#development project

[jcmarchi]

Why a Modular Approach Is Better for WordPress Development — Speckyboy

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/why-a-modular-approach-is-better-for-wordpress-development-speckyboy/

Why a Modular Approach Is Better for WordPress Development — Speckyboy

We have the power to bend WordPress to our will. A little (or a lot) of custom code can make the content management system (CMS) do more. The sky’s the limit when it comes to functionality.

That’s quite a magic wand in our pockets. However, it does bring up a few key questions.

Do we go big when building plugins and themes for WordPress? Do we add all the bells and whistles and account for every potential use case? Or do we aim for the bare minimum – just enough to serve our needs?

I prefer the latter approach – start small and adapt as needed. That minimizes bloat and saves on future maintenance. It’s a hard-learned lesson.

The elephant in the room is that our needs tend to change. The plugin that once did the job may no longer do enough, while the theme that helped us achieve one look may not be flexible enough to adapt to a new one.

This is where a modular approach to development is valuable. It’s all about building to suit your current needs while planning for the future. Change is inevitable – so why not account for it now?

Let’s explore this different way to do WordPress development. We’ll cover the basics of what it is, how it looks, and how it benefits your workflow.

Hosting DealsCheck out our collection of the best hosting for WordPress developers.

First, Consider Your Short-Term Goals

It’s easy to go down a rabbit hole during a development project. The finished plugin or theme might not resemble the idea you started with. We get sidetracked by shiny features and the quest to deliver more than advertised.

Our intent is noble. However, we also complicate our project by straying from the initial plan. Did we build something sustainable? How will we manage the code a year from now?

There’s a danger in going too big, too soon. For one, it can lead to sloppy code and structure. The impacts can be felt in performance and security. You could miss something important while attempting to squeeze more into your project’s timeline.

In addition, half-baked features could be a pain to work with down the road. Poor structure means bolting on additions or (gasp) ripping things apart and starting from scratch.

To avoid this fate, consider your short-term goals. Ask yourself:

What are the minimum requirements for the project?

What features do I need now?

How much time do I have to build this?

How much testing will I need to do?

The idea is to focus on what you need to achieve in the time you have. Anything beyond that can probably wait.

Get Organized to Prepare for the Future

The websites we build will evolve. Clients change their mind or have something new to offer. WordPress and the underlying technology of our sites also move forward.

That impacts our custom plugins and themes. There will likely be new features to add or changes to existing ones. It’s all part of the development lifecycle.

Using a modular approach helps when it’s time for a change. The first step is to get organized. Having a sound structure allows you to build logically and efficiently.

The WordPress developer documentation gives you a head start by outlining plugin and theme structure. Following these guidelines ensures a sustainable start to your project. That’s better than reorganizing a messy jumble of files and code.

For example, here’s the suggested plugin structure:

/plugin-name plugin-name.php uninstall.php /languages /includes /admin /js /css /images /public /js /css /images

The ability to pick up where you left off is priceless. If you haven’t worked on that custom plugin for a few years, you might have difficulty remembering what you did and where things are. A well-organized plugin removes some of the guesswork.

Adding comments to your code also helps with organization. You’ll receive a high-five from your future self for documenting what each snippet does. It’s a small thing that makes a real difference.

The better your organizational skills, the easier it will be to maintain your work.

Add Plugin and Theme Features One at a Time

Sure, it would be cool if our plugin could do x, y, and z right out of the box. Perhaps that’s not realistic, given the budget and timeline. We don’t have to forget about those big ideas, though.

The priority is building something that works as intended. It should do what we outlined in our short-term goals. Once that is established, we can plan for those extra goodies.

Think of these features as items on a checklist where you can only do one at a time. Pick one, make it the best you can, and move on. That ensures your focus will be on the task at hand, rather than scrambling to fit puzzle pieces together.

Besides, trying to do all the things at once rarely works out. This is a difficult challenge for solo developers as there’s only so much time in the day. Not to mention those of us working on multiple projects.

Remember, good things take time. That’s why committing to a single task makes sense. Train your focus on one thing and do it well. The result will be improved quality and some mental clarity.

A Better Way to Build for WordPress

Every developer has a preferred workflow. We use our favorite tools and techniques to enhance our WordPress projects.

That individuality is both freeing and a bit troublesome. It’s great to write code how you want and when you want. However, a lack of foresight and organization can complicate things. It could lead to a buggy product that is a pain to maintain.

Starting with a modular approach is the cure for future chaos. Everyone benefits when every part of your plugin or theme has a place and purpose. You’ll love that you can find what you need with minimal effort. Clients and users will love that it works (even if they don’t realize it).

Writing code is challenging enough. The right approach can help you focus on getting it right.

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[bulipe65312321]

Essential Guide to Digital Skills Development for a Successful Future

In an era where technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate, digital skills development has become a fundamental necessity. Whether you are a student, professional, or business owner, honing your digital skills is the key to staying ahead in a constantly evolving landscape. Mastering these abilities not only ensures job security but also fosters creativity, efficiency, and innovation.

Why Digital Skills Development is Essential

Industries worldwide are being reshaped by digital advancements. Without adequate skills development, individuals and businesses risk becoming obsolete. Here’s why enhancing your digital skills is crucial:

Expanded Career Prospects: Organizations actively seek employees with strong digital skills, enhancing employability.

Boosted Efficiency: Automation, data analysis, and AI tools increase productivity and streamline workflows.

Creative Growth: Digital expertise enables the creation of software, applications, and digital content.

Broader Market Reach: Businesses leverage digital platforms to expand their global presence.

Higher Income Potential: Professionals with specialized digital skills often earn higher salaries.

Remote Work Opportunities: A strong digital foundation enables flexible work arrangements.

Must-Have Digital Skills for Success

Developing the right digital skills is key to navigating the modern world. Essential areas to focus on include:

Basic Digital Literacy – Understanding essential software, online tools, and cybersecurity basics.

Data Analytics – Utilizing data-driven insights to optimize decision-making.

Cybersecurity Practices – Safeguarding information against cyber threats and breaches.

Programming and Coding – Learning languages like Python, Java, or JavaScript for software and web development.

Digital Marketing & SEO – Mastering search engine optimization, social media strategies, and online branding.

Cloud Computing – Understanding cloud-based platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure.

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning – Gaining insights into AI automation and predictive analytics.

Blockchain Technology – Exploring the future of secure transactions and decentralized systems.

Steps to Begin Your Digital Skills Development Journey

Acquiring digital skills is now more accessible than ever. Follow these steps to get started:

Enroll in online training programs like those offered by BulipeTech (https://bulipetech.com/) to gain expert knowledge.

Engage in practical projects and internships to build real-world experience.

Stay updated by joining digital communities, attending webinars, and reading industry blogs.

Utilize free learning resources such as online tutorials, open-source platforms, and tech forums.

Connect with mentors and experienced professionals to gain valuable career insights.

The Road Ahead: The Future of Digital Skills

The demand for digital skills development continues to surge across industries, from finance and healthcare to education and entertainment. Companies are investing heavily in digital advancements, creating countless opportunities for those with the right expertise.

Are you ready to embrace the future? Take control of your career growth today with expert training from BulipeTech and elevate your digital skills for lasting success!

[biz-development-blog]

Why Beautiful Websites Take Time: A Detailed Guide

This post will be longer than usual, because there is a lot to talk about. As every entrepreneur today starts their business with setting up a website, it’s not uncommon to receive requests like “Please, build me a beautiful, fully functional website by Monday” In this post, we’ll try to explain why such tasks can’t be done and what’s involved in building a beautiful, plus a fully functional…

[global-newz]

Concerns Over India's "Hong Kong-Like" Development Project on Great Nicobar Islan

India’s ambitious development project on Great Nicobar Island, proposed to transform the remote region into a "Hong Kong-like" hub, has raised significant concerns among environmentalists and indigenous tribes. This $9 billion initiative, designed to include a transshipment harbor, power plant, airport, and township, aims to strengthen India’s position in global trade. Located near the crucial Strait of Malacca, the project is positioned to boost international commerce and tourism, potentially housing over 650,000 residents by its completion in 30 years. However, the development has sparked fears of ecological destruction and cultural loss for the island’s indigenous communities, especially the Shompen tribe, a nomadic group living in isolation.

Environmentalists warn that the project threatens to devastate the island’s fragile rainforests, home to rare species of flora and fauna, with over 900,000 trees potentially being cleared. The impact on local wildlife, including sea turtles and saltwater crocodiles, is also a major concern. Additionally, experts fear that the project could expose uncontacted tribes like the Shompen to diseases, jeopardizing their survival. Despite government assurances of environmental safeguards, many remain unconvinced, worrying that the development could irreparably alter the region’s delicate balance between nature and its indigenous cultures.

The development also evokes memories of the 2004 tsunami disaster, which displaced the Nicobarese tribe, and concerns that the project may push the island's tribes to the brink of extinction. As India moves forward with the plan, the tension between progress and preservation grows, with the future of both the environment and the island’s indigenous populations hanging in the balance.

[gdpkenya]

Development Project In Kenya - Global Development Project

The Global Development Project is a Development Project in Kenya that assists the homeless with the aim of making an important global impact. Visit our website for more details.

[heartspark]

Have you ever wanted to play a cute monster taming game with lots of love and heart put into every inch and corner of it by a Team of fantastically talented artists?

Me too!! Too bad it got cancelled literally a few weeks before it was going to be anounced!

Artist Nicholas Kole on twitter along with many other talented artists have been sharing their work of nearly 4 years on this game. I cant imagine the heartbreak of working so hard on this project only for it to get canceled right before Release and everyone on the Team to get laid off.

It was meant to be an open world, minecraft inspired builder, with all sorts of unique creatures with various skins, variations depending on biomes, and even petting animations. That you could tame! It also had a large amount of beautiful and unique character customization. Here's some of the art ( NOT MY ART ) for the project!

Apparently alot of this game was near finished, coded, etc! ( ART ABOVE IS BY NICHOLAS KOLE , JOHANNES FIGLHUBER, INES MARSAL, AND MARIA LOBANOVA )

I dont know if the artists can look into crowdfunding ( the Studio still may own the IP ) , but myself and a few others have been trying to get the hashtag #bringbackprojectdragon get some traction on twitter! Maybe if the internet raises enough stink, the Studio might pay attention. Im not sure how likely that is but I desperately want thus game to exsist, it would be a dream game for me and many others im sure. So please consider joining in if you have a twitter.

[found-in-retro-game-mags]

Blair Witch Vol 1-3 ad (Computer Games #120, Nov. 2000)

[toastyyjams]

accidental rizz

[bloomzone]

2025 : #1 be disciplined

[ the 2025 glow up serie ? Click here !]

Motivation feels amazing, doesn’t it? It’s like a spark—a burst of energy that pushes you forward. But what happens when the spark fades? That’s where discipline steps in. It’s the routine you build, the habits you cultivate, and the consistency you stick to even on days you don’t feel like it.

So, instead of waiting to feel ready, discipline says, ‘Let’s go, regardless.’ It’s the engine that turns dreams into reality.

"Ask urself right now: What’s one thing I can commit to daily in 2025? Write it down. Small steps lead to giant leaps."

1.Building Your Disciplined

How do u stay disciplined? Start with these three small steps:

✒️.Growth is not supposed to feel good. You’re going to hate it. You’ll feel like quitting more times than you can count. That’s normal. Growth is built in the moments where you want to give up but don’t.

1. Create Clear Goals: Be specific. Instead of saying, ‘I’ll study more,’ say, ‘I’ll study history for 30 minutes every evening.’ BUY A SMALL NOTEBOOK AND WRITE ALL UR GOALS WITH SMALLER ONE TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE

2. Track Progress: Whether it’s journaling or using an app, tracking helps you stay accountable.

3.Master Your Mindset: Stop waiting to "feel motivated." Understand that motivation is fleeting, but discipline is reliable. Every time your brain tells you to quit, remind yourself: your emotions don’t run the show—your goals do.

2.Excuses Are Lies

Excuses are lies you’ve sold yourself to stay comfortable. 'I’m too tired.' Lie. 'I don’t have time.' Lie. 'I’m just not motivated.' Biggest lie of all.

Here’s the truth: You’re scared. Scared of failure, scared of discomfort, scared of how much effort it takes to change. But let me tell you something: Fear is temporary. Regret is forever. Which one do you want to live with?

No more excuses. You don’t need more time. You need more discipline. You don’t need motivation. You need action. Stop talking about what you want and start doing the work to get it. Right now.

3.look at yourself in the mirror

Look yourself in the mirror tonight and ask: Am I proud of the choices I made today? If the answer is no, fix it tomorrow. And if the answer is still no, fix it the next day. Don’t let yourself off the hook.

2025 isn’t your year unless you make it your year. Stop expecting change to happen to you. You are the change. Get out of your head, get off the couch, and get to work. The only thing standing between you and the life you want is your own laziness. Crush it.

4.Action Plan for a Disciplined Life

Stop acting like you’re doing enough when you know you’re not. If you want that dream college, that perfect GPA, or that career you keep fantasizing about, you need to stop wasting time and follow a real plan. Get up the second your alarm goes off—no snooze, no excuses. Tackle the hardest, most uncomfortable task first thing in the morning because procrastination is for quitters. Create a non-negotiable schedule and stick to it like your life depends on it, because it does. Eliminate every distraction: delete the apps, unfollow the nonsense, and stop treating your phone like your best friend. Hold yourself accountable—write down your progress every day. If you didn’t do anything to move forward, face the fact that you’re the problem. Plan your next day before you sleep, so you wake up ready to win, not wander. And for the love of everything you want in life, stop choosing comfort over progress. Your excuses won’t get you that GPA, that acceptance letter, or that dream job—but discipline will.

breaking this into chunks

1. Kill the Snooze Button: Get out of bed the moment your alarm goes off. No "just 5 more minutes." Those 5 minutes are the difference between starting strong and losing the day.

2. Start With the Hard Stuff: Tackle your most challenging task first thing in the day. Procrastination is your enemy—eat the frog and move on.

3. Create a Non-Negotiable Schedule: Block out specific times for studying, working out, or any critical task. Treat these blocks like appointments with your future self—don’t cancel.

4. Cut Out Time-Wasters: Delete apps you waste time on. Unfollow distractions. If you spend hours scrolling or binge-watching, you’re digging your own grave.

5. Build Accountability: Tell someone your goals and have them call you out when you slack. Better yet, make it public—you’ll hate embarrassing yourself in front of others.

6. Track Progress Daily: Write down everything you’ve done that day to move closer to your goals. If you haven’t done anything, face the hard truth: you’re slacking.

7. Plan Tomorrow Tonight: Before you go to bed, write out your next day’s schedule. If you wake up without a plan, you’ve already lost.

8. Say No to Comfort: Skip the cozy excuses. If it’s not pushing you closer to your goals, it’s holding you back.

Discipline is the foundation of every success story. It’s not about luck, talent, or fleeting motivation—it’s about showing up, doing the hard work, and making the right choices every single day. If you want to achieve your dreams, you need to stop waiting for the perfect moment and start building habits that get you closer to your goals. Cut the excuses, own your failures, and take control of your life. The road to greatness isn’t easy, but every sacrifice, every uncomfortable moment, and every disciplined action will take you one step closer to the future you deserve. You either make it happen, or you watch someone else do it. The choice is yours. The clock is not waiting for u !

@bloomzone ✒️

[jcmarchi]

How to Use AI to Build a WordPress Related Posts Plugin – Speckyboy

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/how-to-use-ai-to-build-a-wordpress-related-posts-plugin-speckyboy/

How to Use AI to Build a WordPress Related Posts Plugin – Speckyboy

Artificial intelligence (AI) can elevate your development workflow to the next level. The technology can perform complex and simple tasks – saving you time and increasing your earning power.

Nowhere is that more evident than in AI’s ability to write code. You tell your favorite tool what to do, and it generates the code. This is a boon to WordPress developers as you can create custom plugins with less effort. It’s like having an expert at your side.

That all sounds wonderful. But how does AI help developers in real-world scenarios? Is it capable of generating a decent solution without too much trouble? Let’s find out!

We’ll attempt to build a simple related posts plugin to give you a taste of what’s possible. We don’t expect it to compete with a commercial product. However, we hope to generate a functional piece of code; one that can be enhanced as needed.

Hosting DealsCheck out our collection of the best hosting for WordPress developers.

What Do We Want Our Plugin to Do?

AI is powerful – but it can’t read our minds just yet. Thus, we should think about what we want to build beforehand. A well-defined prompt will produce better results.

Like any development project, it’s better to start with the basics. With that in mind, let’s consider the core functions of a related posts plugin. It should:

Scan the current post’s metadata, including categories and tags;

Search the site’s database for other posts with similar metadata;

Display links to a specified number of related posts at the bottom of the current post;

The idea is to build a plugin that performs these tasks – and nothing else. Once that is established, you can add more bells and whistles.

Let’s Get To Work

It’s time to see how much effort it takes for AI to produce our plugin. We’ll use ChatGPT for this exercise, but you can use the tool you like best.

We’ll test our plugin on a local site with a selection of Speckyboy posts we’ve imported. The content spans several WordPress taxonomies (categories and tags). It should show us how well the plugin connects the dots (or doesn’t).

Step 1: Write a Prompt

Here’s our prompt to ChatGPT that covers the basics outlined above:

Create a WordPress plugin that displays posts related to the current one. It should do the following: - Check the categories and tags assigned to the current post; - Search the site's database for other posts with similar metadata; - Display links to 4 related posts at the bottom of the current one;

Within a couple of minutes, ChatGPT generates a related posts plugin. Here’s what it tells us about the code:

Here's a WordPress plugin that displays related posts based on shared categories and tags. It retrieves up to four related posts and displays them at the bottom of the current post. The plugin uses `WP_Query` to fetch related posts efficiently. This plugin fetches and displays related posts by: 1. Checking the current post's categories and tags. 2. Querying the database for other posts with matching categories or tags. 3. Displaying up to four related posts at the bottom of the content.

Step 2: Review the Code

Now, let’s do a quick review of the plugin’s code. That allows us to see what it does and spot any potential issues.

Note that we made a few adjustments to the plugin header to match the desired name and author info. In retrospect, we could have asked ChatGPT to add this. Thankfully, the changes are minimal.

Regardless, here’s our code. We’ll highlight a few items of interest below.

A Bit of Security: The first thing we’ll highlight is a line dedicated to security:

if (!defined('ABSPATH')) exit; // Exit if accessed directly

This code prevents someone from directly accessing the plugin file. It’s a bit of obfuscation that helps protect your website.

Query Our Blog Posts:

$args = [ 'post_type'      => 'post', 'post_status'    => 'publish', 'posts_per_page' => 4, 'post__not_in'   => [$post_id], 'orderby'        => 'rand', 'tax_query'      => [ 'relation' => 'OR', ] ];

Here are the arguments for our WordPress post query. This snippet tells our plugin to look in the 'post' post type and choose four related posts. It uses the post_not_in argument to ensure the current post isn’t included in the query. The orderby argument is set to 'rand' to select related posts randomly.

Search Categories and Tags:

if (!empty($categories)) $args['tax_query'][] = [ 'taxonomy' => 'category', 'field'    => 'term_id', 'terms'    => $categories, ]; if (!empty($tags)) $args['tax_query'][] = [ 'taxonomy' => 'post_tag', 'field'    => 'term_id', 'terms'    => $tags, ];

This snippet tells our plugin to look for posts using the same categories or tags as the current post.

Format the Related Posts List:

$output = '<div class="related-posts"><h3>Related Posts</h3><ul>'; foreach ($related_posts as $related) $output .= '<li><a target="_blank" href="' . get_permalink($related->ID) . '">' . esc_html(get_the_title($related->ID)) . '</a></li>'; $output .= '</ul></div>';

The plugin will output an unordered list of related posts. Each post’s link and title will be displayed. Notice the use of esc_html() to sanitize the title. That prevents any potentially dangerous code from executing.

Display at the Bottom of the Current Post:

return $content . $output; } add_filter('the_content', 'rpd_display_related_posts');

Lastly, this snippet ensures the related post list displays at the bottom of the current post via the_content filter.

Step 3: Install and Activate the Plugin

Everything looks good so far. Next, we’ll copy the code generated by ChatGPT and place it in a file called speckyboy-related-posts.php. We’ll upload the file to the /wp-content/plugins/ folder on the test site. Finally, we’ll activate the plugin.

The plugin doesn’t produce any PHP errors, and our site didn’t break. We’ll consider that a victory!

Does Our Related Posts Plugin Work?

OK, we generated a plugin and installed it on our test site. It’s time to see if it works as intended.

To check, we’ll navigate to a blog post and hope a related posts list displays at the bottom:

Success! The plugin works well at first glance. There’s an unordered list of four related posts in the correct spot. Clicking each post reveals it shares a category and/or tag with the current post.

And the good news keeps on coming. Checking subsequent posts shows positive results. One or more taxonomies consistently match the current post. It may not be fancy, but it does the job!

We did notice an unintended side effect. Remember, our plugin chooses related posts randomly. Thus, refreshing the current post loads a fresh list at the bottom. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It might benefit content-heavy sites, as it always gives readers something unique.

Finding the unexpected is part of the testing process. It’s an opportunity to refine and improve our plugin.

Taking Our Plugin to the Next Level

Our plugin works as expected and provides a solid foundation. But development doesn’t have to stop there. We can always add more features and advanced functionality.

We have a few ideas that could take this little related posts plugin to the next level:

Narrow the Scope of Related Posts

The current iteration looks for related posts that match a category and/or tag of the current one. That might be too broad for some use cases. Narrowing the scope of the search makes sense in this case.

We could limit matches to tags or even try to match keywords in the current post’s title. That could produce more relevant results. The downside? A more complicated search might mean a performance hit.

Improve Layout and Styling

The unordered list displayed by our base plugin is simple and accessible. There’s room for improvement, though.

For one, we could ask ChatGPT to create a card layout. That would look nice and neat on just about every site. In addition, we could add more post metadata such as featured images, publication dates, and excerpts.

A little CSS could also go a long way toward making the output look more professional. Hover effects would add some polish to the presentation.

Add a Settings Page

Our plugin has no settings. Adding a settings page could make it more flexible, though. A user might want to tweak several aspects of the plugin, including:

The number of related posts retrieved;

The post type(s) that should display related posts;

The criteria for related posts (taxonomies, keywords, etc.);

Posts or taxonomies to exclude;

It would be nice to have. However, plugin settings would also add a layer of complexity. Options must be saved to and retrieved from the site’s database. Plus, allowing user input comes with extra security responsibilities. That may not be desirable in every situation.

It’s a reminder to think about the consequences of each feature we add. Just because AI can do it, doesn’t mean we should ask!

AI Makes Building Plugins Easier Than Ever

It’s amazing to think about the speed at which AI produced our plugin. We went from a concept to a working prototype in about 10 minutes. It demonstrates the technology’s power and its level of improvement. Earlier versions of ChatGPT may not have been this efficient and accurate.

Granted, we weren’t trying to build the next WooCommerce. That’s still a bridge too far – especially when considering future maintenance and security needs.

Still, AI is adept at producing a simple plugin. Once you have that in hand, you can tweak it to your heart’s content. Adding features or making changes is a matter of writing a few prompts (or coding by hand, if you haven’t forgotten it yet).

Best of all, you can use these tools to your advantage. They’ll help you get projects done faster while expanding your development capabilities. It looks like the future is here!

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[insertdisc5]

im a little sick and need enrichment so im opening the asks for a bit again. read the faq beforehand or be cursed

[girlwiththegreenhat]

team fortress 2 finally getting rid of the bots after 5 years

work on the team fortress 2 comic continuing after 7+ years

half life 3 development looking more likely than ever with legitimate code, file, and voicework leaks referencing a new non-VR single-player game from valve featuring a HEV suit wearing protagonist and Xen creatures and concepts

shoutout to the valve fan that found the genie lamp. you a real one

[jesncin]

Don't Call Me Superboy is back! An arc where we explore the adventures of escaped lab subject "Paul Westfield" as he searches for his family and the truth about his past.

This is me trying to distill the premise of this re-imagining of Kon-El into 2 pages. A legacy character that explores what happens when Superman's powers are scrutinized and profiled in a different way.

Here's the earlier pages! Enjoy!

[rorynni]

i love how when toya is proud of himself for something he has to immediately tell one of his teammates and make sure they saw