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

1. Separate the various logical steps, i.e. distinguish between prerequisites, download, database preparation, installation and configuration
2. Make sure to explain the context and limits of your notice, e.g. that you use a specific OS and Apache/MySQL/PHP stack.
3. Include a little section on what could go wrong and how to handle it.
4. Add a selection of important and useful documentation links.
5. 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....)