Buddypress refers to a group of WordPress MU specific plugins. Each plugin provides a different functionality. Though it has all the features that are associated with WordPress, it enables social networking. Since its modules can function independently, this means you can choose the features you want to. Buddypress also has a core plugin required by other plugins. It enables sharing of functions and helps to make functional changes to the WordPress MU interface.
Features
One of the best features of Buddypress is private messaging. This works like internal site email. Members can message people on their blog network as well as forward and respond to received messages. Through the administrative section, you can send messages to multiple friends as well as to people throughout the network.
Members of a Buddypress network can easily interact with one another as on popular networking sites, by adding a particular person as a friend. Each member can view a list of ‘friends’ and you have the option of making certain posts private.
To allow members to post on a particular content, Buddypress has a section called Wire. This can also be used by members to leave messages on a particular person’s profile. Moreover, you can check out what others are doing on Buddypress, since every activity is recorded. What are the activities within Buddypress? Wire posts, Blog comments, blog posts and more.
The package of plugins also offers status updates for each member logged on. The blog functionality of Buddypress means that one can conveniently find blogs by another member or read the comments on his own.
Finally, installing Buddypress enables one to create and share photo albums. If you are convinced about its features, here’s how to install the set of plugins.
Bloggers just love its multi-user functionality while posting content.
Installation
WordPress MU can be installed just like WordPress. A word of advice – do not edit the name of the wp-config-sample.php file. Doing this will result in a blank page being displayed at your site. The name will be changed during the setup process.
The first step is to download the installation package at http://buddypress.org/download. This will guide you to the most recent release of the plugin package. After separating the components from the ZIP file, transfer these to a directory on your computer.
To install the components, upload all the component directories and files to the wp-content/mu-plugins folder. Go to the Buddypress-theme folder. You will see two folders inside: Buddypress-member and Buddypress-home. Click on the wp-content/themes directory of the installation. Remove the home folder from your server and upload the two directories to the themes folder.
Go to your WordPress MU admin panel. Provided you have copied all of the plugin files and directories to the correct location, you will see sections under Site Admin titled Buddypress, Profile Fields, etc.
Finally, you need to activate the Buddypress Home Theme on your site. Select the Themes option from Site Admin panel and activate the Buddypress Home Theme. Now go to Design option under Themes and click on Buddypress Home Theme to activate it for your site. If you have done all this right, you will be able to see the new theme through your site URL.
