For the past couple of years we have been using a web log publishing platform called WordPress to manage this ever-growing site. We love it, and WordPress is free, thus we feel we sort of owe them. A debt of gratitude to be paid by way of a positive nod right here on this blog. Before we begin we want you to know there are many options available besides WordPress, but we feel they offer the best of the best.
WordPress, as mentioned, is a web log or blog publishing platform, but as you can see right here on this site, it’s also so much more. It can be a full-blown content management system or CMS. A lot depends on the theme, which is a set of styled templates, various plugins which are functional extensions or add-ons, and in later versions there are also what are known as “widgets” which are also special add-ons. If you would like to know more about what we use here, we have a published list of credits complete with relevant links. All of it is free for us. Do, however, bear in mind we made some of the plugins, made the theme, and we have a fairly comprehensive understanding of WordPress, PHP scripting, CSS, HTML web development how-to, security knowledge, server management, and web accessibility and usability best practices.
Now don’t going running off scared by our tech talk. We posses these skills, but anyone can get most of what we enjoy nearly out-of-the-box. Between the power and sheer number of themes, plugins, and widgets available — most of which are free — the varieties and types of websites managed using the same system we are is nearly endless right now. There are certainly millions of permutations. In fact, if you start digging, you may discover that some of your favorite sites are also managed with WordPress.
Our hosting company — a partnered subsidiary — supports WordPress and offers a custom version with special support for it. WordPress itself offers an even simpler hosted solution (WordPress.com versus WordPress.org). Look around and you’ll find even more opportunities to jump on board, if you’re inclined to be inspired by what we’re telling you, that is.
A hearty thanks to you, WordPress, and to those out there who toil making the open source stuff we and so many others enjoy.
Deonte responds:
Posted: August 25th, 2009 at 1:46 am →
Hi, I can’t understand how to add your site in my rss reader. Can you Help me, please
Mike Cherim responds:
Posted: August 25th, 2009 at 7:03 am →
What reader?