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by TDAC

WordPress Meetup June 2010

12:58 PM in Events by TDAC

Jun
22
7:00 PM

Join us for an evening of WordPress. We’ll cover the latest in WordPress news, share how we are using WordPress, and possibly have several 10-minute presentations.

  • Where: Spoke6, 439 N 6th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705 (located on the SW corner of 6th Ave & 6th St)
  • When: Tuesday, June 22nd 7–9 PM
  • Cost: Please bring a snack or drink to share

This is an open event. Everyone is welcome.

Presentations scheduled:

  1. Intro: Latest WordPress news (Lance)
    - 3.0 launched last week! Whoo-hoo! Read all the details and watch a video overview, then go update your WordPress sites.
  2. Rapid development (Josh)
  3. WordPress community and 100 Stands (Sam DeVore) Canceled
  4. Ian: Integrating development frameworks and custom applications with WordPress: pros and cons
  5. Child themes (Lance)
    - Codex page: http://codex.wordpress.org/Child_Themes

Ideas for presentations in July and August:

  1. How to develop a theme: A-Z, learning all the files (based on ThemeShaper tutorial)
  2. Writing with WordPress: Britt
  3. Plugin development basics
  4. Common tasks and how to solve them: calendars and events, migration of old sites to the latest WordPress version
  5. Commercialization of WP (plugins, developers, bloggers…)
  6. Top 10 things you should know about WordPress
  7. Compare photo gallery themes/plugins
  8. Search Engine Optimization
  9. Best practices in development and design
  10. BuddyPress review of capabilities

If you’d like to present a topic related to WordPress, drop Lance an email: lance at simpledream dot net.

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by Tim Bowen

Speeding up WordPress

9:28 PM in News by Tim Bowen

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: <meta charset=”UTF-8″ />
Not this: <meta charset=”<?php bloginfo( ‘charset’ ); ?>” />

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

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

Add <?php flush(); ?> after the </head> and before <body> 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)

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by TDAC

TDAC website meeting recap

4:52 PM in News by TDAC

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

Read the rest of this entry →

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by TDAC

Help update the TDAC website

6:20 PM in Events by TDAC

Dec ’09
9
7:00 PM

The TDAC website needs an overhaul and we’re looking for designers and WordPress developers to help.  The site is built on the WordPress MU platform with BuddyPress modules installed.  It’s pretty simple though, and if you have any WordPress or CSS knowledge you can definitely help.

Where: 115 E Broadway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85701 (map it)
When: Wednesday, December 9th from 7pm to 9pm
What: Bring a laptop and your coding skills.  We’ll share theme files and give access to the server as needed.
Who: Tim Bowen and Lance Willett will definitely be there.  Hopefully we’ll have at least 5-10 others to help make things go quickly and offer suggestions.
Why: To improve the TDAC website.  If done well it should help us all!

Please RSVP by leaving a comment below.

Here’s a brief outline of what we’ll be trying to accomplish.  Your suggestions are welcomed, please add them in the comments below!

EVENTS

  • Simple to add (edit?)
  • Official TDAC vs Regular Submitted
  • Register for events
  • Help to decide on future events. Interest List?

JOB BOARD

  • grid should be easy to explore and filter through
  • Gravity Forms submission to specific WPMU blog (and category)
  • Internships?
  • Jobs need to expire
  • Login to respond to a job and see contact info
  • “I’m looking for ___ work” ?

USER PROFILES (directory focused)

  • Separate directory for members and companies
  • For company profiles choose status: hiring, outsourcing, full
  • More fields
  • Images of work
  • Select type of work they do (top 3 categories)
  • Combine mailing list (google group) with member profile. Manage subscriptions. Built in Newsletter (Subscribe2 plugin?)
  • Directory of members by tag/category
  • Twitter feed shows activity
  • Relationship status for jobs (busy, open, eager)
  • Facebook Connect

ASK TDAC

  • FAQ’s
  • Get points/recognition for answering questions?
  • Pricing info for typical services (discussion?)

PODCASTING

  • Weekly/Monthly?
  • Panels discussing a topic
  • Interview members (quick, short, interesting)

VIDEO

  • Of Past Events
  • Live streaming (ustream.com)
  • Tutorials?
  • Learning Area

SPONSORS ADS

  • the deck (http://decknetwork.net/)
  • google ads?
  • member sponsorships?
  • local business sponsorships?
  • TDAC “Points” for giving presentations or answering questions. Top point members featured.

CO-WORKING

FORUMS / GROUPS

  • Separate forum for easy navigation of all discussions.

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by TDAC

When you’re a hammer: Choosing Between Drupal and WordPress

11:22 AM in Events by TDAC

Oct ’09
14
7:00 PM

It’s easy to keep using the same familiar tools to build websites — it’s faster and easier, and it’s a lot more predictable. But is WordPress really an appropriate solution for every website? Is Drupal? Ian Johnson will spend an hour comparing these two open source CMSs and the relative merits of each with case studies and live examples. Experts with strong opinions are welcome!

During this TDAC event Ian Johnson of Moia Group will be doing a short presentation on choosing content management systems, specifically Drupal vs WordPress.

When: Wednesday, October 14th at 7pm (presentation will start at 7:30pm)

Where: 115 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85701

BYOB

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by TDAC

Mobile Web Extravaganza

2:17 AM in Events by TDAC

Sep ’09
16
7:00 PM

Join Anchor Wave and the Tucson Digital Arts Community for a networking mixer and presentation on the Mobile Web.

Presentations will begin at 7. Feel free to come at 6:30 to mingle! We’ll have snacks and a cooler of beer, wine and soda. Contributions to the cooler are appreciated.

  • Mobile Website Statistics and Trends, Anthony Rivera of Anchor Wave
  • Mobile Web Usability, Cia Romano of Interface Guru
  • Mobile Website building platforms, Mike Schmidt of Anchor Wave
  • WordPress Plug-in’s for mobile compatibility, Mark Garity of Anchor Wave

Address: 245 S. Plumer Ave #3, Tucson, AZ, 85719 (Google Map)

anchorwave

Directions From U of A  Area:
Take Campbell Ave south towards Broadway. Make a left (heading East) on Broadway. Turn Right (South) on Plumer Ave. We are located in the “Commerce Plaza” office park on the East side of the street. We are located in Suite #3 on the right hand side.

Please RSVP here if you are coming to this event.

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by PABlo Bley

Tucson Blogger Meetup

10:38 PM in Events by PABlo Bley

May ’09
20
6:30 PM

Where?

Create Cafe
4660 E. Camp Lowell
Tucson, AZ 85712

Details: http://www.meetup.com/tucsonbloggers/

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by PABlo Bley

The Tucson Blogger Meetup Group

9:07 PM in Events by PABlo Bley

Apr ’09
15
6:30 PM

Where: Create Cafe, 4660 E. Camp Lowell, Tucson, AZ 85712, 520-298-3421

When: April 15th at 6:30pm

Agenda: We’ll be discussing MORE Social Media Tools & Resources.

Blogging, Blog publishing software, Content Management Systems, WordPress, Moveable Type, Blogger, RSS Syndication, Web Marketing…

http://www.meetup.com/tucsonbloggers

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by TDAC

Collaborative Work Day, March 7th

12:43 PM in Events, News by TDAC

Mar ’09
7
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.

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by TDAC

WordPress Workshop

11:50 AM in Events by TDAC

Jan ’09
14
7:00 PM

The Tucson Digital Arts Community (TDAC) will be holding a WordPress Workshop for those interested in learning more about this growing content management system.

When: January 14th, starting around 6pm (ending around 8pm)
Where: 115 East Broadway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85701 (map it)

The following 8 topics will be covered:

  1. First steps after installing WordPress by Greg Loumeau
  2. Themes and switching between designs by Tim Bowen
  3. How to install pre-made plugins by Mike Schmidt
  4. Writing your own plugins by Joshua Bettigole
  5. WordPress for Photographers by Jeff Turman
  6. WordPress SEO by Franco Johnson
  7. WordPress Security by Ian Johnson
  8. WordPress for Collaboration by Lance Willett

Each presentation will last between 10 and 20 minutes.  This is a great opportunity for anyone who is already working with WordPress or for those looking at various options to build a new website.

Please bring your favorite beverage.  We’ll have wine glasses, an ice filled cooler and some light snacks for everyone. This is another free Tucson Digital Arts Community event!

This link is from Greg’s WordPress presentation: http://css-tricks.com/first-steps-after-wordpress-instal/

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