If you have not heard about the unauthorized SVN commits to the WordPress.org plugin repository for the plugins AddThis, WPTouch, and W3 Total Cache, you may want to read the post on the WordPress.org blog first. This event has prompted a WordPress.org password reset for all registered users. While these are three high profile examples that happened in the last 48 hours, a similar incident happened back in February.
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New Box Build
Originally, this year was the year to get a new laptop or a tablet (ASUS Eeepad Transformer). However, due to another rash of BSoD’s and memory issues with the desktop, and a real lack of laptops worth buying (more on this later) it was time to replace the desktop. Part of me really wanted to push this off until AMD’s Bulldozer launched this summer, but I needed a stable desktop.
Truth be told, this wasn’t a fully new build. I only updated the following components:
- CPU: C2D E8500 => i7 2600K
- Memory: DDR2 800 4GiB XMS2 with DHX => DDR3 1600 8GiB Vengeance
- Motherboard: DQ35JO => GA-Z68X-UD3P-B3
- SSD: 80GB x-25m G1 => 120GB Intel 320
Is it fast? Of course. The processor and memory upgrade is the most noticeable, especially for tasks such as video trans-coding. However, the transition from the x-25m to the 320 was not a big upgrade. Under load, the system runs significantly cooler than the old C2D based system. Part of this may be due to replacing the front exhaust fan (the PC-A05NB vents to the front) with a PWM controlled one that can move much more air if needed.
Overall, I’m enjoying this new build, and can once again rely on my desktop for important tasks such as programming.
-John Havlik
[end of transmission, stay tuned]
Breadcrumb NavXT 3.9.0
Holy custom post type archives batman! With Breadcrumb NavXT 3.9.0 comes native support for the custom post type archives introduced in WordPress 3.1. Due to this, Breadcrumb NavXT 3.9.0 requires WordPress 3.1.0 or newer.
In addition to native support for custom post type archives, 3.9.0 brings several bug fixes and tweaks. Namely, fixes involving the handling of incomplete installs, and incompatible environments. Finally, a bug involving the Blog breadcrumb not behaving correctly on archives (taxonomy, date, etc.) has been squashed.
This release did not contain any translation string changes. However, for 4.0 there will be a purge of incomplete and old translations. The following translations have not been updated by their authors in a long time:
- Dutch
- Russian
- German
- Indonesian
- Italian
These translations that will not be not be included in 4.0, unless they are updated. If you are fluent in any of these languages and wish to update these translations, please get in contact with me.
You can grab the latest version of Breadcrumb NavXT from the Breadcrumb NavXT page. If you experience any issues with this version of Breadcrumb NavXT, please leave a comment on this post detailing the issue. Support for defects (bugs) is no longer provided in the Breadcrumb NavXT page, in the documentation page, or in the FAQ page.
-John Havlik
[end of transmission, stay tuned]
Breadcrumb NavXT 3.9.0 Preview
What will most likely be Breadcrumb NavXT 3.9.0 is feature complete. The singular new feature, support for custom post type archives, has been implemented. Just a little tidying up of loose ends is needed before sending it off for translation. The actual release date is tentatively this upcoming Monday.
Note that this release is not synchronized with the SVN trunk (and why I’m trying to get it out and done quickly). Work towards 4.0 is already reflected in the SVN trunk version, and it is significantly different from 3.9.x.
Grab the Breadcrumb NavXT SVN 3.9.x Branch version to try out 3.9.0 before it is released.
-John Havlik
[end of transmission, stay tuned]
Use an Icon/Image for the Home Breadcrumb
This is a really easy one. However, as I’ve been asked about it several times in the past few weeks, I’m going to post about it.
One way of using an image rather than just text for the home breadcrumb was covered in the Vista-Like Breadcrumbs for WordPress article back in 2009. However, that guide is more or less an advanced topic, and directly accesses the bcn_breadcrumb_trail class, something that is currently not recommended.
Since at least Breadcrumb NavXT 3.0, the settings page allows you to use valid HTML in some fields. In the future this will be more obvious due to settings page tweaks as it is not exactly obvious that this is possible. There are really only three steps to changing from text to an image for the home breadcrumb:
- Go to the Breadcrumb NavXT settings page (under Settings > Breadcrumb NavXT).
- On the “General” tab, look for the “Home Template” option.
- Replace the text value of the “Home Template” option with the valid HTML for your image. e.g.
<img src="http://YOUR_URL/YOUR_HOME_IMAGE" alt="Home"/>where YOUR_URL is the URL for your website, and YOUR_HOME_IMAGE is the name of the image, including file extension.
That’s it, and it also works for the “Blog Breadcrumb” and “Mainsite Breadcrumb” in setups that have these breadcrumb types.
-John Havlik
[end of transmission, stay tuned]