COAP:COAP-3110/week3

Week 3 learning goals

• Download and install WordPress
• Perform basic configuration, including choice of skin.
• Examine the table structure of some portalware.
• Document installation and configuration steps (make sure that both you and others could follow the same procedure).

Monday Part I

• Short feedback homework 1
• Questions/Answers for homework 2 (PHP/MySQL application)
• Finalizing homework 2 (about 50 minutes)

Wednesday Part I

Hands on - WordPress installation preparation

• Find the official download for WordPress
• Examine the requirements (do you have the right PHP/MySQL stack ?)
• Find the documentation and try to follow the "famous 5 minute" installation
• Decide how to create useful installation notes (both you and others could reproduce the installation in a similar context)

Hands on - Install and configure WordPress

Roughly you will have to go through the following steps

• Download the archive
• Examine the Zip file and unzip in the right place
• Edit the configuration file (it also can be created by the installation script, but we recommend doing it manually)
• Run the configuration script.

Wednesday Part II

Hands on - Identify a provisional project

Identify a subject for your term project (you will be allowed to change)

• Read COAP 3110/term project
• Identify a type of project you would like to implement
• Find 3 good examples (preferably based on WordPress)
• Discuss their features (functionality) and design in class

Hands on - Selecting the theme

• Selecting the them (skin) should be based on several criteria, at least usefulness, usability and appropriate looks.
• Discussion about User experience and user experience design

Homework 3

(1) Create a full installation and configuration notice for a WordPress installation

• Make sure to separate the various logical steps, i.e. distinguish between prerequisites, download, database preparation, installation and configuration
• Include a little section on what could go wrong and how to handle it.
• Add a selection of important/useful other documentation, i.e. links
• Make sure that you can reach the this notice from different locations and devices (come up with a solution that works and tell us which one you use)

(2) Write a short report

• It should briefly describe the design of your installation notes.

• Due:
• Wednesday week 4 before class

Resources

• The Codex. In principle all you need to install and configure WordPress
• How to Install WordPress on Localhost Using Xampp Server Blog post by WPDean, Aug 9 2016. (Many other such tutorials exist, make sure to read a more recent one....)