Wordpress

WordPress is an open source Content Management System (CMS), often used as a blog publishing application, powered by PHP and MySQL. It has many features including a plug-in architecture and a template system. Used by over 13% of the 1,000,000 biggest websites, WordPress is the most popular CMS in use today.

Features
WordPress has a web template system using a template processor. Users can re-arrange widgets without editing PHP or HTML code; they can also install and switch between themes. The PHP and HTML code in themes can also be edited for more advanced customizations. WordPress also features integrated link management; a search engine-friendly, clean permalink structure; the ability to assign nested, multiple categories to articles; and support for tagging of posts and articles. Automatic filters are also included, providing standardized formatting and styling of text in articles (for example, converting regular quotes to smart quotes). WordPress also supports the Trackback and Pingback standards for displaying links to other sites that have themselves linked to a post or article. Finally, WordPress has a rich plugin architecture which allows users and developers to extend its functionality beyond the features that come as part of the base install. Native applications exist for Android, iPhone/iPod Touch, and BlackBerry which provide access to some of the features in the WordPress Admin panel and work with WordPress.com and many WordPress.org blogs.

Deployment
WordPress can be deployed using various methods on a hosting environment. Users have the option to download the current version of WordPress from WordPress.org. From there, they can upload the source code and its dependencies to their hosting environment.
WordPress can also be installed via package management system or deploying a ready-to-use TurnKey WordPress appliance, which does not require any manual setup or configuration. WordPress can also be installed via the Microsoft Web Platform Installer which installs WordPress on Windows and IIS. The Web PI will automatically detect any missing dependencies such as PHP or MySQL then install and configure them before installing WordPress.

A lot of web hosting firms offer one-click script auto installer program such as Fantastico in their packages. Users can simply install WordPress through such program.
Advanced users have the option to have WordPress downloaded to their server and consistently updated using SVN. This will allow users to remain updated easily.

Free hosting services such as WordPress.com offer users an easy way to deploy a WordPress blog on-line without having to install WordPress on their own web server. A subdomain account (e.g. yourname.wordpress.com) will be created upon the sign up of free hosting service. Many shared web hosting services also offer automated WordPress installation through their control panel.

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