WordPress version 3.0 is due out in early May of this year (2010).
Being an upgrade into a whole new version number (moving from 2.0 to 3.0) brings substantial changes to the core code of WordPress.
Released 4/3/2010, the official wordpress development blog has some notes on the current state of the release and there are a couple interesting things to note:
- The new default theme “twenty ten” isn’t terrible!
- Nice white on off-white modern looking theme (although the sidebar is only about 200pixels wide)
- Includes header up-loader and background changer (also includes more than one default header image)
- Ability to Build Custom Menus for the Dashboard
- Menu Builder (Appearance -> Menus)
- This feature is currently very incomplete and we can expect to see more from it in beta 2
- Manual Install No Longer Auto-Creates “Admin” account
- This has been a known security issue, and I strongly advise against having a user named admin
- Now you can set not only the username but also the initial admin password, at creation (don’t forget to use a STRONG password!)
- From a security perspective, this is OMG-AWESOME! (that’s oh my god awesome, hehe) It’s also long overdue!
- WordPress MU (multi user) now Built In
- However… its NOT directly available in the dashboard, still needs some code tinkering
- This will eventually make it easier for more and more of us to run multi user blog setups (not just multi author)
- Custom Post Types!
- This one has me excited!
- This will let us (again through a little code tinkering it appears) define custom post types, such as Podcast, Quotes, Chats, Photos etc (100% controlled by you) that can have less unneeded fields on the Post page and can be easier to find through the navigation menu. Can also create custom fields such as length for podcasts, etc.
- We’re early early beta so give this a little time to grow up yet, but its already hot!
- If that’s clear as mud, check out this great blog post on wordpress custom post types
Now, I’ve got to say, I heard rumor of bbPress code inclusion as well, but I see no evidence of it. This makes me sadfaced. Supposedly it’s coming though at least according to a couple friends so I’ll keep being hopeful. Currently forum integration is a rather piecemeal affair with its own list of headaches (as some of you have noticed that I still haven’t got it working, after several forum plugin changes, on my other blog!)
All in all, a great looking upgrade, coming soon to a blog near you!
PS: We know this upgrade is coming down the pipe. Remember the importance of understanding the proper way to backup and upgrade your blogs. Be sure you have a full database and content backup in the event of an emergency. For those of you looking for some extra assistance to prevent problems, stay tuned for Jodie & I’s upcoming blog maintenance & support service announcement!!
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi there. The custom menu builder isn’t actually incomplete, it’s just that we’re changing the UI. You can build fully functional menus and submenus with it as it is in the beta. Custom posts is also pretty much ready; there’s not really any “growing up” that’s going to happen there between now and launch, just bug fixes. I’m not sure who told you bbPress was being integrated into core, but they were misinformed. It’s not in the plan, nor has it been. What they may have meant to say is that there are plans to turn bbPress into a WordPress plugin, which is true.
Jane, thanks for taking the time to let me know what’s going on! Yeah apparently there is some wires crossed in what I was hearing regarding bbpress. Moving it to a plugin state will be nice though!
My thoughts on Custom Posts is that for now, since they’re requiring some code playing, they will not be utilized to their fullest. Either they will eventually get easier to set up or, more likely, a plugin developer will write an interface for all of that. I think when THAT happens that their use to the average Joe skyrockets.
All in all its a really solid release and I say hats off to the Wordpress team!
Kimberly
.-= Kimberly Castleberry´s last blog ..Affiliate Link Management and Cloaking for the Affiliate Blogger (Part 1) =-.
Kimberly,
Thanks for a great break down of the up-coming Word Press. I look forward to giving this a gander,
Val
.-= Val Wilcox´s last blog ..Everyone Has A Dream =-.
Thank you for giving us a “sneak peek” of what to expect on the next release. Definitely excited about the custom posts. I started using buddypress in my blog last month for building my community which has built-in forums within groups. You might wanna take a look at that if you’re looking to integrate forums to your site.
.-= Cherrie Bautista@Young And Fabulous´s last blog ..On Young And Fabulous: Incorporating It In Your Life =-.
I’ve been half-looking at BuddyPress but hat not yet tried it! I will definitely give that a look for the OTJ blog which I want to extend into having forums. Thanks for the great info!
Kimberly
Hi Kimberly,
Thanks for the update. I admit some of the updates sound clear as mud – you very eloquently put it – similar to how phrases such as ‘sarcoplasmic reticulum’ and ‘ryanodine receptors’ will be to many. It is great to come out of our comfort zones and see what is out there.
´s last blog ..The Law of Laws (part 4) =-.
Gratefully,
Venus
.-= Venus
Thanks for the update Kim!
I have been playing around with it on a test site for the past few weeks. Looking great!
Seems like I will be making the big move from WPMU to 3.0, my last real big upgrade I hope.
Does open up a great opportunity for those who want to convert their blog into a social network.
Thanks again!
.-= George Fourie´s last blog ..New On thatMLMbeat: Communicate Like (And With) Twitter ‘Facebook Style’ =-.
I’ll be interested in following how your migration goes George. You have one of the biggest MU implementations I know of. The company Bobby works for hosts a lot of corporation MU installs and I know they are watching the migrations carefully at the moment. I am glad to see the codebase be brought back together though!
Kimberly
Thanks for the update Kimberly
Some fun times ahead. We have all come so far and there is always something new to learn so thanks for keeping us in the loop!. I still have one of my blogs running on 2.6.2! I am too scared to upgrade it
Cheers,
Matt
.-= Matt Jones´s last blog ..Is Fear Producing Your Reality? =-.
You have a dinosaur! I do hope you have backups of it already since anything running that old of a code is going to be extremely prone to getting nailed with a nasty feed attack or virus injection attack. Good luck with that!
Kimberly, It is fun to listen to you work! You are the one who got my blog properly backed up and many, many other tech things! I appreciate the information here and I feel just like Venus: it’s clear as mud! My befuddled mind when I read your posts makes me thankful to know that you’ll be there to help me if I need you!
Thank you!!
.-= Linda G. Cox´s last blog ..Like A Mouse In My Pocket =-.
Linda, that really kinda sums up the feeling I hope others get. I do the pretesting so the average person doesn’t have to worry as much. The migrations onto 3.0 have gone extremely well, and I’m looking forward to its release with the comfort of knowing that. I’m glad we were able to get your blog/header straightened out!
Kimberly
I want to try this out, but I’m a little apprehensive to try it on my test blog. I didn’t see anything saying if it will affect my other WP sites or not.
.-= Shan @ Last Shreds Of Sanity´s last blog ..WordPress Sites Hosted On GoDaddy Hacked For Second Week In A Row =-.
Each wordpress installation is standalone. They each have their own set of files and their own database. Upgrading your test blog will not affect your production blog/site. Of course you should have backups of everything anyways, but this will not be a problem. Just be sure your logged into your test blog/site/ftp account when you perform the upgrade or clean installation. Hope that helps!
It involves FTP’ing the files? My FTP hates me. Don’t ask. I am a wiz at CPanels and other people’s FTP’s, but for whatever reason I cannot get into my own. I have to call a friend to do it for me. LOL And yes, I’ve tried every FTP program out there.
I know you said each WP install is stand alone, but what about on a subdomain/subdirectory? Oh wait, I just answered my own question. LOL
.-= Shan @ Last Shreds Of Sanity´s last blog ..WordPress Sites Hosted On GoDaddy Hacked For Second Week In A Row =-.
If you have an installation that is 2.9.2 already, you can get the “beta testers” plugin. Then in that you select “nightly build”. Then when you go to Tools-> Upgrade, it will now let you upgrade to the latest beta. As of this week that is Wordpress 3.0 Beta 2. No FTP required
.-= Kimberly Castleberry´s last blog ..How To Make A Link Open In A New Window in Wordpress =-.
What a coincidence! I was reading Anne’s post Switching Over to TwentyTen where Ramona was commenting his dislike how more and more scripts are being added to make WordPress unnecessarily heavy and complicated (http://b6s.net/general/switching-over-to-wordpress-twenty-ten.html/comment-page-1#comment-2380)
“In my opinion there’s new good stuff and also a lot of “garbage”. I am a wordpress theme designer and have done tens of skins. Well, this transition made me want to kill someone. WordPress stood for SIMPLICITY and EFFECTIVENESS for all these years. Little by little their script will become as filled with useless features as php nuke was back in the day. I wish they’d just stop and just work on the security and not put all kinds of menus and editors and things we were able to live without with no problem.”
What a coincidence! I was reading Anne’s post Switching Over to TwentyTen where Ramona was commenting his dislike how more and more scripts are being added to make WordPress unnecessarily heavy and complicated (http://b6s.net/general/switching-over-to-wordpress-twenty-ten.html/comment-page-1#comment-2380)
“In my opinion there’s new good stuff and also a lot of “garbage”. I am a wordpress theme designer and have done tens of skins. Well, this transition made me want to kill someone. WordPress stood for SIMPLICITY and EFFECTIVENESS for all these years. Little by little their script will become as filled with useless features as php nuke was back in the day. I wish they’d just stop and just work on the security and not put all kinds of menus and editors and things we were able to live without with no problem.”
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