I’m Learning to Code!
Starting January 31, 2025, I'll learn coding using only AI tools, not writing code myself, to test their capabilities and quality.
WordPress
How to Optimize Your WordPress Robots.txt Like an Expert
TLDR: Optimize your WordPress robots.txt file for better SEO by editing rules to control search engine crawling. Learn to locate and edit the file, understand user agents and rules (Disallow, Allow, Crawl Delay, and Sitemap), and use Yoast SEO or manually create/edit the file. Essential to prioritize important pages, avoid blocking them, and consider best practices like adding sitemaps and keeping rules simple. Test changes using Google Search Console for errors and warnings.
https://wplift.com/how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-robots-txt-like-an-expert/
WordPress and Web Servers
WordPress functions as a web application on web servers, primarily using the LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP). Web servers serve web pages and utilize software like Apache or Nginx to handle requests. Configuration allows multiple sites on one server through virtual hosts (Apache) or server blocks (Nginx). Upon user requests, PHP processes data, often fetching from a MySQL database, and returns HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to the user's browser for display.
https://learn.wordpress.org/lesson/wordpress-and-web-servers/
Why Is WordPress Slow? Learn How to Fix It With Our 11 Expert Tips
WordPress sites can be slow due to multiple issues such as outdated software, lack of caching, large images, unoptimized databases, and slow hosting. Slow loading times negatively affect user experience and search rankings. To improve speed, update your website, use caching and a CDN, optimize images, regularly clean the database, limit HTTP requests, manage plugins efficiently, schedule tasks wisely, and ensure your hosting is reliable. If needed, consider professional optimization services.
https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/why-is-wordpress-slow-and-how-can-you-fix-it/
The Difference Between Categories and Tags in WordPress
TLDR: To effectively organize a WordPress site, use categories (broad topics, mandatory, hierarchical) and tags (specific details, optional, flat structure). Best practices include limiting categories per post and applying relevant tags. Proper use improves SEO and user experience by enhancing navigation and content discoverability. Jetpack AI Assistant can streamline content management by suggesting optimized categories and tags, generating content, and improving editing efficiency, making it a valuable tool for WordPress users.
Joost/Karim Fork
Creating enduring software is challenging yet rewarding, especially in open source where diverse contributors' differing motivations complicate collaboration. Forking can aid innovation, allowing new governance and architectural experiments. Joost and Karim's new project, JKPress, aims for decentralized plugin management and modernization of tech frameworks without centralized control. Joost seeks leadership in releases without traditional processes, supported by WP Engine. To promote this shift, key contributors' accounts will be deactivated, encouraging experimentation. The potential for collaboration between JKPress and WordPress is anticipated, fostering innovation in the open-source community. A summit is proposed in a year to evaluate progress.
New Years Update – WooCommerce upgrades + more!
TLDR: Release 3.1.0 includes WooCommerce upgrades (brands support, category filtering, custom stock status), Dynamic Content integration, new license server, improved UI, and 35 bug fixes. 11 new features and 1 integration added. Future updates may include surprises.
WordPress Themes Need More Weird: A Call for Creative Digital Homes
Modern web design suffers from sameness, sacrificing visual diversity for “proven” templates and conversion-optimized layouts, stifling authentic self-expression online. This homogenization creates an echo chamber, limiting the web's creativity and uniqueness. WordPress offers a chance to reclaim individuality through distinctive, bold themes instead of bland, professional looks. Great themes should embrace strong aesthetics, cater to specific uses, and thoughtfully break design rules. The web needs more daring and personality. Now is the time to innovate and create unique WordPress themes that invigorate online presence and celebrate individuality.
WordPress Themes Need More Weird: A Call for Creative Digital Homes
Openverse.org: The Creative Treasure Trove for WordPress Users
Need free, high-quality media? Openverse offers 800M+ Creative Commons & public domain images, audio, and more—perfect for WordPress projects! Fully searchable and license-compliant, it’s a game-changer for creators.
Why is Openverse a game-changer? It integrates directly into the WordPress media library, eliminating the need to leave your dashboard for stock images. With features like one-click attribution and advanced filtering by license type or source, it’s a dream come true for content creators. Its open-source nature invites contributions from developers worldwide, fostering innovation and collaboration.
How to Integrate Openverse with Your WordPress Site
1. Use the Built-in Openverse Integration
If you’re using the WordPress block editor, Openverse is already integrated:
– While editing a post or page, click the Inserter (+) in the top-left corner.
– Select Media, then choose Openverse.
– Search for your desired image or audio, and insert it directly into your content. The selected media will automatically be added to your Media Library.
2. Install Plugins for Advanced Features
For more flexibility, you can use plugins like:
– Instant Images: Adds an Openverse tab in your Media Library and editor, allowing seamless searches and imports.
– Essential Blocks for Gutenberg: Provides an Openverse block for direct integration with additional customization options.
3. Use the Openverse API
For developers, the Openverse API offers robust customization:
– Register for API access via the Openverse GitHub.
– Use endpoints like image_stats to fetch media details programmatically. Example in Bash:
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" https://api.openverse.engineering/v1/images?q=beach
This enables advanced workflows for custom themes or plugins.
4. Attribution and Licensing
All Openverse content is under Creative Commons licenses or public domain. While attribution is optional for CC0 works, other licenses may require credit, which is automatically added as captions in WordPress.
With these options, integrating Openverse into your WordPress site is straightforward, empowering you to effortlessly create visually rich, copyright-safe content!
Explore at https://openverse.org
WordPress 6.7.1 Maintenance Release
Security Enhancements
- Enhanced Authentication Processes: Improved user login and authentication measures, helping to thwart unauthorized access.
- Patched Vulnerabilities: Fixes for identified security lapses, including issues related to cross-site scripting (XSS) and SQL injection vulnerabilities.
Performance Improvements
- Database Query Optimization: Reduced complexity in database queries accelerates data retrieval, enhancing site speed and performance.
- Script Loading Enhancements: Asynchronous and deferred script loading help pages load faster, improving user experience, especially on mobile devices.
Developer-Focused Updates
- Refined REST API Endpoints: Expanded capabilities and more efficient data handling offer developers greater control and adaptability when using REST APIs.
- Enhanced WordPress Hooks: New actions and filters give developers more control over customizing themes and plugins without altering core files.
Bug Fixes and Usability Enhancements
- Gutenberg Editor Tweaks: Improved functionality in the block editor, reducing glitches and enhancing ease of use.
- Theme and Plugin Compatibility Checks: Automatic alerts if themes or plugins are at risk of incompatibility with the new release, ensuring seamless transitions.