So, the biggest question I get a lot is if WordPress 3.0 will totally mess a person’s site up. After beta testing it on my own server, I can say no.
HOWEVER…
…for those who still are worried, I turned to Andrea Rennick (@andrea_r on Twitter) during WordCamp Chicago 2010 to ask her the same thing and guess what – my own answer was confirmed.
Now, it is the plugins that might be in question, so if you are not sure, ask the plugin developer if they are still actively updating their project. Of course, please be nice about it and do not expect an answer right away. Plugin developers actually do have lives outside of coding (oops – that might have been a little violation of code sacrilege.) Although I would hope most developers would install a beta version of 3.0 to test their plugin, that does not always happen.
Of course, if you are not sure, make sure to check out the WordPress Codex and compare the WordPress functions and filters, and even the loop to what you have.
I almost think this is like the Y2K of WordPress upgrades… but I am not worried – hence, you should not be worried either. Lots of great features in WordPress 3.0. I will be writing up a post soon on it since WordPress RC3 (release candidate 3) is out. 🙂
What worries do you have about WordPress 3.0?
Hi Nile, I'm wondering if WP3.0 will offer any additional assistance to reducing spam. From what I have read so far I don't think so.
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Hi Ileane! You will have the same issues in WordPress MU. Askimet is updated every so often. However, if you are running a free host, even the WP.com you will not get as much freedom as say the self-hosted. Remember, on WP.com, it is already running on WordPress MU.
Self-hosted users will benefit more from 3.0, especially since there are more opportunities to have access to more plugins in the WordPress plugin respository.
Nile, with WordPress 3.0 MU will become MS (MultiSite) and will no longer be a stand alone download but included with WP 3.0 -so a download of WP 3.0 can also be used to set up BuddyPress. It's my BuddyPress blog that gets tons of spam even with Akismet. So I'm hoping that this will resolve the issue even though I haven't seen any official news on that yet.
The Akismet I have on WordPress.com works great for me and the spammers attracted to my blog are minimal.
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You can implement plugins for 3.0 as the plugins should work. However, as Andrea said in these comments, you can take precautions on this with the settings that are already built in. Do you follow the BuddyPress.org forums? They talk about stuff like this that will help.
There's lots of spam stopping plugin out there, and the first line of defense is using the internal settings that have been built-in for a while.
I agree with you Andrea… However want to know something, I really just use Askimet and a few code snippets in htaccess. I might get a dozen spammers or two dozen once in a while, which is very manageable. 😀 – And and is comparing to before just using Askimet and earlier version of WordPress.
Every blog I own (make that four including my primary) is running a version of 3.0 and has been since Beta1. Sure there were a few hiccups in Beta1 but since Beta2 its been smooth sailing. Only problems have shown up have been due to plugins that were incompatible and at this point that is very few. As long as they don't break anything in the next day or two, its going to be smooth sailing upgrade wise for 99% of all self hosted bloggers. If anyone is really nervous they should just hold out an extra week (which is always good advice) after the release to be sure there were no last minute hidden bugs. And of course everyone that plans to upgrade is going to have a recent database AND content backup… just sayin…
Kimberly
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I have also found very few plugins breaking. However the few that do, I might take a look at myself, especially if they are worthwhile. I have been working on a Subpages widget plugin. It tested great in WP 2.9.2, so I am going to go try it on 3.0 RC3.
Actually, Budypress has had the ability to run on single WP since BP 1.2. So no, there will not be anything special built in to WP 3.0 to stop spam on Buddypress – it's still a plugin.
There are, however, a TON of resources in the BP forums about stopping spam signups. You have to do a few things, not just one or two. First off, strip all the default text references to BP & the registration page. make a custom signup slugs. Stop proxy connections to your server. Get Akismet, install hashcache, and uncheck the box to allow blog owners to sign up other users.
BP uses its own registration system, and I think in one fo the last releases left a bit of a hole.
I think the 3.0 giving it multi site on upgrade is just something that makes things easier for the rest. I love it and like a girl with shiny things – code is very shiny to me.
I will go over and read. I think it is about time I put up a BuddyPress section here at WPAddict. Thank you for coming over and responding. I know it helps and I have gotten some emails to thank me for writing this article even though imo – it was not much. However, I have to thank you for re-affirming my answer to their worries and pass their thanks to you too.
My biggest worries about WP 3.0 all center around plugins and themes. My theme is admittedly dated and I use at least some plugins to keep things together, but I'm not too worried since almost all are very common and very current. That being said, I'm still going to be nervous when upgrade time comes…
I think the nervousness comes out of past experience from upgrades… usually plugins. The beta going on for 3.0 is pretty good. Kim, one of the people who responded to this article is actually using 3.0 on her live sites.