WordPress can be used as a platform in two ways: as a theme or plugin by extending WordPress functionality without modifying the core, or as a standalone application using BackPress, which provides WordPress core functionality as a PHP library. Some advantages of using WordPress as a platform include being comfortable with WordPress, compatibility with unknown server configurations or older PHP versions, and providing a quick prototype. Disadvantages include inexperience with WordPress, complex applications, requirements for newer PHP versions or multiple database support, or background processing needs.

1. WordPress as a Platform Bangalore PHP Meetup – 30-Jan-2010 SudarMuthu Research Engineer, Yahoo Labs http://sudarmuthu.com Twitter: @sudarmuthu

2. Types of Application Two Types As a WordPress theme or a Plugin As a Standalone Application (BackPress)

3. As a Theme or Plugin Extends WordPress (needs it to run) Doesn’t involve modifying the core (mostly) Uses the Plugin API Not necessarily a CMS application

4. As a Theme or a Plugin – Some Examples Invoice Application – WP Invoice (http://twincitiestech.com/services/wp-invoice/) Contact Management – RoloPress (http://rolopress.com) Job board – RecruitPress(http://recruitpress.com/) Social Networking site – BuddyPress(http://buddypress.org)

5. Standalone Application - BackPress Official Definition at http://backpress.org BackPress is a PHP library of core functionality for web applications. It grew out of the immensely popular WordPress project, and is also the core of the bbPress and GlotPress sister-projects.

6. BackPress - Features User role management Complete Plugin API XML-RPC Server and Client Object Caching Database Abstraction Pseudo-cron functionality Full HTTP library KSES: Full security filtering for HTML content

7. It is advantageous when… You are comfortable in WordPress The server configuration is not known Need to provide backward compatibility to PHP 4 Application is not overly complex Quick Prototype You can consider code as documentation ;-)

8. It is not so advantageous when You are pretty new to WordPress The application is pretty complex Your application is going to be only on PHP 5+ Need to support multiple database types Need to run lot of background processes.

9. Thank you SudarMuthu Research Engineer, Yahoo Labs http://sudarmuthu.com Twitter: @sudarmuthu