Portable WordPress?

[getsmartt]

I just put together a method to make WordPress portable installs possible.

No more exporting and importing databases!

Just zip up your wordpress directory and unzip it on your (or your customer's server) chmod 1 file, and make a minor change to the config file (only if you are installing the WordPress in a sub folder)

And Bam! a fully set-up WordPress Blog

Yep you guessed it, I am considering this as a WSO and am looking to get a few Warriors to evaluate and review it.

There are 2 server requirements, that are generally met by default You must have PHP5 and PDO enabled

If you are interested in it drop me a PM, any Questions ask them here and I will answer to the best of my ability.

[Mountainmotorman]

You are doing something that many have been doing for a LONG time.... It is nice that you are helping people here but, it is not a WSO that is worth much. You would have better luck trying to sell it in newbie programmer forums for like $17 bucks.... Hope the best for you!

[getsmartt]

Originally Posted by Mountainmotorman

You are doing something that many have been doing for a LONG time.... It is nice that you are helping people here but, it is not a WSO that is worth much. You would have better luck trying to sell it in newbie programmer forums for like $17 bucks.... Hope the best for you!

Thanks for the input...But, You never even requested or evaluated the system!

I have never actually come across my method done anywhere before, you want to point out a couple of examples so I can check them out?

[Austin Delaney]

No more exporting and importing databases!

That's the line I'm interested in. If 'Mountainmotorman' knows another way I'm interested too. I usually have to export the sql file, then import it and run some queries, otherwise it ain't gonna work.

If you're portable WP does what you say I'll buy.

[getsmartt]

Originally Posted by Austin Delaney

If you're portable WP does what you say I'll buy.

Proof of concept sent, will send full documentation tomorrow

[getsmartt]

Documentation sent to those that requested it

[getsmartt]

Still looking for a couple of more people to review/evalute this

[Stefan Vee]

Originally Posted by getsmartt

There are 2 server requirements, that are generally met by default You must have PHP5 and PDO enabled

Are these export requirements or import requirements?
(I create my blogs locally using Xampp)

[getsmartt]

Originally Posted by Stefan Vee

Are these export requirements or import requirements?
(I create my blogs locally using Xampp)

Actually there is no import or export. You would have to have PHP5 and the PDO extension active in your Xampp enviroment for this to work, and it would have to be active on the server where you eventually wanted to place the blog.

Most servers that I have looked into i.e HostGator have PHP 5 and PDO enabled.

Enabling it in Xampp should be no issue either.

drop me a PM and I can send you a wordpress blog you can drop into Xampp to try out.

[SteveJohnson]

You can PM me the details, I'll take a look and offer an eval.

[getsmartt]

You can PM me the details, I'll take a look and offer an eval.

Steve, PM has been sent

[SteveJohnson]

James, I'm not trying to rain on your parade here as you've done an enormous amount of work to get this far. But I don't think it's ready for general consumption yet.

The game-killers for me lie in this section in the documentation:

2. The database schema cannot be upgraded through the WP automatic systems.
3. Some plugins will not install as they use the WP upgrade functions to build/upgrade their databases, in general these plugins cannot be modified to work with Portable WordPress as they require changing base tables in WordPress.

As I read this, the modification basically disables automatic WP core upgrades. The 'auto upgrade' feature has been one that many WP users had waited for a very long time. This in itself makes it a no-go for me.

Of equal if not more importance is #3 - plugins that use documented WordPress functions to add/upgrade database tables will not work. Many popular WordPress plugins use custom db tables, and to disable part of the core WordPress plugin API is just not good practice.

If you can solve the above issues, you may have an audience for this although I don't see any commercial viability. But that's just my opinion. YMMV.

[getsmartt]

Originally Posted by SteveJohnson

The game-killers for me lie in this section in the documentation:


As I read this, the modification basically disables automatic WP core upgrades. The 'auto upgrade' feature has been one that many WP users had waited for a very long time. This in itself makes it a no-go for me.

Of equal if not more importance is #3 - plugins that use documented WordPress functions to add/upgrade database tables will not work. Many popular WordPress plugins use custom db tables, and to disable part of the core WordPress plugin API is just not good practice.

Steve, thanks for the input, and I am looking for various ways to overcome these shortcommings.

My overall thought for this kind of solution would be for mass producing blog farms, auto blogs, or other types of sites that are not likely to be updated.

I remember reading somewhere that the vast majority of wordpress blogs are never updated once they are installed.

[getsmartt]

Thanks Nathan

Originally Posted by NathanFalkner

Despite the fact that "many" people have been
doing ___fill__in__the__blank___ for a long time,
there are a LOT of other individuals who wouldn't
have any idea about the SAME exact stuff.

It's laughable to conclude (in principle, at least)
that what the OP is working on would not be a
WSO of any value. It may be of no value to you,
or to me, but what about others?

[koolphoto]

I think this is very promising. It would be easy to create a website for a client who just needs a small site that they can update themselves every so often. For many a full blown Wordpress installation is overkill. This simplifies installation by not having to deal with cpanel's and databases. I think it would be a great addition to my toolbox.

There are other blogging platforms like flatpress that have an incorporated flat file database. But, still for most people I think Wordpress is the best blogging platform out there.

[getsmartt]

Thanks for the input Ken, have a good day

Originally Posted by koolphoto

I think this is very promising. It would be easy to create a website for a client who just needs a small site that they can update themselves every so often. For many a full blown Wordpress installation is overkill. So, if this simplifies installation it would be a great addition to my toolbox.

There are other blogging platforms like flatpress that have an incorporated flat file database. But, still for most people I think Wordpress is the best blogging platform out there.

[Austin Delaney]

My overall thought for this kind of solution would be for mass producing blog farms, auto blogs, or other types of sites that are not likely to be updated.

Exactly what I would use this for. I have specific setups for autoblogs and you're right, I never update them afterwards. I'll let you know how I get on when I do the next batch.

I've read through the docs and am able to follow but it may be useful to have some videos too for those less familiar with WP.

Just wondering, is there anyway to transfer an sql-lite install back to MySQL?

[getsmartt]

Originally Posted by Austin Delaney

Exactly what I would use this for. I have specific setups for autoblogs and you're right, I never update them afterwards. I'll let you know how I get on when I do the next batch.

I've read through the docs and am able to follow but it may be useful to have some videos too for those less familiar with WP.

Just wondering, is there anyway to transfer an sql-lite install back to MySQL?

Thanks Austin

Maybe I will get some time to put videos together. Yes, converting back to MySQL is certainly possible, I will put that information together as well.

[phylrock@aol.com]

I am working with someone to convert my website to wordpress. It is a membership site and the guy says we cant do it in wordpress (after i gave him about 2k)