BuddyPress
BuddyPress 1.0.1 was released yesterday. This point release fixes a number of security issues in the 1.0 version so it is a critical upgrade for everyone currently running BuddyPress. There is also a number of other bug fixes so please review the release history for more information.
BuddyPress 1.0.1 is now available. The easiest way to upgrade is through the plugin browser on your WordPress MU installation, you should see a notification for the latest version. If you would like to upgrade manually you can download the latest then simply overwrite your existing files. Please make sure you backup first.
Embarrassingly, I missed the release of BuddyPress 1.0 which was released a few weeks ago. That's too bad because I've been watching the development of BuddyPress since it's infancy in the development cycle. I had hoped to give BuddyPress more attention when it when the 1.0 version had been released.
BuddyPress will transform an installation of WordPress MU into a social network platform. BuddyPress is actually a suite of WordPress plugins and themes, each adding a distinct new feature. BuddyPress contains all the features you’d expect from WordPress but aims to let members socially interact. I've always wanted to give WordPresss MU a try but I've never had a project that needed the software. Someday it will happen...
About this CMS Enthusiast
Bryan Ruby is the owner and editor for CMS Report. He founded CMSReport.com in 2006 on the belief that information technologists, website owners, and web developers desired visiting sites where they could learn about content management systems without the sales pitch. Outside of his late night blogging hours, he is the Information Technology Officer for a field office in the federal government.
Comments
#1 Exceptional Tool for Large Real Estate Firms
Hello Bryan, I wanted to comment that using Buddy Press works exceptionally well for large real estate firms where they want to have multiple offices that span demographic areas interact with other agents.
I'm building such a system now and so far people are impressed. I think BuddyPress is one of the best contributions to WordPress MU available.
Jared Ritchey
#2 BuddyPress and Wordpress MU
Thanks Jared. I'll have to keep an eye on your blog for future comments that you make on BuddyPress. Besides using BuddyPress, is this your first WordPress MU site that you've worked on?
#3 WordPress MU - BuddyPress for Realtors
Hello again Bryan, I use WordPress MU for large real estate firms and nearly all community portals like church sites, police departments (many are also Joomla), social clubs, small news papers and local rag sheets and ever increasing in the automotive industry where dealerships are encouraging their staff to write about some of their inventory and submitting posting video to their blogs. To me, personally, the blog should be as common as a cellular phone and everyone should own one if for no other reason than to post journal entries about things as basic as details about a fishing trip or vacation, maybe barbeque (bar-b-q) recipes, or even political views. Every blogger should then social network.
As you know I publish dozens of free plug-ins for WordPress with our number one being the Menu Creator which does work with MU and BuddyPress sites.
While on the subject of WordPress MU specifically, I'd say that the menu creator plugin contributes more to the ability of creating Micro CMS solutions with WordPress than any other plugin of its type. That's not just bolstering either. WordPress and WordPress MU "can have" clever menu management features that are worked in by theme designers which is fine for most blogs but to go to the level of CMS your really need industrial strength menu management features that can be easily applied to a theme and then give endless (literally thousands of potential menu styles) options for the design.
I will most certainly be writing about BuddyPress once my new theme is in place this weekend. I'll stop by and comment when I can and even submit an article if you are open to the idea.
Jared Ritchey