Maintenance release 3 for the 2.1 series is almost ready, some final fixes and checks are being made. Tom, once again had some significant input on this version. The administrative interface was tweaked a little, plus some fixes were made to the core class. There is a new look for the administrative interface, but its introduction may wait until 2.2 (the code for it will be there, just one line will be commented out to prevent it from running, adventurous users can uncomment that line if they wish). Speaking of which, 2.2 is going to have significant changes, some of which have already been set in motion.
The “API” for Breadcrumb NavXT is changing in 2.2, the existing functions for backward compatibility will not exist in 2.2. Additionally, in 2.2 some redundant options will be removed. This is for better integration into WordPress. Internally, many things will be changing for 2.2 as more of an object oriented approach in implemented. Realistically speaking, this is just a natural evolution of the breadcrumb class, which was set in motion back in 2.0.
In August of this year PHP4 will reach its end of life. Even though WordPress may continue to support PHP4, we will not. Most webhosts have PHP5 available for their customers, if PHP5 is not enabled on your site yet ask your webhost how to enable it. After August 8, 2008 the official solution to any problem experience in a PHP4 environment is to switch to PHP5 and retest. This may sound arrogant, but it is time for PHP4 to go the way of PHP3 and the dodo.
-John Havlik
[end of transmission, stay tuned]
Hi there John!
A question on Breacrumb NavXT; can it do breadcrumbs like the ones in use by Mark Pilgrim on his site (example, http://diveintomark.org/archives/2008/06/20/four-boxes, notice the link to the archives, that goes to the day where the post was made)? If so, how?
Thanks!
David,
Currently, with the 2.1 branch, the breadcrumb trail only works with taxonomies of the post (categories (default) or tags). The way he’s doing things with his breadcrumb trail does not follow some usability guidelines for them, though since he’s not using either of the two primary taxonomies it works out for him. Breadcrumb trails are supposed to display the logical trail followed to get to a particular post, most of the time this would be a category hierarchy. Categories link the post and relatives by content, not date of publication, which is 9 time out 0f 10 more relevant and from a usability standpoint better. The soonest anything like that could be included into the core would be 2.2.
-John Havlik