3 replies to this topic

[ganalon]

I've got a web directory site that uses WordPress. There are many things I like about the look, feel and usability of my current theme. However, there features I'd like to add. I suspect some of them may be available with plug ins while others will require some PHP/WordPress development.

The site works fine, but is only 50% automated at best. It uses forms with Captcha to take URL submissions which get emailed to me. I manually review them and if they meet my criteria I manually publish them to the directory. Clunky, but effective.

I'd really like the submissions to get added to a MySQL database (as well as submit an email). Secondly I'd like to automatically traverse the new database entries, ping and scrape the URLs (mindful of robots.txt), and categorize them into a few categories: no issues, manual review, clearly denied (bad URL, NSFW). This could be done with a chron job or through other (WordPress or non-WordPress) methods. Finally I'd like to automatically update the WordPress directory content for "no issues" submissions.

I could hire a developer to work for (a) money, (b\) shares in the company... but first I'd like to see how far I can get by myself. My non-web S/W development skills are pretty solid but my web S/W dev skills are minimal.

Any advice on good WordPress development sites or books? Another other advice?

Thanks in advance!

Edited by ganalon, 28 August 2011 - 05:42 PM.

[chrishirst]

Would it not be simpler to port your theme to PHLD which has a articles section as well.

[ganalon]

Would it not be simpler to port your theme to PHLD which has a articles section as well.

Interesting, it looks pretty affordable.

[torka]

Sorry to be late to the party. If you haven't gone down the road of porting yet, there are several WP plugins that might do the trick for you, or could at least get you started with figuring out the code to make what you want:

Business Directory (free)
Wordpress Link Directory (free)
DirectoryPress (paid)

HTH!

--Torka