Version 1.0 Update
by ikailo ~ February 20th, 2009. Filed under: News.At long last, I can definitively say that the next version of WP Hive is coming soon! Development of version 1.0 has been very steady and I expect the beta version will be released in the next few weeks.
The feature enhancements included in the upcoming version are:
- Support for a multiple blogs as subdirectories (eg: domain.com/blog1, domain.com/blog2)
- An administration console, with options to manually add and remove blogs from the hive, among other options
- Ability to define which blogs have administrative rights for the hive
- Better handling of wp-hive plugin installation, activation, and deactivation; with “single click installation” (eg: no need to manually copy db.php)
- Better handling of special files & rewrites (eg: robots.txt, etc..)
- Support for most WP-Config definitions, which will allow:
- Multi language support (each blog can be a different language)
- Sharing user tables across multiple blogs
- Additional customization possibilities
- Fully rewritten and cleaned up code with more-efficient algorithms
- A robust API to allow simple development of features and add-ons
- A host of other enhancements
While I can’t guarantee everything here will make it into the release, I am certainly going to try. It will all depend on how testing goes.
Development is definitely under way and I would ask that you please consider supporting the development of this new version of WP Hive, particularly if you are using it, or plan to use it, for commercial purposes. All contributions, large or small, are most gratefully received.
February 21st, 2009 at 4:39 am
Congratulations ikailo, I really looking forward it, the enhancements sound wonderful.
I realize that it’s hard to estimate these things, but do you think it’s possible we’ll see the full release before the end of March? Just curious
Keep up the good work,
Donnacha
February 21st, 2009 at 11:35 am
Let’s just say that it is my intention. I’d like to have it ready to enter into the WordCamp Toronto 2009 Awards for Best Plugin, deadline April 1st.
February 25th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Does the current version (or the version in development) offer the option to use different themes, or do all blogs have to use the same template?
February 25th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Yes, each blog is independant. If you have multiple themes installed, then you can apply a separate one to each site, or share one as apprporiate.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Ikailo –
quick question … I have 500 or so domains at webhostingpad.com … cPanel … all doamins are under the public_html directory as their own folder so packerfansite.com is one folder, allmmasite is another, realitytvfanatics is another etc.
Can this plug in let me have just one WP installed and still support all my domains and allow them to have spearate themes and content?
February 25th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
I should add that these are all ADD_ON domains and not sub-domains!
February 25th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Yes, that’s a lot of sites, but this is essentially what WP Hive was built for. There will be need to be some considerations for security, themes, plugins, upload folders, etc. when importing them, but it can all be mitigated – just on a larger scale than most.
March 4th, 2009 at 12:22 am
This is exactly what I’m looking for. I found your site and realised it didn’t do sub-directories, then lo and behold it will happen soon.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:11 am
As someone who has used Wordpress MU with great frustration, I am excited about this excellent new alternative to Wordpress MU. I especially like how your plugin works with the latest version of Wordpress unlike Wordpress MU, which is stuck back in Wordpress version 2.
Thanks for your great work, ikailo. I think it’s only a matter of time before your plugin becomes fantastically popular for those with multiple blogs or those who are looking for a multi-site CMS. For example, see here: http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=263423
March 11th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
[...] One drawback to WP-Hive for some webmasters is that the current edition is intended to be used in a multi-blog, single administrator environment. That means there is one admin for all the blogs. However, this may change with the next release. [...]
March 16th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Hi,
I am really looking forward to the multi-language support. I am going to start a blog with two language versions. My intention is to translate some of my posts manually (with the goal of having all posts in two languages). The fixed pages and the navigation should of course be in both languages. It would be nice to have a link on all articles to the corresponding post in the other language.
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:43 am
Hi!
I’m ready to help you with testing as soon as the beta is online. I currently in the process of setting up a shared blog environment (multiple blogs – same users).
I going to experiment with sharing tables (wp_users, wp_posts, …). wp-hive seems to be a nice framework for this. The installation of v0.4.2 worked just fine, even in a restrictive webhosting environment (php_safemode etc.).
The April 1st deadline will not be possible anymore, will it!?
March 22nd, 2009 at 8:54 am
Thanks, I’m looking forward to having you test it!
It does look like this new release will be pushed back though. We just bought a new house, and now we’ve decided to paint and renovate it top to bottom. After that, I’ll have a great new place to do this programming (That’s the plus side).
Beginning of May is doable, but can’t make any guarantees. I’ll hopefully be posting some updated code shortly, just for anyone who’s interested.
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Thanks for the update on the ETA… looking forward to the release. I’m happy to help test as well.
March 30th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Do you know at this point how difficult it will be to migrate from existing version to Version 1 when it’s ready? Trying to decide if I should wait setting up my hives until the new release or to just go ahead and use the current version. Thanks.
March 31st, 2009 at 12:02 am
please add me to the list as a potential beta tester.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:48 am
The update between the current version and version 1.0 will be a seamless procedure. Feel free to use the current version until the next one is available.
March 31st, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Thanks for your quick response. I will go ahead and use existing version.
April 1st, 2009 at 10:57 pm
–Ability to define which blogs have administrative rights for the hive
Does this mean the ability to have blog authors with admin access to their blog *only*? I’ve already decided that wp-hive is the best option for one project I’m working on, but I’m trying to decide if I should go with hive or wpmu for one that will need to be active by August/September. If this means what I think it means I’m about to be extremely happy!
April 3rd, 2009 at 10:34 am
The administrative rights for the hive is referring to management of the actual hive sites themselves.
For example, if an administrator is logged into domain1.com, they will have the ability to add / remove sites to the hive, and to edit properties relating to the hive sites. But an administrator logged into domain2.com would not have the ability to see any of the hive options.
April 13th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Hi there, firstly, this is an incredible piece of work and I can only see the pickup of this plugin going one way once you get 1.0 released – I just hope the architecture of your website can take it – your traffic is going to go through the roof I think.
Secondly, can you please add me to the beta test program – I’d love to be involved with this project! Thanks!
April 17th, 2009 at 6:54 am
Good day Ikailo,
The new features seem like a dream.
Please add me to your beta testers, I’d like to help in that way.
Any target date for the beta release?
Rgds
JC
April 20th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Hello Ikailo,
can you provide an update as to when the subdirectory feature will be available? I have a pressing need for this and would be willing to donate $50 if it was able to be delivered soon. Let me know.
Jeff
April 28th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Hi Ikailo,
Like cyri, I am also in contemplating whether to start using it now or wait until the new version comes out.
For me the most important feature will be the multi-language support, but of course I can already go ahead installing it and play around with it.
I very much look forward to the new version and in the meantime wish you well with renovating and painting your new house!
Piet
May 18th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
ikailo, i am really looking forward to this next release. most of what i was coming here to suggest is actually already in the new features list! wow…
can i help out in testing in any way? i have some other ideas i would like to pose but they might be completely outdated with this new version
i did some small PHP things but am not a developer. just let me now if i can be of service.
May 29th, 2009 at 1:36 am
Looking forward to the new version. When is it planned to come out.
June 13th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
[...] Plugin WP Hive Multi-Blog Management for WordPress verwandelt das normale Wortpress Blog in ein Multiblog-System. Der Vorteil gegenüber WordPress [...]
June 17th, 2009 at 10:20 am
I’ve just experimented with WP Hive and think it’s fantastic! I’m currently publishing 6 separate blogs and this would solve the constant update drudgery!
My main concern is that if WP Hive is orphaned, and becomes incompatible with a future release of WP, it will be a HUGE pain to disassemble everything and recreate separate blogs again.
This isn’t so far-fetched – I don’t see any recent posts from you, ikailo, so I’m wondering if that might already have happened.
Is there anything you can tell us to help with that concern? Perhaps create an export/import function that would help a user revert to separate WP installations?
If so, I’d love to donate, even though I’m not using it for commercial purposes
June 17th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Actually, it is not at all difficult to separate the Hive sites into independent sites. It just requires copying the codebases into a new folder and updating the prefix value in the wp-config file. The database can be separated as well, with a little export / import action.
No worries. WP Hive is not orphaned.. Still working on it, albeit at a slower pace then might be expected.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:18 am
What I’m really looking for is the ability to use my existing database for theme development, and have it appear online somewhere I specify without interfering with the existing installation – at least until I’m good and ready
Hive is a fit – or no (?)
July 11th, 2009 at 6:20 am
wellllll – I am off to try the “old” version on my fresh 2.8.1 install…
Wish me luck, folks, and big thanks to ikailo for this tool!
Hope you get along with the 1.0 update.
If this baby does what it says, a donation will be on the way soon…
ok, will press the “install” button NOW
July 29th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Iikailo, any news on this?
This post was written almost half-a-year ago, and your last comment was more than a month ago – realistically, is version 1.0 going to get released this year?
I don’t mean to push, I’m just curious.
August 7th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Hi, I am a two+ year user of wp-hive and appreciate its simplicity of operation. I donated some $ at last; while it is great to get things for free, I know from expereince that creating sw takes time and deserves reward.
even after they merge WP and WPMU together.
I looked into wpmu, and it seems much to restrictive compared to wp-hive. So I vote for you to continue development on 1.0, please
August 13th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
ikailo – my compliments to you. Once I figured out how to redirect my domain at my registrar to a directory at my host (my host’s tools are a little clumsy), WP Hive was a breeze to set up.
Keep up the great work! It’s my pleasure to make a donation
August 20th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
I need new version too…..
waiting more then half of year, because have some problems when try add blog and some strange things with one very usefull for me theme =(
Can You provide more information or project closed?
August 23rd, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Hi Ikailo
I responded to your survey yesterday – sounds like a lot of great enhancement ideas!
It did bring to mind one question – how are robot.txt files handled now? I deliberately want to block webcrawlers from several of my blogs, but allow them for others. Is it enough to simply use the Wordpress setting for each blog? Or does that just determine whether certain sites get pinged for each new post.
If it doesn’t stop webcrawlers, this would stop me from using the Hive for the semi-private blogs.
August 23rd, 2009 at 9:20 pm
HAB,
You should to provide a robots.txt file that has the following lines in it:
User-agent: *
Disallow: /
If you are using WP Hive, place it into the
/wp-content/wp-hive/domain.com/folder (according to the appropriate domain(s) that you want blocked). Make sure there is no robots.txt in the root directory.You will end up with exactly the same result as setting it in Wordpress. Of course, it doesn’t ‘block’ or ’stop’ webcrawlers – it is just a ‘keep out sign’ which any properly built bot should respect.
August 23rd, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Thx. I was wondering what those folders were for. Does anything else go in there?
August 24th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
One new item – is there any chance that WP-Hive has trouble with Pretty Permalinks? I’ve now set one of my blogs up, for a 3rd time, with a permalink setting of /%category%/%postname%/. Seems to “take” initially, but when i check later (usually a day or two), the links are no longer valid.
Changing back to the Default ugly permalink seems to work fine.
Kind of odd. I have no special cron jobs running, to my knowledge. Ever hear of this?
August 26th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Well, it’s been a couple of days and this problem hasn’t reoccurred, so I’ll assume it was just voodoo! I’ll let you know if it magically reappears, but I’m now optimistic.
August 26th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
WP Hive doesn’t do much with pretty permalinks in the existing version, so it’s unlikely that it has anything to do with your issue.
It is funny you mention it though. WP Hive 0.5 (releasing soon) will rely heavily on permalinks / mod_rewrite, and I am having a similar issue right now while I’m debugging. Are you using Wordpress v 2.8.4?
Regarding the folder, right now sitemap.xml and sitemap.xml.gz should also go into that folder. It is intended that the folder will be used for much more in future versions.
August 26th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
> Are you using Wordpress v 2.8.4?
Yes. Glad to hear. I thought I was going nuts!
> right now sitemap.xml and sitemap.xml.gz should also go into that folder
Thanks
New question: Many plugins have their own CSS. If I use a plug-in for several blogs, but need to modify its CSS for just one of them (theme-specific issues), how would you suggest we do that? Is there a way to do it without affecting that plug-in’s look for all blogs?
August 26th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Not sure what the issue with 2.8.4 is. Still checking it out. Will let you know if I find anything.
The CSS is an issue that will be very difficult to get around right now. You could create a routine (in the plugin) to check the global “$hostname” (which has the domain name of the loaded site) and then serve the appropriate CSS file accordingly. It’s messy and liable to break, plus this method would definitely be changing in next couple of versions. Not too sure right now which is the best way. This needs some thought.. Anyone have any ideas?
BTW – this conversation is probably better handled in the forum.
August 28th, 2009 at 12:05 am
> BTW – this conversation is probably better handled in the forum
Doh! Good point. Will do in future
September 19th, 2009 at 8:57 am
Hi!
Great plugin! How’s the development coming along? I hope you will release V1.0 soon
we are all looking forward to it!
Thank you for developing such a useful piece of software!
September 19th, 2009 at 11:26 am
I just finished coding v0.5 Beta. This one includes *many* of the features that were going to be in v1.0. It’s guaranteed that if are excited about v1.0, then you will want to use 0.5 when it is released. Other version will follow, that will eventually include *all* of the features above.