Auto-Video Site Using Wordpress

[Aequitas]

I just wanted to thank Aequitas for taking the time to code this plugin and make it available for free to WickedFire members. Great job.

Just a quick question...

I just tried to get the plugin setup and running. Everything went smooth until I tried to do a manual test post and nothing posted to my blog. I went back through Aequitas long description and I am pretty sure that I have everything setup correctly.

The only thing I noticed was that he said the plugin requires PHP5 and I am running a version of PHP4. Could this be what is keeping the plugin from working? Should I upgrade to PHP5?

Thanks for everyones help. You guys are great here.

Andrew

Yeah your issues are most likely caused because your not running at least PHP 5, I had to put PHP 5 as a requirement because I wanted well at the time had to use the PHP 5 function known as simplexml_load_file() which just returns an XML file as an object.

You see for some reason the PHP 4 eqivelent of that function was not catching some required elements inside of the XML file.

On my hosting accounts I can run both PHP 4 and 5 at the same time so it was just a lot easier to use the PHP 5 function, thats the only thing which is stoping it from being avail in all out PHP 4.

The location of this single PHP 5 function is inside of the addVideo.php and the automate.php file if you can get the PHP 4 XML parser to get the required elements then it will work fine for you all not using PHP 5.

It can be done but again it was just 10 times easier to use 1 line of code over 10 lines of code.

As a side note PHP 4 is really old but its stable, PHP 5 was considered half-assed stable but I've programmed in PHP 5 lots and never had an issue so I don't know what all the fuss was about.

Anyway PHP 6 seems to be better and should be released soon enough.

I've also got a few more things in the works to clean this up and I'll show you how to make some cash flow with it as the time goes on but I'm not fully setup to show you more as of yet.

Oh yeah, maybe I should have added my host is running PHP 5.2.6 and I'm running WP 2.6. The host also mentioned that they have allow_url_fopen disabled. Is this how the videos are fetched from the API?

As for you the plug should work fine if they enable allow_url_fopen because it does use some functions which requires this to be enabled.

Most hosts should have it enabled by default, if you have access to your php.ini file you can enable it on your own, I'm not sure why they would have it disabled, tell them to enable it and get with the program.

 

[argh01]

one more reason for me to hate the one and one piece of shit.

Thanks, Aequitas. This looks great. I can't wait to get this particular site off this cheap-assed hosting service.

(no cron for my level of service and I think I have the same "no allow_url_fopen" issue as this_guy)

 

[this_guy]

As for you the plug should work fine if they enable allow_url_fopen because it does use some functions which requires this to be enabled.

Most hosts should have it enabled by default, if you have access to your php.ini file you can enable it on your own, I'm not sure why they would have it disabled, tell them to enable it and get with the program.

The host told me that they have allow_url_fopen disabled for security reasons. Bah..

By the way, I'm really excited about the possibilities with this plug-in. I'm looking forward to the new features you're mentioning. Thanks for all the effort brother man

 

[subigo]

I just found this thread after looking at yesterday's tickets... zensix does have allow_url_fopen disabled on the server and up until recently is was a banned function for personal settings as well...

But, if you really want to risk it you can enable it with a php.ini file, just make sure you understand the risks and know what a php.ini is...

We try to follow the php security consortium's recommendations when it comes to functions and they say keep it disabled: PHP Security Consortium: PHPSecInfo Test Details - allow_url_fopen

If you'd like to see why it's a risk just read this thread or google "allow_url_fopen disabled".

And not only is the function going to be disabled in version 5.5.5, from what I understand it's going to be removed completely from php6. All the more reason to use cURL instead.

/I can't promise allow_url_fopen will be allowed on a personal level forever, I'd rather it be disabled than get tickets from angry customers wondering why their site redirects to a phishing site...

 

[this_guy]

Thanks for the follow up and insight subigo. Aequitas, since you know this thing the best, would it be too much trouble to update the plug-in using the cURL function instead so more people can utilize it?

 

[Aequitas]

I just found this thread after looking at yesterday's tickets... zensix does have allow_url_fopen disabled on the server and up until recently is was a banned function for personal settings as well...

But, if you really want to risk it you can enable it with a php.ini file, just make sure you understand the risks and know what a php.ini is...

We try to follow the php security consortium's recommendations when it comes to functions and they say keep it disabled: PHP Security Consortium: PHPSecInfo Test Details - allow_url_fopen

If you'd like to see why it's a risk just read this thread or google "allow_url_fopen disabled".

And not only is the function going to be disabled in version 5.5.5, from what I understand it's going to be removed completely from php6. All the more reason to use cURL instead.

/I can't promise allow_url_fopen will be allowed on a personal level forever, I'd rather it be disabled than get tickets from angry customers wondering why their site redirects to a phishing site...

Yeah I understand why hosting providers disable it, and they have good reasons too but its still a bitch sometimes to program shit when they disable certain things like this haha.

Thanks for the follow up and insight subigo. Aequitas, since you know this thing the best, would it be too much trouble to update the plug-in using the cURL function instead so more people can utilize it?

It would be pretty easy to update it to use the cURL functions a few lines here and there it wouldn't take long however by doing so a lot of others (More then the ones who can't use enable fopen) would have the same issues.

Depending upon there hosting providers setup I find a lot more hosts restrict cURL for there versions of PHP.

This is why I spend a little more cash each year to get both of them with my provider, my main provider (Used for mainly whitehat sites) is the GoDaddy economy (middle) linux hosting plan for $80 a year. That gives you access to both PHP 4 & 5, and a shit load of storage space, plus you can use cURL and have access to your php.ini to set some additional shit.

It would be nice if they gave me additional access to the http.config file but they restrict access on a shared hosting account to that file for security issues as well.

Anyway once I do some updates on it I'll do what I can to determine if the user has fopen disabled and try to use cURL instead and if that fails well then there definately out of luck and need to switch providers.

 

[Aequitas]

A new post for a new bug that I noticed which is a bigger one you should be aware of.

It looks like I forgot to verify if a link is unique or not, you see some videos have the same titles and I was using the titles for the URL link when using the permalink structure /%postname%/

What happens is there may be 2 or 5 or however many posts all with the same URL structure, which means when you go to that post you will see not only 1 post then the comments but you will see 2 posts, 1 with the video and its comments then below that the other video with its comments and so on.

I'll fix this up when I've got some time.

 

[ajnnadeau]

Aequitas,

Thanks for your help. I was able to get my server setup with PHP4 as the default, but with the ability to run PHP5 and this fixed the problems I was having. The script is currently working like a charm and I have it firing on a cron.

I did run into the problem you mentioned above with posts having the same titles, so I am looking forward to your fix.

I am going to be playing to with the script tonight and I will let you know if I find any bugs or features that can be added to improve the script.

Great job and thanks again for offering this up for free,
Andrew

 

[radio]

Using this to add unique content to a few sites. Pump the posts into the category 'video' and then run a new query on the homepage to display them in the sidebar - it doesn't clog up my 'articles' category as I run a separate query for those. Absolutely loving it!


Add this to your sidebar or a exec-php enabled text widget

<ul>
<?php $my_query = new WP_Query('category_name=video&showposts=20'); ?>

<?php while ($my_query->have_posts()) : $my_query->the_post(); ?>
<li><a href="<?php the_permalink() ?>" rel="bookmark" class="title"><?php 
 the_title(); ?></a></li>
<?php endwhile; ?>
</ul>

 

[glowleaf]

I can make use of that trick too. Thank you radio.

 

[ajnnadeau]

Aequitas, any new updates? Get the same title problem fixed?

I also have a couple questions and a couple suggestions to improve the plugin...

Question #1: When a post is made either automatically or manually does it activate the built-in pinger in WordPress?

Suggestion #1: When automatically posting, grab the description in YouTube to add a little content to the post.

Suggestion #2: Make the video image on index.php a link to the blog post with the YouTube embedded video.

Suggestion #3: When manually added a video be able to either use the YouTube title or write your own blog post title.

I am still playing around with the plugin and am lovin' it. I think it has a lot of potential. Thanks again for this contribution.

Andrew

 

[Aequitas]

Aequitas, any new updates?

For updates the answer is yes I've made major progress this past week and no because you guys won't like what I'm about to do next because of the amount of updates I did.

See I'm still sticking by my original thoughts on this when saying the WickedFire community will get it for free where everyone else will pay for it, however I said fuck it lets build another commercial software product out of this.

That means that if you like this version your going to absolutely love the next one, however the real big downfall is that I'm not going to provide you with the source code for the commercial version.

Again I'm not going to make anyone here pay for it, I'll hook you all up with copies and a decent amount of licenses to use it as much as you like but again if your looking to tweak/edit/change the source code on the Commercial version its not going to happen anytime soon.

So the choice is this - if you like to program and change shit on your own then use the open source one, if you can't program but still want to use it then thats fine use the commercial version (As long as your a WickedFire member you'll get it for free). Although if lots of 1 post wonders ask me for it I may very well say go fuck yourself.

I provide it for free to WickedFire members because they make WickedFire a great place, 1 hit wonders don't do shit for the community so why should they get the benefits, unless they can prove they are worthy.

Get the same title problem fixed?

Yes this is all fixed up.

Question #1: When a post is made either automatically or manually does it activate the built-in pinger in WordPress?

In your version the answer is no, in the new commercial version I just mentioned the answer is yes.

Suggestion #1: When automatically posting, grab the description in YouTube to add a little content to the post.

I considered this in the version I'm working on now and haven't fully decided which way to go with this one. I might make an option in the settings somewhere that says if you want to use the description then it will be added to the post, if you don't then it won't be added to the post.

Suggestion #2: Make the video image on index.php a link to the blog post with the YouTube embedded video.

I actually took this functionality out for right now, however before I give up the next one I will most likely put it back in with various option in order to say make the image clickable, only effect the videos added with the plugin, ect...

Suggestion #3: When manually added a video be able to either use the YouTube title or write your own blog post title.

In the next (commercial) version this functionality has already been placed in.

I am still playing around with the plugin and am lovin' it. I think it has a lot of potential. Thanks again for this contribution.

Andrew

Trust me the one you have I consider a shit version, the next one (Just for a teaser) will enable you to get videos from sources other then just YouTube, I've created a better automation system, took out most of the AJAX to make it more stable, & added in a few cool Social Aspects which will work not only with the videos you add using the plugin but the Social Aspects will work with posts you create without using the plug to add videos.

There will also be much more flexability in the way you do things, might even put in some player settings this time around (Set video sizes, colors, ect...).

As for a timeframe hoping to give it to the community around Monday December 8th.

 

[radio]

you are the shit!

 

[this_guy]

I can't wait. Thanks Aequitas!!

 

[BluuueJammm]

Hehe, awesome, I've been using the current version for a few days now and it rocks. A couple of things I think would improve it. 1. Tags, grab these from Youtube and use them in Wordpress. 2. Have a set of the videos that you search on like it is now, but instead of posting a video for each one, make it pick one random video and post that. aside from the stuff mentioned elsewhere thats about all I can think of.

 

[glowleaf]

Aequitas, you rock. Pure and simple. And since the 2nd version will have so many features, it is fair to set a price for your work.
But you are giving it for free on Wickedfire! Unbelievable. When you finish it and we all sort out the quirks together, set up a sales page or something so we can send people your way. You deserve it.

I agree with bluejam on the tags, if it is possible it will be great.

 

[Jsmith]

Nice. I've been using it on a few sites and it works great. You deserve to profit on this plugin for sure. I'm sure you'll have a ton of success with the release.

 

[Aequitas]

When you finish it and we all sort out the quirks together, set up a sales page or something so we can send people your way. You deserve it.

I agree with bluejam on the tags, if it is possible it will be great.

I've got something just as good in mind for the people buying it.

I'm thinking of a type of resellers program, you see the plug will be built so its very stable, each purchase will enable the buyer to activate the plug on 5 or 10 domains before they have to re-purchase a license.

Not at first but eventually down the road I'll give the option to buy unlimited licenses and maybe include the source as well.

Anyway back to the re-sellers idea, I figure why not encourage people to try and sell the plug along with me, for instance, if you have your own niche and you think you can sell it to your existing traffic/customer base, buy it from me, find your customer, up your price and pocket the difference.

Here is the real kicker though, I'll set a standard price on my main sales pitch page and from there I'll set up an option to join the re-sellers program, which when you first join you won't get any discounts, however each time you buy or maybe after 3 or 5 buys I'll increase your discounts, so the more you buy the cheaper it'll get.

The ones who are successful with selling it will get the cheapest price, even cheaper then what it will be on my main sales page, the ones who do average sales will also get it quite a bit cheaper.

Its like an open-ended affiliate program almost, I don't have to tell all buyers they are not allowed to give it away or sell it, I can encourage them to sell it because if they sell 10 copies, well thats sales for me as well cause they will need more copies.

Anyway not 100% sure how I'll do anything (Money Wise) I might only just put up a 1 page pitch we will see how it goes for now.

As for the importing the tags from the video I'll include an option for that as well.

 

[ajnnadeau]

Aequitas...you are the man. Thanks for the thorough response and I can't wait to see the next version. I also have a customer base that will be interested in this plugin, so I will probably be able to push a few sales your way.

 

[shortattract]

The first version sounds like too much work - I'd happily pay for a badass plugin that isn't hard to use. Once you have a real estimation of when it will be released do a presale - im In!