Building WPVote has been a really interesting process for me. I have learnt stacks of new things, and through developing WPVote have added a stack of improvements to my WordPress Elemental.
From start to finish I have:
- Building WPVote Part 1: The Beginning
- Building WPVote Part 2 : Planning
- Building WPVote Part 3 : Research
- Building WPVote Part 4 : Design
- Building WPVote Part 4b: The Logo Revisited
- Building WPVote Part 5 : Programming
- Building WPVote Part 6 : Planning for Lift Off
Why?
Lorelle recently asked why I am making the site, and what it's purpose is. There are a stack of reasons, but the simplest is 'because I want to'.
As I mentioned in when I was planning the site I have plans for monetization, but I don't intend for it to become a full-time job. Earning enough to cover the hosting would be wonderful, anything more is a bonus - I am treating WPVote as a hobby and nothing more.
She also asked why I would do this when so many before me have tried and failed. Well first I don't know of any other WordPress specific voting sites, and secondly this is definitely the only one built on WordPress. But more importantly, just because someone else failed, it doesn't mean that I will.
Success or Failure?
The terms Success and Failure mean different things to different people. In my mind WPVote is already a success because I was able to build something I had never imagined I would try building - in particular with software that was not designed for this job. I realise there is software that can create a voting sites for you - but that wouldn't have allowed me to get my hands dirty the way that building WPVote has.
More?
I have a variety of things I would still like to do with WPVote. Two of the bigger items on my to-do are to create blog widgets, and a developer API. As far as I know these are both a first in WordPress. Naturally I will write them up as I build them.
I am planning to release WPVote on Monday the 1st of February, so this will be the last "Building WPVote" post, however there will be more posts in the future detailing some of the code and techniques I used to make the site function.
12 Responses to “Building WPVote Part 7: Almost Done” Leave a reply ›
looks freaking cool!
Thanks John
Looking forward to releasing it on Monday
That was a really interesting series of posts, thanks for sharing your thoughts
Thanks - I quite enjoyed writing it. Is there anything I could have done to make it better?
I'm so in favor of doing things because they challenge you to grow and expand your abilities, especially when it involves WordPress. Good for you. This has been a great series.
Thanks Lorelle - I've enjoyed writing it
Hi Ben,
I love the WPvote redesign/build. Please, please, please release it as a Elemental child theme soon. I have a few projects calling out for a voting system, and like you wasnt keen on using Pligg.
Hey Dean - thanks for the really kind words. I am currently planning if/ when to launch the theme. There are a few bits that need to be made more generic (to work on any theme) and a few new features I want to add, but I hope it will be released at some stage in the next month or three.
Hi Ben,
Great work with the site and I too am very interested in the theme/plugin. I'm not a programmer and ideally it would be wonderful to have this incorporated into my regular blog (Thesis theme).
I set up a site using Drigg (http: http://www.myfriendshotel.com/weblinks/ inco) but development on Drigg has stopped and whilst the site works well it would be wonderful if I could have that and my blog combined. With my main website launching soon having the 3 different site layouts just looks unprofessional.
I'm sure advance orders would spur on the progress with this - maybe we should vote on it!
Cheers,
Pete
Hey Pete - It's great that you're so keen. I need to tidy up quite a bit of the code, and make the theme a bit more generic/ easier to customise, but I've had enough interest that it's very likely to happen
Hey Ben,
Please keep me informed when you release the theme ....i have been struggling with pligg and defiintely prefer WP to anything!!!
How about you provide us the theme right now on as-is-basis, and we may upgrade to your future release also!!
Great work !!
Hi Pankaj - I'm really pleased you're interested in the theme. Probably the easiest way to keep informed would be to subscribe to the feed updates on here or Pro Theme Design - I will announce the theme on both sites once it's public