Testing Sideblog and KGArchives against WP2.3
I’ve tested Sideblog and KGArchives to be compatible with my WP2.3 test install. I will be upgrading this site tomorrow to the latest release candidate for live testing. After which, I’ll list Sideblog and KGArchives as WP2.3 compatible in the WP2.3 plugins compatibility page.
As long as I’m using WP, be rest assured that these plugins will be updated to the latest WP release unless WP incorporates similar features in the core as what happened with UTW rendering it obsolete.
I happened to browse the WP plugins compatibility page and it seems that some plugins I’m currently using are missing from the compatible list. That could pose a problem but not as critical as Sideblog. They’ll likely be disabled until their authors update them.
1 thing you need to know about WP 2.3
Others have 10 things. I only have 1: WP 2.3 is going to break a lot of plugins. So there. Go ahead check your plugins if they’re compatible with the next WP release 3 days from now.
I’ve updated KGArchives and Sideblog. They’re not final yet but you can have them tested with your WP 2.3 test install. And do report back the bugs you find. The plugins will not be compatible with Wordpress versions earlier than 2.3.
Get KGArchives v4.0 here: http://katesgasis.com/downloads/kgarchives40.zip.
Get Sideblog v4.0 at: WP plugin repository.
Upgrading Ruby in Ubuntu Without Using Apt
For some reason I need to upgrade the installed Ruby versions in my development PC and in slicehost VPS. Both uses Ubuntu: dev has ubuntu edgy, VPS has ubuntu dapper. Ruby is already in version 1.8.6 while the one in Ubuntu repository through apt-get is stuck at 1.8.4. So I upgraded by compiling Ruby source files.
Here's what I did:
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sudo apt-get install build-essential
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sudo apt-get install libreadline5 libreadline5-dev
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wget ftp://ftp.ruby-lang.org/pub/ruby/ruby-1.8.6.tar.gz
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tar -xzf ruby-1.8.6.tar.gz
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cd ruby-1.8.6
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./configure --prefix=/usr/local --enable-pthread --with-readline-dir=/usr/local
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make
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sudo make install
After compiling, Ruby will be installed in /usr/local directories. Run 'ruby -v' and check if it say 'ruby 1.8.6 (2007-03-13 patchlevel 0) [i686-linux]'.
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wget http://rubyforge.org/frs/download.php/20989/rubygems-0.9.4.tgz
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tar -xzf rubygems-0.9.4.tgz
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cd rubygems-0.9.4
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sudo ruby setup.rb
You might need to reinstall your gems. I'm using Rails so when I tried running 'script/console', I get something like:
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/usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/irb/completion.rb:10:in `require':
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no such file to load -- readline (LoadError)
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from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/irb/completion.rb:10
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from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/irb/init.rb:252:in `load_modules'
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from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/irb/init.rb:250:in `load_modules'
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from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/irb/init.rb:21:in `setup'
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from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/irb.rb:54:in `start'
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from /usr/local/bin/irb:13
Weird because when I logged out and in again, the problem went away.
Trying out CakePHP
When I was evaluating PHP web frameworks that I would focus on and use on a regular basis, I didn't go with CakePHP. Instead, I went with CodeIgniter for reason that I was able make and run a sample app with CodeIgniter a few minutes after install while I was pulling hairs with CakePHP.
But not anymore. I had a pleasant experience experimenting with CakePHP over the last couple of days. It might be that I have I already know Rails which made Cake's approach fits my brain easily as Cake and Rails have lots of similarities.
Deciding which PHP framework to use on the next project will be a very hard decision to make for me. Cake's ActiveRecord implementation is better than that of CI. On the other hand, CI gives me full control of almost everything.
On App Cloning
I did one ego-driven google search of the app I'm currently working on.. So far the results and feedbacks are good. I'm a bit surprised with some of the results. Our app was launched last March and I already see lots of requests to clone it in various freelance sites. Somehow, it made me feel good. We must did a helluva good job that people wanting to copy us.
I can't say the app cannot be cloned/copied. Heck, nothing's impossible nowadays. But the rates they're offering to clone us is unbelievable. One request offered $300. The lowest I found offered $100. That's nowhere near of what my boss pay us. The app may seem easy to replicate. Actually, it's a no-brainer. It's the resources behind it that's mind-blowing.
For now, we're going to enjoy being the only one offering such service. And even if they come close to copying the functionality, we're in the process of adding a serious feature that in itself is can spawn yet another app.
Sideblog Uploaded to WP Subversion Repository
I've submitted Sideblog to the official Worpdress plugin repository. Anybody interested in fixing or extending Sideblog can commit changes to the svn. This way, the issues that the plugin currently has may be fixed faster than before.
I still have the old versions if you're still on pre WP2.0. Just leave a comment and I'll give you the download link.
Weird 404s by Sideblog
Until now, I can't figure out why other blogs with Sideblog plugin installed has their pages returning 404s. I did some testing with fresh install of wordpress as well as on existing blogs and have not gotten any 404s. Yes, even before Sideblog version 3.7. I follow the same procedure everytime.
One reason might be that I am totally out of touch with regards to core Wordpress code developments. I don't have any paid wordpress related projects since late last year. But as I see it, there were not much changes in core WP code that directly affects Sideblog.
Anyway, Wordpress just launched their plugins directory. If I understood them correctly, they allow hosting the plugin from there and will provide SVN for it. These is good news. I am planning to upload Sideblog over there and allow other developers to submit fixes. Maybe, this time, Sideblog'll be a bit stable than it is now.
Lost
Whew, I couldn't believe the last post I have here was on January 23. There's was nothing for the whole month of February. Which means this blog is a ghost town already. I haven't checked the site stats but I assume nobody's reading this anymore. Well... good. Let's start over again.
So what's the latest? I got bored with PHP and took up Ruby and Rails. Ruby is great. And so is Rails. If PHP is easy, learning Ruby and Rails is easier it's almost spoon-feeding. I didn't like all the magic Rails does at first but after knowing how it does things, I can't find any reason not to use them. Now, if only I can use Rails for work, I would be very happy for the rest of the year.
Habari
Most of the people who got me into Wordpress early on the popular blogging tool's life are developing now Habari. Owen Winkler, Chris J. Davis and Michael Heilenman got me hooked on developing on wordpress.
I created my first plugin reading Owen's blog. My archive plugin was an idea I got from Chris and Shawn. Contrary to what other people say, I find Michael's Kubrick them easier to work with and extend. All my previous themes and those I have created for my clients was based on Kubrick. I have a lot of respect for these guys. They're really brilliant as with rest of the Habari team.
I see a lot of potential with Habari. I have only seen the code today from SVN. It's time to get familiar with a new set of codes again.
The Illustration News Portal
I just would like to thank Darren of thelittlechimpsociety.com/The Illustration News Portal for giving me the heads up. I helped Darren customize his version of Sideblog he is currently using on his site. I actually don't know how he did it but I think he got it to work like he wanted.
Darren emailed me directly about the plugin. He explained what he wanted the plugin to do so well that I didn't think twice helping him on one specific feature. If only people can explain clearly what's their problem with the plugin, I could take some time of from work and fix the plugin. A couple of visitors even gave me administrator account on their blog just to the damn plugin work.