This document summarizes notes from an October 4th office hours session about Drupal and WordPress. It outlines that both content management systems are built with PHP and use MySQL databases. They deliver content to users through jQuery, HTML, and CSS. Both have pluggable architectures and are open source. Drupal and WordPress also have commercial partners and very active user communities. The document provides instructions for getting started with each platform and the typical installation process. It stresses the importance of regular updates for security.

1. Week 6 Office Hours notes
Drupal and WordPress
October 4, 9pm

2. HTML
jQuery PHP
CSS
SQL

3. Shared Characteristics:
Shared Characteristics:
• Built with PHP
Built with PHP
• Use a MySql database
• Deliver jQuery, HTML, CSS to the client
li jQ CSS h li
browser
• Pluggable architectures
• Open Source
p

4. Shared Characteristics:
Shared Characteristics:
• Have commercial “partners” started by their
Have commercial partners started by their
founders –
– Aquia (Drupal) Dries Buytaert – Drupal Gardens
(Drupal) Dries Buytaert Drupal Gardens
– Automattic (WordPress) Matt Mullenweg –
WordPress.com, Wordpress.tv
WordPress com Wordpress tv
• Very active user communities
– W dC
WordCamp.org, shared plug‐ins
h d l i
– Drupal camp, shared modules

5. To get started you need:
To get started you need:
• web server that runs PHP 5+
web server that runs PHP 5+
• MySQL database
• User name for the database
f h d b
• The program files
– http://wordpress.org/download
– http://drupal.org/download
• Run the install process as per the instructions

6. Typical process:
Typical process:
• Download the program file from the website as a
o oad t e p og a e o t e ebs te as a
zip file archive
• Unpack it locally – upload the files to your web
p y p y
server – either root or in its own folder
• As alternate can use TAR version and unTar it on
the web server itself
• Create a database file
• Know the user name and password
• Run the installer

7. Many Webhosts offer installers
Many Webhosts offer installers

8. Fantastico installer is commonly used with web hosting companies

9. Create a blank database – create a user – run the installer

10. Once Installed
Once Installed
• LOOK ‐ Install and customize Themes
LOOK Install and customize Themes
• FUNCTION ‐ Plugins (WordPress) or Modules
(Drupal)
• Get the look and function you want:
– Hack an existing theme or make your own
– Hack an existing plugin/module or make you own

11. Create a blank database – create a user – run the installer

17. UPDATE!!! no set n forget!
UPDATE!!! – no set‐n‐forget!

18. UPDATE!!! no set n forget!
UPDATE!!! – no set‐n‐forget!
Attention to a regular update policy is EXTREMELY important to avoid web site
hacks endangering your site content AND your site visitors!