Tucson Digital Arts Community » News

Rapid WordPress Theme Development

josh williams — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:11:23 +0000

Here are the slides from the presentation I gave about rapid WordPress development at Spoke6 on June 22, 2010.

Speeding up WordPress

timbowen — Wed, 26 May 2010 01:28:19 +0000

Tim Bowen’s Speeding up WordPress 5/25/10 presentation

Test load times/elements here: Pingdom
Also use YSlow and Google Page Speed to test speed.

PHP Query Elimination:
Use this:
Not this: ” />

Use Google hosted JQuery / Prototype libraries by adding this to functions.php file:
function my_init_method() {
wp_deregister_script( ‘jquery’ );
wp_register_script( ‘jquery’, ‘http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.4/jquery.min.js’);
}
add_action(‘init’, ‘my_init_method’);

Remove actions for WordPress meta, rsd_link and wlmanifest by adding these lines to functions.php:
remove_action(‘wp_head’, ‘wp_generator’);
remove_action(‘wp_head’, ‘rsd_link’);
remove_action(‘wp_head’, ‘wlwmanifest_link’);

Use Google minify for JS and CSS files.
Add Javascript files to bottom of page for faster load speeds.

Define elements in wp-config.php file:
define(‘ENABLE_CACHE’, true );
define(‘WP_ALLOW_REPAIR’, true);

Set the WP URL and Site URL to improve site performance. Make sure these are same as in the General Settings page
define(‘WP_SITEURL’, ‘http://SITENAME.com/cms’);
define(‘WP_HOME’, ‘http://SITENAME.com’);

Set the template directory and stylesheet directory to improve site performance and eliminate server queries
define(‘TEMPLATEPATH’, ‘/home/public_html/cms/wp-content/themes/THEMENAME’);
define(‘STYLESHEETPATH’, ‘/home/public_html/cms/wp-content/themes/THEMENAME’);

Use optimized .htaccess file

Disable hotlinking with this code in .htaccess file:

RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^$
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^http://(www\.)?example\.com/.*$ [NC]
RewriteRule .*\.(gif|jpg|png|ico)$ – [F,L]

Image hosting off-site with WP-Offload plugin and Steady Offload

Add after the and before to speed up loading.

Potentially useful plugins:

DB Cache Reloaded (small speed bump while helping to eliminate queries to server)
W3 Total Cache (small speed bump, also good for heavy traffic)
Quick Cache (small speed bump, good for heavy traffic)
WP Super Cache (didn’t notice speed bump, reviews claim good for heavy traffic)
PHP Speedy (compresses scripts from plugins, small speed bump)

Flash Camp Phoenix is this Friday!

flasher — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:38:26 +0000

Flash Camp Phoenix is a full-day event focusing on the Adobe Flash Platform. Enhance your skills in ActionScript and Flex while learning from local and national industry experts. Flash Camp will provide an introduction to the Flash Platform as well as covering advanced topics for existing Flex and ActionScript developers.

http://flashcampphoenix.eventbrite.com/

TDAC website meeting recap

TDAC — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:52:14 +0000

Below is a recap from our TDAC website meeting on 12/9/09 (meeting notes here) going over how the new TDAC website will be built. Thanks to everyone who made it! To those who couldn’t make it, feedback is welcome and we’d love to hear your comments.

Overall Design / UI

WordPress MU, BuddyPress and bbPress need to be updated and setup on a faster server (we can use www.creativeoven.com as a testing site and switch over to this bluehost account if it runs fast enough)
Better access to group discussions / forums
Users and content needs to be ported over to this new testing server.
Need to update the structure of the homepage and decide which elements should be featured. Include “Teaser Text”.
Creating simple wireframe layouts should be done for each page of the site, though most importantly the home page.
Show a personalized homepage for users who are logged in. Show the groups they are a part of and other information related to them.
Add blog where people can post things to? Guest bloggers? Aftermath blog of each event AFTER each event (like this post you are reading right now)
Twitter feed shows activity of all members. Our current list: http://twitter.com/tucsondigital/tdac-members

INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS/BLOGS OF THIS SITE:

Events

Events should have own WordPress blog
Option 1: Possibly setup simple contact form allowing members to submit events to the current calendar plugin.
Option 2: Setup the Events Manager plugin (updated 3 days ago) and test capabilities (RSVP, Submitting Events, RSS feed, etc) http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/events-manager/
Option 3: Use Google Calendar
Differentiating between *official* TDAC events and user submitted events
Area to help decide on future events. This should be it’s own Group/Forum where event topics may be proposed discussed. Might be good to have a poll to decide between a few finalists on the homepage.

Forums / Groups

Separate forum for easy navigation of all discussions.
- Option 1: remove group forums and just use bbPress as a standalone forum (like BuddyPress.org does)
- Option 2: try to use keep forums within each group, but add a “Forums” link to top navigation that shows activity across all group forums
Group discussions need to be all seen in one place (new bbPress version does this)
Try to find a way to allow invitations to groups without the “friends” feature (possibly just make everyone a friend with everyone else upon signing up)
Ties in with proposed Ask TDAC feature. (just ask your question in the appropriate group forum)

Job Board

Job area will have it’s own WordPress blog
Grid should be easy to explore and filter through
Admins will be notified of new job posting and filter them as needed
Listings will expire after 30 days?
Make it easy to submit — anyone should be able to submit (Gravity Forms submission to specific WPMU blog (and category)) see an example at http://jobs.wordpress.net/
Members need to login to respond to a job and see contact info
Idea of the LinkedIn style checkboxes that allow you to show what you desire from employers (freelance, full-time, etc)

User Profiles

More fields need to be added to profiles (such as company you work for, twitter link being link, and website links)
Select type of work they do (top 3 categories)
Allow members to upload images of work (http://www.wpveda.com/buddypress-kaltura-media-component/ )
Combine mailing list (google group) with member profile. Manage subscriptions. Built in Newsletter (Subscribe2 plugin?)
Make the email subscription an option when signing up for TDAC (MOVE IT AWAY FROM GOOGLE GROUP since it’s not a discussions)
Sort Directory of members by tag/category
Facebook Connect (could be easy to login without signing up) VERY LOW PRIORITY
Maybe use OpenID too?
Remove auto-linking in profile fields
- The problem is that it tries to link everything: your name, your state, etc
- sample code to do this: http://buddypress.pastebin.com/f461fc21e
- see also: http://buddypress.org/forums/topic.php?id=1864#post-14923
- then use a similar function to link the Twitter name to the actual Twitter URL

Podcasting / Video

Goal of doing short videos with each member. Quick/short/interesting.
Panels of people discussing a topic?
Set up a standard for recording events and managing responsibilities
Find video people in Tucson who will do this! (MPG, DP, and UP Groups?)

Sponsorship and Ads

Ad space is earned by participating. You earn credits by presenting, working on website, creating content, editing video, etc. This credit can then be used to place an ad up on TDAC.
Tracking and value system needs to be setup for this
Ad program needs to be added to the site which can rotate ads through the various blogs which makeup TDAC

Tucson Startup Drinks – October [Panel on Lawyers]

Warner Onstine — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:04:02 +0000

Oct ’09

7:00 PM

This month I’ve invited several business people who have dealt with lawyers in one capacity or another to share their experiences.

Confirmed are:

Cia Romano of Interface Guru (http://interfaceguru.com)

Andrew Barton of eBlox (http://eblox.com)

Andrew Hollamon (or Mike Liskow) of D’Mention Systems (http://dmentionsystems.com)

William Mitchell of Mitchell Software Engineering (http://mitchellsoftwareengineering.com)

This should be a lively discussion, bring questions, bring friends, bring lawyers (who may also be friends).

Startup Drinks is a simple concept: startup culture in cities around the world gathers around a bar to have a pint and discuss what they are working on, what they need help with and what they can do for each other.

The Tucson version of this group meets on the last Tuesday of every month

When: Tuesday, October 27th beginning at 7 pm

Where: 115 Creative Space (115 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85701) map it

BYOB/Snacks

October 10th – 1PM to ?

tashinamu8 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:42:02 +0000

Oct ’09

1:00 PM

A few artists here in Tucson are hosting a Private Studio Tour for the Art and Wine Meetup Club from Greater Phoenix. There is still room for a few more people to attend. This is not exclusively digital art BUT one artist, Aryen Hart will show his digital photography work that is etched onto steel with a specialty digital copier. Below is an excerpt from the schedule.

1:00 Group meets at PCC parking lot at Stone and Speedway

1:20 Mobilized and arrive at Aryan Hart’s studio

2:40 Arrive at Stephan Derks Studio

4:00 Arrive at Thomas Kerrigan’s Studio (handout a small packet of light snacks)

5:20 Conrad Wilde Gallery – Encaustic Demonstration

6:00 Reception at Conrad Wilde Gallery for artists and attendees (approx. 40 minutes)

7:00 Arrive at Solar Culture Gallery (probably won’t go more than an hour since it will have been a long day for everyone) Some people may lag behind and not go onto the next step

8:00 Find dinner locally or return to Phoenix

RSVP’s are required due to the small spaces and the hosted-reception.

Email rsvp to: zozzo@q.com

Deb Denne’ – Event organizer

Save the Date: 2010 Global Retailing Conference

Brenton — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:40:58 +0000

Apr	Apr
8	9

This is an exciting and inspirational conference in Tucson every year. It will be at the Ritz Carlton on April 8-9, 2010. The 2010 theme is “Innovation Generation”

http://globalretailingconference.org/2010/

Monsoon Mixer: Social Meet-up at Interface Guru’s Offices

zoeo — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:46:41 +0000

Aug ’09

6:00 PM

On Wednesday, August 19th from 6-9pm, Interface Guru will host the monthly TDAC meet-up at our offices Downtown. We’ll provide some snacks and drinks (and a killer 9th-floor view), please feel free to BYOB!

Where: # 177 N. Church Ave. Suite 919# (9th floor) Tucson, AZ 85701
When: Wednesday, August 19th from 6-9pm
What: TDAC monthly meet-up for socializing and networking plus one-time-only free access to our usability lab to do your own testing!

Throughout the night, we will be conducting live user tests in our lab so attendees can view usability in action. The user tests will be conducted in a separate and soundproof room. The main offices will be open for attendees to socialize and network.

If you are interested in being a test subject, please email us at kyle@interfaceguru.com. Please include your full name, profession, and the name of the Web site you would like to critique/perform a task on. We will conduct these tests in 15-minute intervals and have limited slots available, so opportunities are limited.

Barb Gibson speaks on social media – April 6th

juliegraphics — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:51:33 +0000

Apr ’09

11:45 AM

Join IABC/Tucson for a not-to-be-missed opportunity to talk with Barbara A. Gibson, ABC, Chair of IABC..

Barb is visiting Tucson on Monday, April 6 . We’ll host this special networking and spotlight session at Maynards in the historic Train Depot downtown.

Barbara, in addition to being IABC’s international 2008-2009 Chair, heads London-based independent consultancy SpokesComm, providing both strategic communication planning and media spokesperson development. An American transplant to the UK with more than 20 years experience in corporate communication, public relations and internal communication, she has worked with leading companies worldwide. Barb visits Tucson as the guest of IABC/Tucson and will speak about the emerging role of social media and the broadening scope of international communications.

Date: Monday, April 6, 2009
Time: 11:45 AM – 1:30 PM

Location: Maynards, 400 N. Toole Avenue, downtown at the Historic Train Depot and Hotel Congress

Cost: $19 members, $25 at the door and guests,
$16 students.
RSVP: Reserve on line (see above link) or
Email events@iabctucson.com with any questions.

Get to know Barb prior to April 6: Follow Barb on Twitter!

Collaborative Work Day, March 7th

TDAC — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:43:40 +0000

Mar ’09

10:00 AM

Come help us improve the TDAC website. We’ll be looking at everything from adding new features, improving the existing site, and brainstorming future additions.

We’ll start with as much time as people want to work this Saturday, then see if we want to do another day on Saturday the 14th.

Where: 115 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85701 (map)
When: March 7th, 2009 from 10am to 5pm?

Come and participate for as much of the time as you wish: a few minutes, an hour, or all day. Designers, copywriters, coders, thinkers, tinkerers—all are welcome to join the collaboration. There should be something for everyone, but we’ll probably focus on WordPress plugins and themes.

Bring your laptop.

Details

Here are some of the things which we can work on:

Design / usability

Clean up design and content. Add credits area for those working on site.
Add more content boxes for profiles. Images too?
Re-organize homepage to be more logical.

Enhancements and fixes

Easier Event posting. Sign up for events?
Avatar uploading troubleshooting
Member directory troubleshooting (clean it up, make it big grid?)

New features (plugins or theme changes)

Twitter feed to stream all the TDAC members’ Twitter updates
Connect Forum to BuddyPress
Jobs board (separate blog)
Link to Facebook. use “facebook connect” ?
Search site feature
Podcasting / Videocasting
Add survey and polls
Featured work gallery that members can submit to?

Some useful links:

The core of the TDAC site is built using WordPress MU: http://mu.wordpress.org/
Some good WP MU specific plugins: http://wpmudev.org/plugins/ and http://wpmu.org/

We are also using some of the modules/plugins from BuddyPress: http://buddypress.org/
Info about extending BuddyPress: http://bp-dev.org/

Most of the WordPress plugins will work with this installation: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/

If you have ideas of things to add to the list, please submit a comment below and come with your ideas on Saturday.