Tag: plugins

WordPress Database Backup Plugin

Nick Momrik8 Comments

Tired of having to manually backup your WordPress database? Do you even back it up? Worry no more…

Skippy has created an awesome plugin for WordPress. It’s called WordPress Database Backup. With a few clicks you can either download a backup of your database or have it sent attached to an email. It’s a very quick and simple process. In addition, if you have Skippy’s WP-Cron plugin installed, you’ll get a bonus option for the WordPress Database Backup. Under Manage->Backup in your WP admin screen you’ll have the opportunity to schedule a daily backup of your database.

I’ve been helping Skippy do some testing and I have to say that it has worked great so far. I’ve setup a seperate Gmail account that I’m using solely to store the backups of my 3 WordPress sites. Talk about a good use for all of those Gmail invites! If you’d like an account, just let me know. Each night at midnight, my WP installs fire off an email with a zipped up copy of my database. I never have to worry again about losing my posts and comments.

WordPress Plugin Update Notification

Nick Momrik4 Comments

Last night I went out searching for plugin updates. I use quite a few plugins at all of my sites, so I wanted to get everything updated. After visiting countless sites, I became frustrated. Most people post about their plugins on their own blogs, but finding some updates is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Today the light bulb went off. WordPress needs a way for plugin users to be notified when there are new versions of plugins. I’ve come up with a couple of ideas.

  • What if there was a central site (maybe there are already plans for the WordPress Plugin Repository) for all of the plugins. Everyone (both plugin users and developers) would have an account on the site. You can download plugins, look at the code, submit bugs, and many other things. Some of these are already available at the Repository. But one thing that the current site doesn’t have is the ability for a user to mark which plugins they use. If users could pick which plugins they use, then the site could mail these users each time a plugin is updated. We’d never have to live with old code again.
  • The second idea may be able to work with the first somehow. If a central site is recognized and used for plugins, a plugin could be created to go through the list of plugins in a WP install. It could then contact the plugin site and compare version numbers. If there is a new version, either email the admin of the WP install, or put a notification in the Dashboard.

These are just a few quick ideas I had today. Not much thought went into it, but I’d be interested in hearing what others have to say. Who knows, maybe Matt already has something up his sleeve.