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I noticed that the GZIP compression option was no longer there in Wordpress after version 2.5. This is recommended to be performed by the server now using mod_deflate.

If you don’t have access to mod_deflate, i.e. if you are on a uncooperative shared host, you can use this method using .htaccess …
Speed Up Your Blog Using ZLIB

If that doesn’t work you may be on a phpSuExec server. Create a file called php.ini in the root of your Wordpress install with the following contents …

zlib.output_compression = On

You can test here:
http://www.gidnetwork.com/tools/gzip-test.php

Looking at using Wordpress on a site that needs to handles many requests? This presentation discusses and refers to methods improve performance of your Wordpress-based site.

add_filter('rewrite_rules_array','yourawesomefunction');

I had to look at the Wordpress core code to work this out - thought I was going nuts. If you apply new rewrite rules using the rewrite_rules_array filter you need to ensure that you refresh the rewrite rules that Wordpress has stored in a hidden option. You do this by simply resaving the Permalink Structure under the Options menu in the admin area of your WP install.

Not immediately obvious that this would be required, but makes sense that they generate the rules and store them at this point.

I have seen Peelads running on a few sites. I like them as a non-obtrusive way to feature content or ads. I thought there must be some free code to run them. Sure enough, there is - Pageear.

What is even better is there are plugins for CMS software, including this Wordpress Pagepeel Plugin. Very easy to install and configure. Just upload a 100×100 image and a 500×500 image for the initial peel and the full display and set a URL.

Works well. Recommended.

In the last month I have had to install two forums, SMF and bbPress, and deal with a forum install using phpBB. By far the easiest to install and configure is bbPress (from the same people as Wordpress). The others have pages of configuration options related to all tehir features. Frankly, unless your forum is targeting geeks or a bunch of people familiar with the overblown features of most forum software then go for bbPress. It also integrates easily with a Wordpress install. I had the forum up with template and functionality customized in a couple of hours. The plugin architecture allows adding features easily. Development seems to be a bit slower and quieter than most forums but this seems ideal for a simple forum.

Hint: if you want to use this for a private forum for your business check out these plugins …
Force Login to view the forum
Restrict Registration - only allow registration from people with an email address at particular domains (i.e. yourcompany.com)

There are lots of lists of the best Wordpress Plugins. This article compiles the data from 48 lists - which mention 280 plugins in total - and creates a list of the top 30. A good place to start before installing something random.

read more | digg story

Adds a footer to a blog post in an RSS feed that links back to the original blog post.

read more | digg story

Reminder to self: check this out in more detail and find some new themes to use …

read more | digg story

not exactly revolutionary - funny that a blog about web development is using the standard wordpress template - at least the header is no longer the default colors. i might change that at some point.

for anyone who doesn’t know where to do that … the “Header Image and Color” link is under your presentation tab.