Update dec-2019:
This article is now completely outdated.
Original:
I’ve had the idea for a blog for years. But actually bloging keeping it up is hard. So here is another go. This blog had no restrictions for me. So when setting this up I did some things I would(/could) never do anywhere else.
The biggest sin I commit is not having a development environment.
So how I this blog (being?) build:
The server
The server is a simple LAMP stack with Direct-Admin, because that’s what I had. Right now it’s not php7 but that’s high on the priority list. I’m not the only one on the server…
Installing WordPress
I use my own Skeleton fork. It has a few advantages.
- The root dir is clean
- It’s git friendly
- Autoupdates are enabled
- A few settings are set by default.
- Errors are logged
Theme
It’s just TwentyEleven, you all have recognized it. I just put in a background, header image. And made the container a bit transparent. I cleared most widgets, disabled trackbacks by default, changed the timezone and permalink structure.
Images link to nothing by default, as this will be a techblog most of the time.
The background, header and favicon are of the game Mini Metro. I like the abstract lines the game creates.
Plugins
- Default featured image So each image will have a featured image #plug
- WP-Markdown Because I like writing markdown
- Better WordPress Minify Minifying for better performace
- WP Super Cache Cache for better performance
- Yoast SEO Without a doubt the best SEO plugin
- Google Analytics by MonsterInsights
- Wordfence Security
Advance stuff
- Setup a real cronjob
- Full SSL with Letsencrypt, it’s buildin to Direct Admin
Also force it in the.htaccess
todo
- Analytics
- Webmaster tools
- Check the RSS feed
- Using featured images in articles.
- fix feedback from Pagespeed and ovservatory