WP Plugins: WP Syntax
I use quite a lot of plugins for this blog – it’s more like an organism really, with plugins as the organs and the core of WordPress as its brain.
This post marks the start of a series I plan documenting the various plugins I use and why I use them.
WP Syntax is one of my favourites, and one I doubt I could live without. It allows one to incorporate syntax-highlighted source code within posts. The effect it produces is very visually appealing, uses no javascript and allows visitors to easily copy from.
Here is an example, taken from the plugin’s own documentation:
<div id="foo"> <?php function foo() { echo "Hello World!\\n"; } ?> </div> |
If you ever need or want to include source code in your posts, this plugin is a must!
It uses GeSHi ( Generic Syntax Highlighter ), which as won awards and has support for a ton of languages.
You can install it via the dashboard, or learn more – WP-Syntax
en.grand-piano.org Comment Spam!
What are spam comments?
From Wikipedia:
Spam in blogs (also called simply blog spam or comment spam) is a form of spamdexing. It is done by automatically posting random comments or promoting commercial services to blogs, wikis, guestbooks, or other publicly accessible online discussion boards. Any web application that accepts and displays hyperlinks submitted by visitors may be a target.
Adding links that point to the spammer’s web site artificially increases the site’s search engine ranking. An increased ranking often results in the spammer’s commercial site being listed ahead of other sites for certain searches, increasing the number of potential visitors and paying customers.
Examples of en.grand-piano.org’s comment spam. Click image to see more examples of the unrelated posts they’ve been commenting on.
If you’re in the market for a new Grand Piano, please take their questionable tactics into consideration before making your final decision. If are willing to use such lowly methods to gain customers, can you really trust the way they handle other aspects of business?
Who engages in this practice, presumable to increase search engine prominence and thus sales?
http://www.en.grand-pianos.org/
I use JS-Kit to handle comments on my blog, and so have disabled WordPress’ native commenting system. Yet everyday I receive emails informing me that “PianoGuy”, “GoPiano”, “PianoDraft”, “PianoTrade”, “PianoFan”, “LePiano” … found posts as unrelated to Pianos as: “Write Your Own Listener Interface (you know you want to)” or “Auto-Notification of Broken Links, Fantastic Pre-Written Anti-Spam .htaccess File!” (irony?) interesting and helpful.
Right.
Mr. PianoMan, this behaviour is not acceptable. We would like you to please leave our blogs never return. Or if you do insist on reading our posts, at least wait until we write something actually related to Pianos before leaving a advertisment comment.
Thanks.
Update: the spambot has attempted to comment on this post!
What what whaaat?!
Prevent WordPress’ .htaccess From Effecting Certain Directories
This really frustrated me. To ensure my next bout of horrid frustration isn’t caused by the same problem I’m documenting the solution here:
JS-Kit Recent Comments PHP Script
This script reads recent posts from your site’s comment rss feed and prints n comments out in a nicely formatted div. Using it is as simple as changing one line, uploading the file, and pasting some code wherever you want the recent comments to be displayed.
WP-Blog Proves that Dreams *Can* Come True
The days of staring jealously at the Wordpress crowd have ended. No more shall we scroll longingly down the lists of available Wordpress plugins, wishing they were ported to RapidWeaver.
