The Future of WordPress

Starting with just a simple line of code 11 years ago, WordPress has evolved to become the platform of more than 74 million websites.

Even with a vast array of competitors offering similar functionality, WordPress still dominates the CMS market with a 21.9% market share.

I have had a more detailed look at WordPress than most.

I have contributed to 6 releases of WordPress, including work in the XML-RPC API (in 3.4) and WP_Image_Editor class (in 3.5). I have also been involved in an upcoming release (3.9).

As we look toward the future of WordPress, it is important to evaluate current practices and trends within the WordPress user base, as well as the industry as a whole.

In this article, I will discuss my predictions and opinions regarding the future of WordPress.

Moving with Demands

Recently, the demand for advanced features has been increasing as more and more developers are using WordPress to build mobile apps and complex e-commerce websites.

While WordPress already delivers many solutions for advanced use-cases, changes in consumer behavior will consistently affect the demand for unique plugins and ongoing enhancements.

WordPress as a Mobile App Backend

The uptake of mobile technologies is on the rise. 58% of adults in the U.S. currently have smartphones according to the Pew Research Internet Project.

Emerging solutions such as the AppPresser plugin — a finalist in the 6 About to Break competition at MacWorld 2014 — are allowing users to create mobile apps using WordPress.

This current consumer trend towards mobile presents an opportunity for WordPress to capitalize on the shift toward mobile development.

By incorporating a RESTful application programming interface (API), current WordPress apps could be supported, as well as mobile apps that use WordPress as a backend.

WordPress as a Development Framework

WordPress has been placing a large focus on providing the best user experience possible. And, in my opinion, it has succeeded in this goal.

Moving forward, I see the concentration shifting toward evolving WordPress into a full CMS and application framework.

Right now, WordPress does a splendid job as a content publishing platform, as evidenced by its use by the major online magazines, journals, and blogs. Time magazine, CNN, Forbes.com, Wired, and TechCrunch are just a few examples of web properties that rely on WordPress.

However, more complicated use-cases like online stores, mobile app development, and web app development require plugins, heavy customization, and development.

The next step is to evolve the platform to make it a more robust CMS/app framework that can make more complicated use-cases easier to produce for developers.

Dealing with Legacy Code

While the system currently offers users a wide range of features and possibilities, WordPress will update its legacy code and deliver new APIs to ideally fit the needs of web developers.

If an emphasis is placed on this area, the biggest challenge will be streamlining the codebase while building a solution that ensures backwards compatibility.

Considering the first version was released over 10 years ago, achieving this objective is likely to be quite a huge undertaking.

Where WordPress Doesn’t Need to Change

The past few years of success have truly proven the knowledge, experience and passion found within the WordPress community.

We have worked together to accomplish great milestones and made the impressive strides that have advanced WordPress to become the most popular Web platform across the globe.

The WordPress community will play a large role in the continual development of the platform to best suit its users’ needs.

How to Update Windows 8 to 8.1 Update

Windows 8.1 update is officially out and its a recommended update by Microsoft to install on all Windows 8.1 computers and RT devices. If you are already using Windows 8.1 then the update will appear from Windows update in control panel (if it’s set for automatic download and install). For Windows 8 users the update path is slightly different. Here is the step by step guide explains how to update Windows 8 to 8.1 Update.

Do we really need to update Windows 8 OS to 8.1 update? the answer would be ‘YES’.  Earlier Windows 8.1 did not bring much useful features for normal computer users, so that could have been avoided. But the current Windows 8.1 Update is really good and worth installing to get more benefits for desktop/laptop users who use computer mouse mostly. Even it will improve the performance of your computer.

Read more about What’s new on Windows 8.1 update from official site here. Already we have published a guide about the new features we could see straightaway from this update.

Steps to Update Windows 8 to 8.1 Update

1) You must install Windows 8.1 first in order to install the current update on normal Windows 8 computer. Windows 8.1 is a complete free update which can be downloaded and installed from Windows store, follow this step by step guide for it. In case if you do not see the update from Windows store, you may be runningWindows 8 enterprise version, that should be upgraded as shown in this guide.

Confirm the upgrade after installation,

2) Open Windows update from control panel and check for latest updates. You will find severalupdates for Windows 8.1 32 or 64 bit (depending on the installed version). The actual Windows 8.1 Update is KB 2919355 around 800Mb, if you do not see this update number, nothing to worry. Download and install other important Windows updates (make sure KB 2919442 is listed out which required for KB 2919355 update) then restart the PC to take effect.

Again open Windows update and check for updates, I’m sure this time the actual number KB 2919355 around 800Mb will show up, download and install it. After the restart you will be running the latest Windows 8.1 update successfully.

The computer will directly boot into desktop mode and shutdown and search icons would appear next to user name as shown below.

Also you could notice other changes which mentioned earlier.

Windows 8.1 users must install latest KB 2919355 to get further security updates from Microsoft, therefore its not recommended to skip this update for any reasons.

How to Uninstall Windows 8.1 Update

Even though this is a compulsory update, but incase if its giving some trouble due to non compatibility or any issues during the upgrade process or existing applications are misbehaving then you can consider uninstalling it.

Go to Control Panel, Programs and Features select ‘View Installed Updates’ on left top corner which will list out the installed updates on your computer. Look for the update number KB 2919355 and click uninstall.

We expect this guide would be helpful on how to update Windows 8 to 8.1 Update and uninstall it whenever required.

How to Save your Gmail Attachments to Google Drive Automatically

Your email messages in Gmail have attachments – images, documents, videos, etc. – and you can automatically save them all to a specific folder inside Google Drive using the Send to Google Drive. The latest version lets you specify a list of file types and only file attachments belonging to those types will be saved to your Google Drive.

If you haven’t used Send to Google Drive before, here’s how it works.

You specify a Gmail label name in the sheet and the script will scan all your existing and incoming email messages inside that label for attachments. You can say “inbox” to monitor the inbox folder, or specify a user label or say “all” to monitor every folder in your Gmail mailbox. If the script finds an attachment, the file is downloaded to your Google Drive.

You neither have to install any browser extensions nor do you have to grant access to your Gmail or Google Drive to a third-party. And since Google Drive synchronizes with your mobile device and desktop, the saved email attachments will instantly become available on all your other devices.

Save files attachments from Gmail to any Google Drive folder.

Save Gmail Attachments to Google Drive

Here’s a step by step guide on how you can setup the Send to Google Drive program for your Gmail account. It takes less than a minute.

1. Click here to create a copy of the Send to Google Drive sheet in your Google Drive.
2. Open the sheet and you should see a new Gmail Attachments menu at the top (see screenshot). Choose Authorize (Step #1) and grant the necessary permissions. This is an open-source Google Script) that runs in your own Google account and no one else will have access to any of your data.
3. Click the Gmail Attachments menu again and select Run (step #2). Close the Google sheet and the script will begin downloading attachments from Gmail to your Google Drive in the background.

The program will monitor the specified Gmail label every five minutes and as soon as it finds a message that has attachments, it will automatically save the file(s) to a folder in your Google Drive.

Once the attachments have been saved, a new label — Processed — is applied to the Gmail message indicating that the message has been processed by the script. It saves all types of attachments but you can also specify a list of extensions separated by commas.

If you would like to stop the script later, open the same Google Sheet and choose Uninstall from the Gmail Attachments menu.

Send to Google Drive – Premium

The premium version supports even more features:

1. Whitelist Filetypes – You can specify a list of filetypes and the script will only save attachments that are the specified type. For instance, you can say jpg,gif,png to save only image attachments or say all to save every single file attachment irrespective of the file type.
2. Nested Google Drive Folders – You can choose to save email attachments in a single folder or specify sub-folders per Gmail label. For instance, say \\Main Folder\\Sub Folder to save files in the sub folder under the main folder.
3. Nested Gmail Labels – It can monitor Gmail messages that are under nested Gmail labels or folder.
4. Monitor Multiple Labels – While the free version only supports one Gmail label, the premium version can help you save email attachments from one or more Gmail labels.
5. Google Drive Organized – The free version dumps all Gmail attachments to one Google Drive folder while the premium version organizes them in sub-folders thus keeping your Drive cleaner and more organized.
6. Premium Support – You can opt for the $49.99 edition for instant support.

 Google Script + Installation Manual $34.99 USD Google Script + Email Support $49.99 USD 

Refer to this PDF Manual to know more about the premium version. Should you be interested, use the PayPal button to upgrade.

Awesome Google Scripts → Custom Google Scripts →