WPwatercooler: Dev Branch - Monthly WordPress Web Development Talk Show WPwatercooler Network

On this episode of WPwatercooler titled “Lies, Damned Lies, and Analytics,” the discussion revolves around the complexities and alternatives to using web analytics tools for website management. The hosts, Jason Tucker and Jason Cosper, delve into the fallout from changes to Jetpack stats, prompting users to consider paying for previously free services. They explore the importance of understanding web traffic and analytics beyond traditional tools like Google Analytics, emphasizing performance, privacy, and the need for lightweight alternatives. The episode is informative for those looking to navigate the evolving landscape of web analytics with a focus on WordPress platforms.
Snow Notes: https://wpwatercooler.com/wpwatercooler/ep481-lies-damned-lies-and-analytics/
Links Koko Analytics Umami Fathom Plausible Also on: YouTube LinkedIn Panel Jason Cosper  Jason Tucker

This month on Dev Branch we will be discussing our approach to spring cleaning, digitally. We explore the world of digital spring cleaning to consolidate and secure digital assets for improved WordPress site management. Dive into the benefits of domain and hosting consolidation, SSL certificate management tools, and the efficient monitoring capabilities of Uptime Kuma. Learn how centralizing website updates and streamlining monitoring can enhance security, manageability, and cost-effectiveness.
Uptime Kuma (Pikapods) (Yunohost) Pikapods Uptime Robot Simply Static Plugin WP2Static Panel:
Jason Tucker Jason Cosper Sites:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1888308011615987 https://www.linkedin.com/events/7181856349545193472/comments/ https://wpwatercooler.com/devbranch/ep36-digital-spring-cleaning/ Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to DevBranch Digital Spring Cleaning! 00:52 The Fun of Discord Communities 01:47 Domain Dilemmas and Spring Cleaning Strategies 02:40 The SSL Certificate Juggle 03:40 Finding the Right Tools for Digital Management 05:41 The Journey to Static Sites 10:44 Consolidating Digital Assets and Web Hosts 13:59 Domain Name Consolidation: A Necessity? 21:36 The Shared Hosting Experience 24:52 The Perils of Neglected Shared Hosting 26:23 Discovering a Hacked Account 26:45 The Journey of Account Cleanup 27:53 Spring Cleaning Turns into Mitigation 28:42 Exploring Old Installs and Security Measures 31:44 The Power of WordPress for Content Management 36:02 Leveraging Uptime Kuma for SSL and Domain Monitoring 41:01 Consolidation and Management of Digital Assets 43:38 The Importance of Regular Maintenance and Updates 45:24 Utilizing Tools for Efficient Site Management 52:40 Wrapping Up: The Value of Community and Engagement What is WPwatercooler?
WPwatercooler is streamed live and recorded as the self-titled show on the WPwatercooler Network. Our objective with the show since the beginning has been to help people in this industry have a place to hear people, much like themselves, talk about the technologies and methods we all use on a daily basis. We named WPwatercooler to be that, the watercooler that WordPress folks can gather around and participate in the conversation, or just sit back and learn from the discussion. Our listeners and contributors come from all walks of life and all backgrounds. We strive to make this place as welcoming and accessible as we can.
Learn more at https://www.wpwatercooler.com/wpwatercooler
What is Dev Branch?
Dev Branch is streamed live and recorded monthly on the first friday of the month as the developer-focused discussions of the WPwatercooler Network. Dev Branch is released on its own podcast feed and made available live and on-demand in video format on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitch. 
Learn more at https://www.wpwatercooler.com/devbranch

This week on WPwatercooler’s Dev Branch, we’re diving into a hot topic that’s buzzing in the WordPress community: GPTs and their role in programming for WordPress. It’s not just about what these powerful tools can do; it’s about how we, as developers and creators, use them.
Should we lean on GPTs to craft code for our plugins and themes? And when things get tricky, is it fair to ask for a helping hand in forums for code that a machine helped write? Plus, we’re curious – how’s everyone finding debugging when GPT’s involved? Has it been smooth sailing, or are we navigating through a storm?
Join us as we explore these questions and share stories from the trenches of WordPress development. It’s all about learning from each other and figuring out the best path forward in this rapidly evolving landscape.
 
Show Notes can be found: https://wpwatercooler.com/devbranch/ep35-gpts-gone-wild/
Panel: Jason Tucker, Sé Reed, Jason Cosper
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction with Jason Tucker 00:27 - Welcoming Sé Reed and Jason Cosper 01:04 - Discussion on Spotify and data monetization 02:20 - The theme of the episode: AI in the machine 03:24 - The post that sparked the episode discussion 06:12 - The challenge of debugging code written with ChatGPT 07:19 - Discussing the implications of AI-generated code and its impact on forums and debugging 10:01 - The potential misuse of AI in generating code and the role of developers 14:26 - PHP version support and security implications 18:10 - Exploring the practical uses of GPT and AI in development and systems administration 22:14 - The idea of integrating AI with WPCLI for WordPress administration 26:05 - Reflecting on the evolution of GPT's capabilities and the concept of "poison data" 33:37 - The potential for AI to impact the WordPress community and plugin ecosystem 37:50 - Ethical considerations and the potential for misuse of AI in development 41:39 - Closing thoughts on AI's role in technology and community engagement 43:44 - Wrap-up and invitation to join the Discord community  
What is WPwatercooler?
WPwatercooler is streamed live and recorded as the self-titled show on the WPwatercooler Network. Our objective with the show since the beginning has been to help people in this industry have a place to hear people, much like themselves, talk about the technologies and methods we all use on a daily basis. We named WPwatercooler to be that, the watercooler that WordPress folks can gather around and participate in the conversation, or just sit back and learn from the discussion. Our listeners and contributors come from all walks of life and all backgrounds. We strive to make this place as welcoming and accessible as we can. Learn more at https://www.wpwatercooler.com/wpwatercooler
What is Dev Branch?
Dev Branch is streamed live and recorded monthly on the first Friday of the month as the developer-focused discussions of the WPwatercooler Network. Dev Branch is released on its own podcast feed and made available live and on-demand in video format on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitch. Learn more at https://www.wpwatercooler.com/devbranch
Want to create live streams like this?
Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5756954563575808
#wordpress #webdev #wordpressdeveloper

On this episode of WPwatercooler Jason Tucker, Sé Reed, Jason Cosper, and guest Mika Epstein delve into the complex world of software piracy within the WordPress ecosystem. The discussion begins with an introduction of the hosts and quickly moves into the nuances of what constitutes software piracy, how it impacts the WordPress community, and the moral and legal implications of using pirated software. The hosts share personal anecdotes and insights on the prevalence of pirated plugins and themes, the risks associated with their use, including security vulnerabilities and legal repercussions, and the broader conversation about open-source ethics and the value of supporting developers and creators within the ecosystem. The episode offers a balanced perspective, highlighting both the temptations and pitfalls of piracy and encourages listeners to consider the long-term health of the WordPress community by supporting legitimate sources and practices.
 Panel:
Jason Tucker Sé Reed Jason Cosper Mika Epstein Show Notes can be found:
https://wpwatercooler.com/wpwatercooler/ep476-free-as-in-piracy/
Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:17 Meet the Hosts 01:00 The Definition of Software Piracy 05:30 Impacts of Piracy on WordPress 10:45 Personal Insights on Piracy 15:00 The Risks of Using Pirated Software 20:30 Legal and Ethical Considerations 25:45 Supporting the WordPress Community 30:00 Conclusion Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5756954563575808
 
 

On this episode of Dev Branch, titled "Zip It: How Devs Gatekeep the Internet," Jason Tucker, Jason Cosper, and Sé Reed delve into the complex issues surrounding development practices, including the unintended consequences of updates and the broader implications of developer decisions on the WordPress community. They discuss a recent bug in WordPress 6.4.3 related to how macOS and some Linux distributions' zip files are handled, highlighting the challenges of maintaining compatibility and the debates within the developer community about standards, practices, and the ethos of the WordPress project. The episode also touches on the broader tech industry's layoffs and the societal impacts of technological advancements, advocating for a more inclusive and supportive approach towards both development and community engagement.
Links https://bakoburrito.org/#donate https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/60398  
Show Notes can be found: https://wpwatercooler.com/devbranch/ep34-zip-it-how-devs-gatekeep-the-internet/
Panel: Jason Tucker, Jason Cosper, Sé Reed
Related Episodes:
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction 00:38 Celebrating Jason Cosper's Birthday 02:16 Supporting Bakersfield Burrito Project 03:58 The Tech Industry's Layoffs and Impact 06:12 Gatekeeping in Development Decisions 08:22 macOS Zip File Bug in WordPress 6.4.3 10:51 Developer Debates on Fixing Bugs vs. Standards 14:32 The Importance of Supporting Community and Inclusivity 22:05 How Gatekeeping Affects WordPress Users 29:19 The Role of Hosting Companies in Supporting WordPress Users 36:03 Workaround Plugins and Technical Debt 39:05 Appreciating Responsive and Respectful Developers 43:11 Closing Thoughts What is WPwatercooler? WPwatercooler is streamed live and recorded as the self-titled show on the WPwatercooler Network. Our objective with the show since the beginning has been to help people in this industry have a place to hear people, much like themselves, talk about the technologies and methods we all use on a daily basis. We named WPwatercooler to be that, the watercooler that WordPress folks can gather around and participate in the conversation, or just sit back and learn from the discussion. Our listeners and contributors come from all walks of life and all backgrounds. We strive to make this place as welcoming and accessible as we can. Learn more at https://www.wpwatercooler.com/wpwatercooler
What is Dev Branch? Dev Branch is streamed live and recorded monthly on the first friday of the month as the developer-focused discussions of the WPwatercooler Network. Dev Branch is released on its own podcast feed and made available live and on-demand in video format on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitch. Learn more at https://www.wpwatercooler.com/devbranch
Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5756954563575808
 

On this episode of Dev Branch, titled “EP33 – Our 2024 Predictions,” the panel, including Jason Tucker, Sé Reed, and Jason Cosper, delve into their predictions and expectations for WordPress in 2024. The discussion kicks off with a focus on WordPress’s development and the potential improvements and changes anticipated in the upcoming year. They explore topics such as the implementation of automatic update rollbacks in WordPress, the challenges with the current release schedule, and the desire for fewer, more impactful updates.
Show Notes:
https://wpwatercooler.com/devbranch/ep33-our-2024-predictions/
A significant part of the conversation revolves around the Fonts API, particularly the integration of custom fonts in WordPress and the possibility of a WordPress-specific font library. This ties into a broader discussion about WordPress’s evolution towards a more modular and customizable platform, catering to diverse user needs.
Another major theme is the user experience within the WordPress admin interface. The panel discusses the complexities of user role management and the need for a more streamlined, intuitive approach to handling different user roles and capabilities, especially as WordPress continues to grow and evolve.
Lastly, the episode touches on the rise of AI-generated plugins and the potential impact on the WordPress ecosystem. The team speculates on how this trend could lead to a proliferation of similar plugins, making the case for integrating more fundamental functionalities into the WordPress core.
In summary, the episode provides insightful predictions and desires for WordPress in 2024, focusing on development improvements, user experience, and the impact of emerging technologies like AI on the platform.
Chapters: 0:00:00 – Introduction
0:01:50 – Discussing WordPress Development and Automatic Update Rollbacks
0:03:10 – The Fonts API and Custom Fonts in WordPress
0:06:59 – User Experience and Admin Interface in WordPress
0:10:03 – AI and Its Impact on WordPress Plugin Ecosystem
0:15:02 – Modularization and Customization of WordPress
0:20:19 – The Complexity of User Role Management in WordPress
0:25:58 – Potential Changes and Improvements in WordPress Core
0:30:07 – Predictions for WordPress Development in 2024
0:35:10 – The Rise of AI-Generated Plugins
0:40:03 – Closing Remarks and Episode Wrap-up
Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5756954563575808