backing up!).

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Technorati Tags: WordPress, Upgrade

WordPress 2.0 Installed and working!

Well, I finally got around to it today, and ‘upgraded’ my main blog to WordPress 2.0 as I had planned.

It is the first time I had tried anything like this so I did it with some trepidation! initially I tried it on a development/trial site, then went for the live version.
The steps I took are listed below.

Quick version : downloaded and unzipped WordPress 2.0, changed the wp-config.php to point correctly and up-loaded all the files. Ran the upgrade script.

Longer version:

Backed up my MySql wordpress file and my .htaccess file
Deactivated all the plug-ins
COPIED the details from my wp-config.php file
Download WordPress 2.0 from here and unzipped it locally
Updated WP 2.0 ‘s wp-config.php with the database name, user name and password I had copied.
Uploaded the files & directories using FileZilla, to the correct directory (root in my case) and allowed the new files to replace pre-existing files of the same name.
Ran the upgrade script in the wp-admin directory.
Had a gin and tonic to celebrate……

It really was that simple. I admit I then deleted some redundant files/directories that had been relocated in WordPress 2.0; but that was easy. I also added a line to my .htaccess that I needed from before.

Reactivating the plugins waited until I had checked them against the “official list” of known compatibilities. I only had one that failed the list and it was redundant given the new features of WP 2.0 . (I think that list is official anyway )

BTW – there is no doubt that some of the best guides to wordpress issues are written and available at Podz wordpress guides, and there is a great one on upgrading to WP 2.0 here too.

So – off and running. Will Blog the changes I notice, likes and dislikes as I come across ‘em.

Let me know what you have done, the problems – if any.

Web Hosting Blues

Agghh… Yet again my external (non-Wordpress.com) host has failed me

After becoming a refugee from my previous host (they had sold the business, but forgot to tell anyone, and the new owners were a disaster), I decided to try a WordPress.org recommendation. Not being ENTIRELY stupid, I did some research on them and picked one with a long track record and good reviews. They offered up-to-date WordPress installs, good bandwidth etc etc…..
Looks like everyone else was looking too… Not long after joining, the uptime became downtime +++.
My email was answered quite professionally, citing moving to new servers, inadequate staff (presumably growing fast!) and a promise that all would be well “soon”. Also offered pro-rated refund which was appreciated. Decided to stick it out – but no go. Up time around 75% according to my independent monitor.

So – Now have ANOTHER host – multisite account with Site5 - similar deal. Great reviews (and I know this one is growing fast!). They seem to cope better with the growth though.

I REALLY hate moving servers…..

Will publish an entry on picking a web host shortly – but with my track record…

p.s. If you want to know who I WAS with contact me via The Silent Deep. I know they ARE trying, so won’t publish their name here.

The Internet Cognoscenti – what are you up to?

Well, as I’ve said before I have recently returned to the fold and started re-investigating the ‘net.

After several weeks of looking, trying, learning, being confused and experiencing sudden enlightenment (!), I have come to these conclusions about the way the well-informed, net savvy person is using their Internet!

Firstly, you have your own domain name. Preferably a “vanity” one that is immediately identifiable! Smith.com has more cache than albertsmith.com and far more than albertFsmith.net! At the very least, this allows you to have a persistent email address despite changing ISPs over time. Make sure you have bought a 5 or 9 year lease on the name. Quite possibly you have also bought domains for your family, relatives, and acquaintances.

Akismet is Kismet indeed!

Heh heh – well Matt has shown us what the API key is for – Akismet anti-spam system. Works for all your non-WordPress.com blogs.

Seems like a good idea – as long as the security aspects of all my comments winging their way to him and back again are sorted out!

As far as I can work out – your comments get sent to them for analysis, get the yes or no and then sent back for my system to display or not…..The trick is to keep the central spam register accurate – let’s hope it works!

I think it will….

It Lives!

Well – its a fantastic start! Just imported all my Blogger posts AND comments onto the new WordPress.com site! Gotta be happy about that!

A Big THANK-YOU to all the WordPress team for this!

Up and Running

Well, both platforms installed and up and running.

Initial Impression:

Both look good from the “readers� perspective ‘out of the box’. The generic style is acceptable and utilitarian, but that is of limited importance in the long run – I plan to install custom themes anyway.

The access to the administration section is interesting.WHY didn’t movable type place a link to it on the default template? It is a PAIN in the a$$ to have to type in yourblog.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt.cgi! I am sure in the long run that would be second nature but – not what I would call user friendly for the newbie. In WordPress there is a direct link in the sidebar. Both protected by passwords of course – and I appreciate the facility to email the password to the default address if you forget your password.

WordPress admin area:

Drops you straight onto the dashboard with recent information from wordpress.org. A simple horizontal menu leads to other areas like composition, management of old posts and new comments; customization areas for options, themes and styles as well as the expected gamut of options for customising permalinks, notification areas etc. It seems intuitive and straightforward.

Movable Type admin area:

Personally, I don’t find it as intuitive. To be fair, probably because it is potentially able to manage multiple blogs rather than just one like WordPress. I tried out the WordPress one first, so that may have biased me by its relative simplicity, but the MT just seemed more bloated, requiring passage through too many menus to get where I wanted.

At this point – for me – WP is winning based on ease of use and abilities.

WordPress installation.

Well that was a no brainer!

My host uses C-Panel which has Fantastico installed. One of the options is install WordPress! AND it’s the current version. One click and it was in. It– only asked me what (sub)directory I wanted to install to, password and user name.

Had one potential problem. I– thought I would install to an add-on domain on my account. This looks like a sub domain in some ways (creates a subdirectory of the html_public directory called the add-on domain name) which I thought may confuse the installation, but – no problems. Fantastico offered the installation to either the main domain or the add-on. All URIs resolve to the add-on domain name. SIMPLE.

Once ““inside”” , I changed some of the defaults and activated some of the included plug-ins. Inserted the notification email address, tagline and title. Set it for pretty permalinks. I also added the list of common spam words from WordPress.

Now to try Movable Type.

The short list:

Well no surprises:- It’s between Movable type and WordPress.

The next step is a trial installation and a try out of their features. I guess ease of installation is NOT a major point – as long as I can get ‘em installed. It is not as if I will be installing them on a regular basis!

My current hosting service has a good range of facilities – including .htaccess and mod_rewrite’s as well as most pearl modules, MySql and PHP. No Image::Magick pearl module for Movable Type, but it does have NetPBM modules to allow thumb-nailing. Overall I think I have all the pre-requisites.

So here goes. Stay tuned for the next installment

Checking out the options – Blog / CMS Platforms

I have been haunting a great site on the web – Open Source CMS .

It gives you the chance to try demo’s of many different CMS platforms – including blog specific and image management systems.

The demos include full administration access, so you can try out all the different engines from both a user and administrators view. I believe this is invaluable!

They reset the entire system every 2 hours, so nothing persists – understandably – and it also stops people from permanently destroying the access for others.

So far, I have had a long look at:

Mambo – a good looking interface but not overly intuitive. Seems to be a very complex/ complete system with easy (?) integration of other components – forums for example. I feel possibly better suited for a commercial site rather that a personal blog/site but over all very impressive. Just too complicated.

PHPNuke – A common CMS as far as I am aware, but their are a lot of comments regarding security of the system.. Possibly because it is so common – easy target. The interface is ok but – again- not overly intuitive in my opinion. AND I HATE an official site that pops-up a window advertising ringtones! Interestingly, this OPENSOURCE CMS – charges for the most recent release – confused!

PostNuke – Another PHP type CMS that I THINK evolved from PHPNuke. Less security issues. Slow to run and I get the impression that the support for it has dwindled over the years. Ok from the admin point of view but far from intuitive. I gather that themes are not easy to come by unless you want to pay for ‘em. Not really a blog tool. Permalinks and trackbacks / pings seem unsupported as well. Not for me.

Xoops – Not a good sign when the main developer is apologising for not being around…… Not particularly for me.

WordPress – Essentially ‘touted’ as a Blogging tool but I suspect there is more too it. Has an active user base and support forums as well as a massive Wikki. I am surprised at some of the people who are using it on the web. Why surprised – well it is free for a start! The interface is clean and intuitive. Not surprisingly, it has excellent comment control/configuration with RSS trackbacks and pings as well. I was pleased to see that it is easily set up for other pages rather than like blogspot with a single main page and archives. Hundreds of themes – all free as far as I can see and a handy in-line theme changer. Will put this toward the top of my list to try.

Movable Type – A commercial blogging platform with a free non-commercial single user license. I am looking at it simply because it seems so commonly used (commercially at least) and I see quite a lot of sights using it – eg Geek News Central. As far as I am aware, MT’s parent company – Six Apart – established the Trackback protocol, so this platform is certainly up there. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any demo’s for Mt so will probably have to do my own install and check it out. Worryingly, the company offers a PAID installation service for its customers as apparently many people have a problem installing it . Even so, it seems so prevalent, it must be worth a look.

This site gives you the option to compare various features between platforms. Also worth a look.

That’s all for tonight! More later – wish me luck!