WordPress Questions

[BWFoster78]

I've decided to be brave and try to tackle implementing some features on my blog. Instead of hiring someone for a couple hundred bucks, I figured, "Why not give it a try myself?"

How many horror stories have started with that thought?

Anyway, here's my understanding:

1. Plugins make programming stuff really easy.
2. WordPress.com doesn't allow you to add plugins.
3. If you self host, you can have plugins.

Anyone on here have any clue as if all these understandings are correct? I'm pretty sure about number 1. I keep doing internet searches for what I want to do, and the results are, "Just use this plugin."

I think, from my investigation, that WordPress, at some point, disallowed the use of plugins other than the ones they preload. If I'm wrong on this, let me know.

If my understandings are correct, I'd like to keep my WordPress site and domain (I don't think that will be a problem since it's accessed from Brian W. Foster | Speculative Fiction Author | [email]author@brianwfoster.com[/email]), but "self host" it. I have no idea how do do so. Any thoughts?

EDIT: Another issue appears to be how to migrate over my existing blog to a host like iPage without losing anything. Anyone with experience?

Thanks.

Brian

 

[danr62]

Yes, plugins do a lot of cool/useful things on self hosted wordpress blogs. I'm sure one of the main reasons they don't allow plugins on wordpress.com is they don't want their server bogged down with code, and they want to control the features a bit.

The first step is signing up for hosting and installing wordpress on the server. Most hosts have a backend that allows for easy installation.

If you go into your current wordpress.com blogs dashboard, you will see a menu item labeled "Tools". Under that is the "Export" menu. The first item allows you to export your posts and comments to an xml file, which can be imported into your new self hosted site. All other settings will have to be configured separately. Also, any images or other files will need to be moved separately as well. I don't see any images on your current blog, so there shouldn't be any trouble there

 

[Devor]

Anyway, here's my understanding:

1. Plugins make programming stuff really easy.
2. WordPress.com doesn't allow you to add plugins.
3. If you self host, you can have plugins.

Anyone on here have any clue as if all these understandings are correct? I'm pretty sure about number 1. I keep doing internet searches for what I want to do, and the results are, "Just use this plugin."

Wordpress.com only lets you use the preloaded plugins. Wordpress.org lets you self-host your own website with any plugins you want.

 

[BWFoster78]

Wordpress.com only lets you use the preloaded plugins. Wordpress.org lets you self-host your own website with any plugins you want.

My site is currently hosted on Wordpress.com. I'm working on transferring it to iPage.

 

[AVCortez]

My site is currently hosted on Wordpress.com. I'm working on transferring it to iPage.

Get private hosting and domain - I use hostgator. You can then contact a wordpress.com moderator and they will transfer your followers to your wordpress-powered website. Or so this is what I'm lead to believe. Do you have a VIP wordpress account? I'm not sure but a premium membership may allow additional plugins.