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Boston University began tinkering with WordPress in 2007. Today our highly customized web-publishing platform serves 1,000+ websites, ranging from blogs to behemoths, and 60+ themes, ranging from bespoke to basic.BU’s culture of free thought extends to the creative team and has lead to increasingly diverse site designs. But how do we sustain the creation of inventive visitor experiences without overcomplicating content management?Learn about the smart choices and stupid mistakes – both creative and technical — we’ve made along the way to building the most ambitious WordPress installation in HigherEd.
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Synchronizing Creativity+ Content Management
Designervs Developer
(alternate title)
Smartvs Stupid
(alternate title)
THE Conflict!
executive
editor
help deskdeveloper
designer
roles
The executive needs:
Value, reliability BUT! high output
The help desk needs:
Detailed documentationBUT! quick tasks
The editor needs:
Ease-of-useBUT! more features
The developer needs:
Features to buildBUT! lean codebase
The designer needs:
Total freedomBUT! quick builds
regularity/creativity
Meddling with WordPress& the organizational divide
IS&T/MarCom
2007 20122008 2009 2010 2011
WordPress is a service for everyone
WordPress is for big sites
only
2007 20122008 2009 2010 2011
Pilot #1: School of Medicine
= 1 designer= 0 developers= 0 editors
2007 20122008 2009 2010 2011
Pilot #1: School of Medicine
= 1 aging CMS = 136 sites> 200 editors
2007 20122008 2009 2010 2011
Implementation
> 1 year later = 0 designers= 0 editors= 0 sysadmins= 2 developers
2007 20122008 2009 2010 2011
Crippling WordPress
- Comments - Roles- Categories- Tags
“Don't fight WordPress. Understand it. Embrace it.”
2007 20122008 2009 2010 2011
Pilot #2: Admissions
> 9.5 million views
2007 20122008 2009 2010 2011
Pilot #2: Admissions
= 2 designers= 1 contractor= 0 IS&T
2007 20122008 2009 2010 2011
Pilot #3: Human Resources
= 3.2 million views
2007 20122008 2009 2010 2011
Pilot #3: Human Resources
= 2 students= 2 IS&T plugins
2007 20122008 2009 2010 2011
DIY themes:
= 1/8 designer= 1 developer= 0 coordination
2007 20122008 2009 2010 2011
141 sites
342 sites
581 sites
136 sites0 sites
2007 20122008 2009 2010 2011
Total:
+ 253 In-progress+ 1,800 Blogs= 2,732 Sites
2007 20122008 2009 2010 2011
Average Rate since 2008:
= 1.9 Sites/Day!!1
The Oh Sh*t! Moment
executive
editor
help deskdeveloper
designer
roles
roles mustunderstandeach others
executive
editor
help deskdeveloper
designer
content design
site
tools
Collaboration
A range of offerings:
1. Fully custom2. Quick setup3. DIY tools
Effort & cost:
1. High2. Moderate3. Low
Can’t support 2,732 Custom Sites!
Establish workflows:
1. Sandbox2. SVN >10,000 commits!
3. Documentation4. Tools to talk
Moving code
prodsandbox devl pre-prod
Moving content
prodlive content
pre-prodin-progress content
sandboxdesign+ developaround realcontent
(even if it’s awkward)
assemble teams
that cross boundaries
DIYsites
CUSTOM
sites
tools
flexible theme framework
“flexi”
Branding for ITHCVariations for editorsFlexibility for designers
flexi= color options
flexi + content banner
flexi+ layout editor
flexi + automated setup+ good defaults= happy help desk
flexi logo variations
flexi = child themes+ extensible (+/-)
+ widget formats+ shortcode library
flexi+ mobile themes
+ plugins
Main Third-PartyGravity Forms
WP SuperCache
Akismet
Networks for WordPress
Main BU-specificBU Navigation
Access Control List (w/ Single Sign-on)
User Management (w/ Single Sign-on)
Content Banner
Post Details
Advanced Tiny MCE
Site Manager
Cache / Message Queue Daemon
Integratedw/ BU apps BU Calendar
BU Maps
Google Search Appliance
Course FeedsTraining Manager
Emergency Alert
How many plugins does it take?
Main Third-PartyGravity Forms
WP SuperCache
Akismet
Networks for WordPress
Main BU-specificBU Navigation
Access Control List (w/ Single Sign-on)
User Management (w/ Single Sign-on)
Content Banner
Post Details
Advanced Tiny MCE
Site Manager
Cache / Message Queue Daemon
Integratedw/ BU apps BU Calendar
BU Maps
Google Search Appliance
Course FeedsTraining Manager
Emergency Alert
How many plugins does it take?
Main Third-PartyGravity Forms
WP SuperCache
Akismet
Networks for WordPress
Main BU-specificBU Navigation
Access Control List (w/ Single Sign-on)
User Management (w/ Single Sign-on)
Content Banner
Post Details
Advanced Tiny MCE
Site Manager
Cache / Message Queue Daemon
Integratedw/ BU apps BU Calendar
BU Maps
Google Search Appliance
Course FeedsTraining Manager
Emergency Alert
How many plugins does it take?
Up next» + mobile+ BU Today+ libraries+ magazines+ responsive+ wp community
Gregory Corneliusvs Scott Dasse
(by)@gcorne
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