In Case You Missed It – Issue 18

The REST API Democratizes Reading

Mika Epstein explains how the WordPress REST API democratizes reading by making content more discoverable and accessible.

When you look at a website you see the design and the layout and the wonderful beauty. When an app reads your data, however, it doesn’t want or need any of that. An app needs the raw data. And the REST API does that. It outputs the data in a super basic and simple way. Furthermore, it lets you add on to this and output specific data in special ways.

TechSPARK Interviews WordCamp Bristol Organizer

Bristol, UK, is gearing up for its first WordCamp and local media is taking notice. TechSPARK, a digital publication that covers tech in Bristol, Bath, and the West of England published an interview with Janice Tye, one of the lead organizers of the event.

In the interview, Tye explains what a WordCamp is and how people can get involved. WordCamp Bristol takes place May 13-14th, 2017 and has a limited number of tickets available.

Fishing Guide’s Site Used by Hackers for eCommerce Fraud

TechCrunch published an interesting story of how a Cape Cod fishing guide’s website that runs on WordPress was hacked and used to host an eCommerce store. The moral of the story is to keep WordPress and its plugins and themes updated. An additional safety measure is to enable two-factor authentication.

Being a Full-time Contributor Through Sponsorships

Late last year, John James Jacoby outlined his goal for his 100 initiative. “My goal is be a fully funded independent ambassador for WordPress and the surrounding initiatives, backed by many of the best companies who continue to push WordPress beyond its limits on a daily basis,” Jacoby said.

Jacoby provided an update on what he’s been working on since obtaining sponsorship from Pagely and Pantheon. He plans to take a two-week break in March to attend WordCamp Miami and will be speaking at other events. If you’re interested in sponsoring Jacoby to work on WordPress full-time for a month, please get in touch with him.

Mode Effect Builds Website for WordPress.com’s Affiliate Program

Mode Effect, a web design agency, built the site for WordPress.com’s affiliate program. According to Jon Burke, team lead for events, marketing, and advertising at Automattic, the agency was chosen based on recommendations and its previous work with the WordPress VIP program.

New Features for WordPress.com Stats

WordPress.com unveiled a number of new enhancements to WordPress.com stats. More insights, summaries, and better use of wide screens are just a few of the improvements that were made.

Remembering HostReviews.io

Kevin Ohashi, founder of Review Signal, takes a look back at HostingReviews.io created by Steven Gliebe that was recently acquired by HostingFacts.com.

“I’m truly saddened because it’s disappearing at some point ‘soon.’ The only real competitor whose data I trusted to compare myself against. So I thought I would take the opportunity to write about my favorite competitor,” Ohashi said.

He compared the data that was manually curated by Gliebe to the data on Review Signal and discovered it was similar. Ohashi says he will miss having a trustworthy competitor to compare his data too.

“It has been nice having HostingReviews.io around when it was actively being updated (the manual process is certainly overwhelming for any individual I think!). I will miss having a real competitor to compare what I’m seeing in my data.”

Challenges of Security Disclosure

Aaron Campbell, WordPress security lead, provides insight into the challenges associated with security disclosure. Campbell describes disclosure as a constant balancing act.

“But security isn’t a single balancing act,” Campbell said. “Many of the decisions we must make require finding the right balance. Each requires thought and consideration, as well as a clear set of priorities. Especially when it comes to disclosing vulnerabilities.”

“Every situation is going to be unique, but knowing the right questions to ask will help. The time to think through these questions is now, hopefully long before you are faced with them.”

On the topic of security disclosure, I recommend reading Security is Nuanced by Andrew Nacin.

WordCamp Auckland Wapuu!

In what is a traditional part of this series, I end each issue by featuring a Wapuu design. For those who don’t know, Wapuu is the unofficial mascot of the WordPress project.

WordCamp Auckland, New Zealand is this weekend and the event’s Wapuu is appropriately enough, holding a Kiwi.

That’s it for issue eighteen. If you recently discovered a cool resource or post related to WordPress, please share it with us in the comments.