FLMUG (aka MUGOO)

You may have noticed that this website looks a little different.  We’re happy to say its because we’ve change how we’re creating the website.  We are now using an open-source product called “WordPress”.  This will not only allow us to divide up the work-load of creating the website, it will allow us to do it with no software to buy and everyone can contribute from their web browsers.

WordPress is primarily blogging (or web-logging) software that is a collection of PHP web pages and a database (mostly MySQL) that functions as a website.  The content of the blog entries or articles, is contained in the database. The PHP code organizes the display and appearance of the articles on the web pages.   “Themes” are available to let the appearance be customized easily.  ”Plugins” are also available that add PHP code for more functionality. (The anti-comment-spam plugin is so good, it is now part of the software collection by default.)

We benefit by WordPress’s ability to set many users who can change the website and articles, allowing us to divide up the work.  Authors, editors, users and administrators can contribute from anywhere in the world.

WordPress exists in two parts:  a commercial venture at WordPress.COM, and an open-source software movement at WordPress.ORG.

If you go to WordPress.COM, you can sign-up for a free blog. There are some limitations, but its very easy and cool.  The default setup has a very nice appearance.  You don’t actually have to do much with this blog to benefit from it.  If you setup information in your profile, like your picture, any WordPress blog can get your picture for posts or comments by matching your email address.  It can also function as an “OpenID” for logging into other websites if you choose.

At WordPress.ORG,  you can find the open-source software, documentation and community forums.  You can download the software to install on your own site, the instructions to install it and advice on how to modify it many ways.  You can also find all the themes and plugins that have been made available for free.  (There are many more themes and plugins out on the internet.  Some are paid and some are not.)  The cool part about this part of WordPress is that you can find, view and load the themes and plugins from your own sites’ control pages.  They are copied directly to your site folders.  You do not have to download them to your computer then upload them to your website. (Except for the initial install of WordPress.)

Most web hosts can be used to run WordPress.  Some providers even offer accounts just for WordPress.  Many have control pages setup to help you get WordPress started.  You can find a list of them at WordPress.org.

Enjoy the new site.  We’ll be changing things frequently I’m sure and getting more articles posted more quickly.

Please do volunteer to write articles for the site.  There are many ways to contribute:

• Editor
• Author
• Administrator
• Designer for the appearance
• Content finder
• News finder
• Event (local and national) finder
• Coordinator to other User Groups