BuddyPress contributors met last week to discuss the scope of the 2.5 release, which is slated for the beginning of March. Lead developer Paul Gibbs opened the meeting with a call for tickets that contributors are working on for 2.5. Core developer Mathieu Viet will be working on comment syncing between activity and post comments…
I had the opportunity to catch up with John James Jacoby at WordCamp US 2015. Jacoby is the project lead for bbPress and BuddyPress. In the video interview below he offers a quick overview of what to expect in BuddyPress 2.5. Jacoby also gives us a look inside his Stuttter project, which contains several social…
BuddyPress 2.4.0 “Pietro” named after an authentic Italian restaurant in Paris, France is available for download. This release includes support for cover photos that users can add to their profile or a group. Cover photos are built on top of the BuddyPress Attachments API meaning they should seamlessly integrate into themes. If you need to…
BuddyPress 2.3.5 is available and patches a security vulnerability that may allow privilege escalation for logged-in users. BuddyPress 2.3.4 and previous versions are affected however, versions 2.0.4, 2.1.2, and 2.2.4 include the patch. According to the BuddyPress development team, there is no evidence that the bug has been exploited in the wild. If your WordPress…
BuddyPress 2.3.3 is available and users are encouraged to update as soon as possible. A few security vulnerabilities were discovered in BuddyPress Messages, a core component that allows users to send and receive private messages. A vulnerability was responsibly disclosed to the BuddyPress team that could allow members to manipulate a failed private outbound message…
When the first BuddyPress beta arrived on the scene in 2008, there was nothing like it for WordPress. Facebook was still relatively new to the public and Twitter was just a couple years old. A plugin that transformed WordPress into a social network was an exciting prospect. After seven years of virtually unchallenged dominance among…
BuddyPress 2.2 introduced a Member Type API, which allows developers to register their own unique member types, i.e. teacher, student, coach, etc. This was an exciting addition to BuddyPress but not very accessible to non-technical community managers, since it requires writing your own plugin to utilize it. BP Member Type Generator is a new plugin…
In May, BuddyBoss founder Michael Eisenwasser shared with Tavern readers the challenges of creating a profitable business in what is still a relatively small marketplace for BuddyPress themes and plugins. Developers are building niche social networks every day, but BuddyPress’ appeal as a platform hinges on the availability of compelling and reliable third-party add-ons. Over…
Not long after the WordPress project adopted Slack as its primary form of communication, David Bisset started using it to help organize WordCamp Miami 2015. The application added real time communication for organizers, speakers, volunteers, sponsors, and the public. He found it to be a helpful addition to the WordCamp’s conference communication tools. As a…
For many BuddyPress-powered social networks, profile field groups do not work as a one-size-fits-all container. This is especially true for sites with a more complex and varied user base. By default, BuddyPress displays all profile field groups to all users, whether they are applicable or not. The new BuddyPress Conditional Field Groups plugin is one…
BuddyPress fans, mark your calendars! BuddyCamp Brighton, Europe’s very first BuddyPress conference, is just two months away. The event will be held at Clearleft’s 68 Middle Street venue on August 8, 2015. This venue has a maximum capacity of 60 people, so tickets are likely to sell out fast. BuddyPress lead developer Paul Gibbs and…
One of the most exciting features added in BuddyPress 2.3 is the new BP Attachments API. It provides a BP core-supported method of managing user-submitted files and opens up a world of possibilities for plugin developers. The API powers the new avatar uploads UI, but it can also be used to extend BuddyPress to add…
BuddyPress 2.3 “Livio” was released today, named in honor of Chez Livio, a famous Italian restaurant and pizza joint in Paris. Development on the 2.3 release cycle began in March with contributors prioritizing work on new APIs alongside improvements to BuddyPress’ existing APIs. Here’s a quick overview of what’s new: BP Attachments API The highlight…
Nothing makes a BuddyPress site seem more active or more colorful than when members upload their own unique avatars. Unfortunately, not all users have the motivation to follow through with adding a profile picture. You could use a plugin to add avatar upload to registration, or even force BuddyPress users to upload a profile photo…
The BuddyPress 2015 survey results are now available. This year’s survey did not have the same community penetration as 2013 and 2014, with 37.5% fewer respondents, but the information is still valuable for gauging how and where people are using the plugin. Volunteers collected feedback from 211 participants in 42 different countries. Feedback this year…