BuddyPress Tips:
How we built chekmrk
Innovation happens by knowing what
the rules are and then bending them
or breaking them to do what we want.




         How we built chekmrk
BuddyPress is a powerful tool. We
discovered a unique way to use the
software. We challenged ourselves to
think about the software differently.



         How we built chekmrk
DATA: how do you get data
about your business?




       How we built chekmrk
At the heart of the issue is the failure
to distinguish between narrative, data
and method.
    - Greg Glassman, Founder, CrossFit
    (In response to the fitness industries unsubstantiated
    claims. Example: Why doesn’t the “AB Roller” work?)




             How we built chekmrk
Narrative is a story.
 “Our projects are on time and on budget!”




          How we built chekmrk
Data is something that is measurable,
observable and repeatable.
  “It takes us 3 months to build a website.”




           How we built chekmrk
Method is the exact
approach you took.
  “We use the Waterfall process.”




         How we built chekmrk
Narrative, Data and Method cannot
exist independently.
  - Narrative is just guesses without data

  - Data needs narrative for direction

  - Method needs data to figure out which
  process to employ



           How we built chekmrk
Businesses can use Narrative, Data
and Method, to track projects better.
  - Narrative is the project scope

  - Data are the tasks for the project

  - Method is the software used to
  complete the tasks



           How we built chekmrk
How are you keeping track?
 - A project management app is one of
 the few tools we have to measure the
 success of our business.




        How we built chekmrk
Why use a project management app?
• Keep project on track
• Central place for communication
• Accountability, if it's not in the project it
  doesn't exist.
• Team member leaves, the next person
  can pick up quickly.
• Anyone can go on vacation at any time.

            How we built chekmrk
HISTORY: how we chose
BuddyPress to build a project
management application.



        How we built chekmrk
ProjectGroupie (2003 - 2009)
Pre-BuddyPress - The first project
management app we built


      How we built chekmrk
When we built ProjectGroupie, we
learned a lot about how people
actually manage projects.
• People don't use most features
• People relied on email updates a lot
• People liked having a dashboard
• Communication happened outside
• Scaling the app was difficult.


         How we built chekmrk
BuddyPress 1.0 (April 30, 2009)
   BuddyPress is a social networking plugin.
Incredible sharing and data collection features.

            How we built chekmrk
Why BuddyPress?
It’s about the sharing and data.
• Display data from all main areas, Activity,
  Forums, Members, Groups, Blogs, Group
  Members, Private Messages and Profile.
• Share data across features, between users
• Extensive plugin utilities
• Custom profile build out
• Keep data public or private

            How we built chekmrk
ProjectGroupie was “project centric”
We realized people contribute to projects.
Projects don’t contribute to people.

         How we built chekmrk
chekmrk is people centric.
chekmrk is a “virtual hallway” where people can
share and contribute to others projects.

            How we built chekmrk
HOW BUDDYPRESS WORKS:




       How we built chekmrk
BuddyPress is just a plugin
      ( With Privileges )




    How we built chekmrk
This doesn’t look like WordPress!
What we see when we first install BuddyPress




           How we built chekmrk
Essentially, we created a child
theme of BuddyPress. Stripping
everything away and only bringing
back in what we wanted, where we
wanted it.




        How we built chekmrk
How to customize BuddyPress
• Create a child theme
• Build custom templates for pages
• Add BuddyPress or WordPress Plugins
• Use conditionals for public or network
• Create multiple menus for better UI
• All WP & BP tags and functions play
  well together


          How we built chekmrk
chekmrk public facing site




    How we built chekmrk
chekmrk network dashboard




    How we built chekmrk
THE BREAKDOWN: How we get the data




          How we built chekmrk
Using WP functions and BP tags




      How we built chekmrk
WP, BP Loops & Filters




  How we built chekmrk
BP Group Loops




How we built chekmrk
BuddyPress Creative Power Tips
• Create template pages for flexibility
• Use template tags to customize display
• Mix and Match WP & BP tags and functions
• Really tweak CSS to make it yours
• Experiment with BP Plugins




           How we built chekmrk
BuddyPress Resources
• WP.Tutsplus.com
• BP-Tricks.com
• Stackexchange.com
• WPMU.org
• StackOverflow.com
• BuddyPress.org



         How we built chekmrk
Thank you!
• Slides at www.CrowdedSites.com
• chekmrk invite signup www.chekmrk.com
• For any questions feel free to contact me!
• Wes@CrowdedSites.com




            How we built chekmrk

BuddyPress Tips: How We Built chekmrk

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Innovation happens byknowing what the rules are and then bending them or breaking them to do what we want. How we built chekmrk
  • 3.
    BuddyPress is apowerful tool. We discovered a unique way to use the software. We challenged ourselves to think about the software differently. How we built chekmrk
  • 4.
    DATA: how doyou get data about your business? How we built chekmrk
  • 5.
    At the heartof the issue is the failure to distinguish between narrative, data and method. - Greg Glassman, Founder, CrossFit (In response to the fitness industries unsubstantiated claims. Example: Why doesn’t the “AB Roller” work?) How we built chekmrk
  • 6.
    Narrative is astory. “Our projects are on time and on budget!” How we built chekmrk
  • 7.
    Data is somethingthat is measurable, observable and repeatable. “It takes us 3 months to build a website.” How we built chekmrk
  • 8.
    Method is theexact approach you took. “We use the Waterfall process.” How we built chekmrk
  • 9.
    Narrative, Data andMethod cannot exist independently. - Narrative is just guesses without data - Data needs narrative for direction - Method needs data to figure out which process to employ How we built chekmrk
  • 10.
    Businesses can useNarrative, Data and Method, to track projects better. - Narrative is the project scope - Data are the tasks for the project - Method is the software used to complete the tasks How we built chekmrk
  • 11.
    How are youkeeping track? - A project management app is one of the few tools we have to measure the success of our business. How we built chekmrk
  • 12.
    Why use aproject management app? • Keep project on track • Central place for communication • Accountability, if it's not in the project it doesn't exist. • Team member leaves, the next person can pick up quickly. • Anyone can go on vacation at any time. How we built chekmrk
  • 13.
    HISTORY: how wechose BuddyPress to build a project management application. How we built chekmrk
  • 14.
    ProjectGroupie (2003 -2009) Pre-BuddyPress - The first project management app we built How we built chekmrk
  • 15.
    When we builtProjectGroupie, we learned a lot about how people actually manage projects. • People don't use most features • People relied on email updates a lot • People liked having a dashboard • Communication happened outside • Scaling the app was difficult. How we built chekmrk
  • 16.
    BuddyPress 1.0 (April30, 2009) BuddyPress is a social networking plugin. Incredible sharing and data collection features. How we built chekmrk
  • 17.
    Why BuddyPress? It’s aboutthe sharing and data. • Display data from all main areas, Activity, Forums, Members, Groups, Blogs, Group Members, Private Messages and Profile. • Share data across features, between users • Extensive plugin utilities • Custom profile build out • Keep data public or private How we built chekmrk
  • 18.
    ProjectGroupie was “projectcentric” We realized people contribute to projects. Projects don’t contribute to people. How we built chekmrk
  • 19.
    chekmrk is peoplecentric. chekmrk is a “virtual hallway” where people can share and contribute to others projects. How we built chekmrk
  • 20.
    HOW BUDDYPRESS WORKS: How we built chekmrk
  • 21.
    BuddyPress is justa plugin ( With Privileges ) How we built chekmrk
  • 22.
    This doesn’t looklike WordPress! What we see when we first install BuddyPress How we built chekmrk
  • 23.
    Essentially, we createda child theme of BuddyPress. Stripping everything away and only bringing back in what we wanted, where we wanted it. How we built chekmrk
  • 24.
    How to customizeBuddyPress • Create a child theme • Build custom templates for pages • Add BuddyPress or WordPress Plugins • Use conditionals for public or network • Create multiple menus for better UI • All WP & BP tags and functions play well together How we built chekmrk
  • 25.
    chekmrk public facingsite How we built chekmrk
  • 26.
    chekmrk network dashboard How we built chekmrk
  • 27.
    THE BREAKDOWN: Howwe get the data How we built chekmrk
  • 28.
    Using WP functionsand BP tags How we built chekmrk
  • 29.
    WP, BP Loops& Filters How we built chekmrk
  • 30.
    BP Group Loops Howwe built chekmrk
  • 31.
    BuddyPress Creative PowerTips • Create template pages for flexibility • Use template tags to customize display • Mix and Match WP & BP tags and functions • Really tweak CSS to make it yours • Experiment with BP Plugins How we built chekmrk
  • 32.
    BuddyPress Resources • WP.Tutsplus.com •BP-Tricks.com • Stackexchange.com • WPMU.org • StackOverflow.com • BuddyPress.org How we built chekmrk
  • 33.
    Thank you! • Slidesat www.CrowdedSites.com • chekmrk invite signup www.chekmrk.com • For any questions feel free to contact me! • Wes@CrowdedSites.com How we built chekmrk