This document discusses customizing BuddyPress, an open-source social networking plugin for WordPress. It begins with an overview of what BuddyPress is and its default features. It then provides examples of how others have customized BuddyPress for specific uses like networking for runners or government employees. The document demonstrates how to customize profile fields, activity streams, notifications, groups, and gamification features. It emphasizes that the best BuddyPress sites are those where its use is not obvious and it is tailored to a specific niche or client need.

1. Customizing BuddyPress And
Impressing Your Friends
David “DANGER” Bisset
davidbisset.com / @dimensionmedia
WoRDCAMP TAMPA 2014 #WCTPA

2. What Are We Not Going To Talk About?

3. What Are We Not Going To Talk About?
HOW TO
GET FRIENDS

4. What Are We Not Going To Talk About?
FRIENDS = CLIENTS

5. What Are We Going To Talk About?
WHAT IS BUDDYPRESS?

6. What Are We Going To Talk About?
WHAT IS BUDDYPRESS?
WHAT IS THE DEFAULT?

7. What Are We Going To Talk About?
WHAT IS BUDDYPRESS?
WHAT IS THE DEFAULT?
WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE

8. What Are We Going To Talk About?
WHAT IS BUDDYPRESS?
WHAT IS THE DEFAULT?
CODING EXAMPLES FOR DEVELOPERS
WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE

9. What Are We Going To Talk About?
WHAT IS BUDDYPRESS?
WHAT IS THE DEFAULT?
CODING EXAMPLES FOR DEVELOPERS
START THINKING DIFFERENT
WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE

10. BPTESTDRIVE.ORG

11. Extended Profile Fields
ACCOUNT SETTINGS
FRIEND CONNECTIONS
PRIVATE MESSAGING
ACTIVITY STREAMS
GROUPS
NOTIFICATIONS
SITE TRACKING
PROFILE PRIVACY
THEME COMPATIBILITY

12. REGISTRATION

14. Activity Streams

15. ACTIVITY STREAMS

16. ACTIVITY STREAMS

17. EXTENDED PROFILE FIELDS

18. EXTENDED PROFILE FIELDS

19. EXTENDED PROFILE FIELDS

20. EXTENDED PROFILE FIELDS

21. ACCOUNT SETTINGS

22. FRIEND CONNECTIONS

23. Friendship Connections

24. Friendship Connections

25. PRIVATE MESSAGING

26. PRIVATE MESSAGING

27. PRIVATE MESSAGING

28. GROUPS

29. GROUPS

30. BuddyPress “Big Wins”
• OPEN SOURCE
• WORKS WITH ALMOST ANY WORDPRESS THEME
• CONTROL YOUR OWN DATA (NSA PERMITTING)
• CUSTOMIZATION - YOU ARE IN CONTROL
• Great for internal sites, proof of concepts

31. Is Like Saying...
SAYING BUDDYPRESS JUST “ADDS
SOCIAL TO A SITE”
WORDPRESS IS JUST “BLOG SOFTWARE”

32. FACEBOOK

33. LINKEDIN

34. TWITTER

35. GOOGLE PLUS

36. INSTAGRAM

37. INSTAGRAM

38. The World (And Your Client)
Doesn’t Need Another Facebook
IT NEEDS A SOLUTION CUSTOM TAILORED FOR
CLIENTS THAT MAKE SENSE

39. STRAIGHT-FORWARD CONCEPTS
LET’S TAKE
A LOOK

40. RUNNERNETWORK.COM
SOCIAL NETWORK SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR RUNNERS

41. RUNNERNETWORK.COM
SOCIAL NETWORK SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR RUNNERS

42. GOVLOOP.COM
“KNOWLEDGE NETWORK FOR GOVERNMENT"

43. GOVLOOP.COM
“KNOWLEDGE NETWORK FOR GOVERNMENT"

44. LIVENINJA.COM
LIVE VIDEO CHAT COMMUNITY + NETWORKING

45. LIVENINJA.COM
LIVE VIDEO CHAT COMMUNITY + NETWORKING

46. STUDYCROSSING.COM
INTERACTIVE STUDY GROUPS USING BUDDYPRESS / BBPRESS

47. STUDYCROSSING.COM
INTERACTIVE STUDY GROUPS USING BUDDYPRESS / BBPRESS

48. STUDYCROSSING.COM
INTERACTIVE STUDY GROUPS USING BUDDYPRESS / BBPRESS

49. STUDYCROSSING.COM
INTERACTIVE STUDY GROUPS USING BUDDYPRESS / BBPRESS

50. STUDYCROSSING.COM
INTERACTIVE STUDY GROUPS USING BUDDYPRESS / BBPRESS

51. Great Ways To
Customize BuddyPress
GROUPS EXTENSION API
EXTENDING MEMBER PROFILES
CUSTOM NOTIFICATIONS
Gamification
SHARING FILES AND DOCUMENTS
LIVE CHAT / VIDEO
MOBILE APPS

52. Great Ways To
Customize BuddyPress
GROUPS EXTENSION API
EXTENDING MEMBER PROFILES
CUSTOM NOTIFICATIONS
Gamification
SHARING FILES AND DOCUMENTS
LIVE CHAT / VIDEO
MOBILE APPS

53. MEMBER PROFILE METADATA
LET’S TAKE
A LOOK

54. function bpupex_update_lat_lon( $user_id, $posted_field_ids, $errors ) {
if ( empty( $errors ) ) {
// safely get the address information
$address = sanitize_text_field( $_POST['field_4'] );
$address2 = sanitize_text_field( $_POST['field_5'] );
$city = sanitize_text_field( $_POST['field_6'] );
$state = sanitize_text_field( $_POST['field_7'] );
$zip = sanitize_text_field( $_POST['field_8'] );
if ( $address && $city && $state && $zip ) {
$full_address = urlencode($address . ' ' . $address2 . ' ' . $city . ', ' . $state . ' ' . $zip);
$request_url = "http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/xml?address=".$full_address."&sensor=true";
$xml = wp_remote_get( $request_url, array( 'timeout' => 120, 'sslverify' => false ) );
$xml_response = simplexml_load_string( $xml['body'] );
if ( $xml_response->status->__toString() == "OK" ) {
$lat = $xml_response->result->geometry->location->lat->__toString();
$lon = $xml_response->result->geometry->location->lng->__toString();
xprofile_set_field_data ('Latitude', $user_id, $lat);
xprofile_set_field_data ('Longitude', $user_id, $lon);
}
} else {
// clear the fields
xprofile_set_field_data ('Latitude', $user_id, false);
xprofile_set_field_data ('Longitude', $user_id, false);
}
}
}
add_action( 'xprofile_updated_profile', 'bpupex_update_lat_lon', 10, 3 );

55. xprofile_set_field_data ('Longitude', $user_id, false);
add_action( 'xprofile_updated_profile', 'bpupex_update_lat_lon', 10, 3 );

56. GROUPS EXTENSION API
LET’S TAKE
A LOOK

57. MEmbers
OWN ACTIVITY STREAM
OWN FORUM (bbPRESS)
OWN METADATA
OWN PRIVACY / INVITE SYSTEM
BuddyPress Groups Have:

58. GROUPS EXTENSION API
Example: Virtual Classroom

59. GROUPS EXTENSION API
Example: Crowdfunding Site

62. GAMEIFICATION
LET’S TAKE
A LOOK

63. Achievements For WordPress
Developer: Paul Gibbs
Achievements gamifies your
WordPress site with
challenges, badges, and points.
Badges and points are the
funnest way to reward and
encourage members of your
community to participate.
Leaderboards and rankings
bring friendly competition to
your community.
HTTP://WORDPRESS.ORG/PLUGINS/
ACHIEVEMENTS/

64. myCRED
Developer: Gabriel Merovingi
myCRED is an adaptive points
management system that lets
you award / charge your users
for interacting with your
WordPress powered website.
HTTPS://WORDPRESS.ORG/PLUGINS/MYCRED/

65. BadgeOS Community Add-On
Developer: Credly / webdevstudios
BadgeOS™ turns your WordPress
site into an achievement and
badging system. And with
BuddyPress enabled on your site,
achievements are not only
awarded by demonstrating skills
and knowledge, but also by
participating in community
activities.
HTTP://WORDPRESS.ORG/PLUGINS/BADGEOS-
COMMUNITY-ADD-ON/

66. SCOUT.PCLS.US
PIERCE COUNTY LIBRARY (WA)

67. www.conference.com/groups/session-name
www.conference.com/SESSIONS/session-name
www.PROJECTSOCIAL.com/PROJECTS/PROJECT-name
www.SHARESTORIES.com/STORIES/STORY-name
www.MYFAMILY.com/FAMILIES/FAMILY-name

69. CUSTOM NOTIFICATIONS
LET’S TAKE
A LOOK

70. CUSTOM NOTIFICATIONS
function wctpa_format_notifications_comments( $action, $item_id, $secondary_item_id, $total_items, $format = 'string' )
{
if ( 'new_comment' === $action ) {
$link = get_permalink( $item_id );
$title = __( 'New Comment On '.get_the_title( $item_id ), 'buddypress' );
if ( (int) $total_items > 1 ) {
$text = sprintf( __('You have %d new comments', 'buddypress' ), (int) $total_items );
$filter = 'wctpa_bp_notifications_multiple_new_comment_notification';
} else {
if ( !empty( $secondary_item_id ) ) {
$text = sprintf( __('You have %d new comment on %s', 'buddypress' ), (int) $total_items, get_the_title(
$item_id ) );
} else {
$text = sprintf( __('You have %d new comment', 'buddypress' ), (int) $total_items );
}
$filter = 'wctpa_bp_notifications_single_new_comment_notification';
}
}
if ( 'string' === $format ) {
$return = apply_filters( $filter, '<a href="' . esc_url( $link ) . '" title="' . esc_attr( $title ) . '">' . esc_html( $text ) .
'</a>', (int) $total_items, $text, $link, $item_id, $secondary_item_id );
} else {
$return = apply_filters( $filter, array(
'text' => $text,
'link' => $link
), $link, (int) $total_items, $text, $link, $item_id, $secondary_item_id );
}
do_action( 'wctpa_format_notifications_comments', $action, $item_id, $secondary_item_id, $total_items );
return $return;
}

71. CUSTOM NOTIFICATIONS
function wctpa_format_notifications_comments( $action, $item_id, $secondary_item_id, $total_items, $format = 'string' )
{
if ( 'new_comment' === $action ) {
$link = get_permalink( $item_id );
$title = __( 'New Comment On '.get_the_title( $item_id ), 'buddypress' );
if ( (int) $total_items > 1 ) {
$text = sprintf( __('You have %d new comments', 'buddypress' ), (int) $total_items );
$filter = 'wctpa_bp_notifications_multiple_new_comment_notification';
} else {
if ( !empty( $secondary_item_id ) ) {
$text = sprintf( __('You have %d new comment on %s', 'buddypress' ), (int) $total_items, get_the_title(
$item_id ) );
} else {
$text = sprintf( __('You have %d new comment', 'buddypress' ), (int) $total_items );
}
$filter = 'wctpa_bp_notifications_single_new_comment_notification';
}
}
if ( 'string' === $format ) {
$return = apply_filters( $filter, '<a href="' . esc_url( $link ) . '" title="' . esc_attr( $title ) . '">' . esc_html( $text ) .
'</a>', (int) $total_items, $text, $link, $item_id, $secondary_item_id );
} else {
$return = apply_filters( $filter, array(
'text' => $text,
'link' => $link
), $link, (int) $total_items, $text, $link, $item_id, $secondary_item_id );
}
do_action( 'wctpa_format_notifications_comments', $action, $item_id, $secondary_item_id, $total_items );
return $return;
}

72. CUSTOM NOTIFICATIONS
function wctpa_format_notifications_comments( $action, $item_id, $secondary_item_id, $total_items, $format = 'string' )
{
if ( 'new_comment' === $action ) {
$link = get_permalink( $item_id );
$title = __( 'New Comment On '.get_the_title( $item_id ), 'buddypress' );
if ( (int) $total_items > 1 ) {
$text = sprintf( __('You have %d new comments', 'buddypress' ), (int) $total_items );
$filter = 'wctpa_bp_notifications_multiple_new_comment_notification';
} else {
if ( !empty( $secondary_item_id ) ) {
$text = sprintf( __('You have %d new comment on %s', 'buddypress' ), (int) $total_items, get_the_title(
$item_id ) );
} else {
$text = sprintf( __('You have %d new comment', 'buddypress' ), (int) $total_items );
}
$filter = 'wctpa_bp_notifications_single_new_comment_notification';
}
}
if ( 'string' === $format ) {
$return = apply_filters( $filter, '<a href="' . esc_url( $link ) . '" title="' . esc_attr( $title ) . '">' . esc_html( $text ) .
'</a>', (int) $total_items, $text, $link, $item_id, $secondary_item_id );
} else {
$return = apply_filters( $filter, array(
'text' => $text,
'link' => $link
), $link, (int) $total_items, $text, $link, $item_id, $secondary_item_id );
}
do_action( 'wctpa_format_notifications_comments', $action, $item_id, $secondary_item_id, $total_items );
return $return;
}

73. CUSTOM NOTIFICATIONS

74. The Best BuddyPress Sites
ARE THE ONES WHERE THERE’s NO CLUE
BUDDYPRESS WAS USED

75. The Best BuddyPress Sites
ARE THE ONES WHERE THERE’s NO CLUE
BUDDYPRESS WAS USED

76. Software As A Service (SaaS)
Flox
Developer: John JAMES JACOBY
first WordPress-powered
application to jump into hosting
full-featured social networks.
HTTPS://FLOX.IO/
HTTPS://STORE.FLOX.IO/DOWNLOADS/BUDDIOS/

77. Software As A Service (SaaS)
Flox
Developer: John JAMES JACOBY
first WordPress-powered
application to jump into hosting
full-featured social networks.
HTTPS://FLOX.IO/
HTTPS://STORE.FLOX.IO/DOWNLOADS/BUDDIOS/

78. The Challenge:
NOT MANY UNIQUE / NICHE
BUDDYPRESS THEMES EXIST

79. Don’t Sit There!
GET INVOLVED!

80. Resources:
BUDDYPRESS.ORG CODEX
Bp-TRICKS.com
- BuddyPress Web Hosting GUIDE
wordpress.tv/tag/buddypress
github.com/dimensionmedia

81. PEOPLE TO FOLLOW
@jjj
@bmess
@pgibbs
@boone
@buddypressdev
@BoweFrankema
@karmatosed
@modemlooper
@r-a-y
@slaFFik
@imath
@pollyplummer
@konradsroka
@rociovaldi

82. THANK YOU.
David “SHOULD HAVE HAD A V8” Bisset
davidbisset.com / @dimensionmedia