About
BuddyPress will extend WordPress MU and bring social networking features to a new or existing installation.
BuddyPress is essentially a set of WordPress MU specific plugins. Each plugin component adds a distinct feature to BuddyPress and only handles functionality for that specific component (for example, private messaging). BuddyPress also has a core plugin that all other plugins require, it contains shared functions and performs the basic modifications to the WordPress MU interface.
Each BuddyPress component is independent. This means you can pick and choose which features you’d like.
It also means BuddyPress can be used in two different ways. You could use BuddyPress to create a complete social network from scratch, or you could use it to add desirable features to your existing blog network.
Below is an description of each BuddyPress component along with some screenshots. This should give a good overview on the functionality each individual component provides.
Extended Profiles Top ↑
The extended profile component allows site admins to create specific profile fields for site members to fill in.
The type of field can be set (such as text box, date selector, radio buttons etc) and profile fields can then be grouped.
When BuddyPress is first installed, a “Basic” group is created with “First Name”, “Last Name” and a profile picture upload option. These fields cannot be modified or removed as they make up the base of a member’s profile. The site admin can add fields to this Basic group. Any fields that are in this group will appear on the signup page when a member registers. By doing this, new members can partially fill in their profile and be ready to go upon first login.
For each new profile field group created by the site admin, a new sub tab is added to each members administration area. Within each sub tab a fillable form is rendered so that members can update or add their information even after they have registered.
Private Messaging Top ↑
BuddyPress private messaging works like internal site email. Members can message people on their friends list as well as forward and reply to received messages.
Each member will have their own individual Inbox, Sentbox, and Drafts folder. They will be notified of new messages by a new message count as well as email notifications if enabled.
Private messaging utilizes the TinyMCE editor built into WordPress so that HTML formatted messages can be sent.
Sending of messages to multiple friends, as well as site wide messages by an administrator are also possible.
Friends Top ↑
Members of a BuddyPress enabled installation can be connected together by one member adding another as a “friend” and then the other member accepting the friendship request.
Each member will have a visible list of their friends on the site. Friends lists are browsable and members can click on each friend to see more information or add them as their own friend. Profiles are NOT restricted as a whole. Alternatively members can select which information is visible to the general public in finer detail in much the same way your blog is open, but you can make some posts private.
The ability to search for members by username, email or full name will also be included in a “friend finder”.
Groups Top ↑
Groups in BuddyPress are a gathering of members, blog posts, photos and any other user generated content.
Any member can create a group in BuddyPress. They then become the group administrator giving them heightened privileges within that group.
Every group includes a place for group information, and the latest group news which can be kept up to date my group administrators. Groups also include a group forum (bbPress), wire, and photo gallery. These features can be selectively disabled by group creator.
In a later release of the groups component, members will be able to tag blog posts and other content to a group. Group administrators can then approve or reject content for display on the group page.
The Wire Top ↑
The wire is a place where friends and other members can come along and post messages to a specific piece of content within a BuddyPress installation.
The wire can work for any component within BuddyPress, custom or official. For example, within the official components explained on this page - profile, groups and photo galleries will use the wire component. This allows members to post on other members profiles, leave messages for other group members and comment on a members photo.
Third party components can also make use of the wire and reuse the component to enable comments on their own custom content.
Kudos to the My Journal guys for coming up with the name!
Activity Streams Top ↑
Activity streams aggregate all of your activity across a BuddyPress installation. All of your friends activity is also recorded so you can check what others are doing on the site.
Every component can make use of the activity stream component, which means any sort of activity can be recorded. Wire posts, blogs posts, new friendships and blog comments are among the most popular activities recorded.
Custom components can also hook into the activity streams, meaning any sort of data can be tracked and recorded.
Blogs Top ↑
Allowing multiple blogs and multiple users per blog is a key feature to WordPress MU. BuddyPress preserves this functionality.
The blogs component will aggregate all blogs, blog posts and comments for a member across the entire installation. This means other members can easily find all blogs that a member belongs to or owns, as well as their recent posts and comments.
The blogs component also adds an easy to use screen for creating new blogs built right into the theme.
Status Updates Top ↑
Status updates in BuddyPress will appear on a member’s profile page. A member can update their status as frequently as they want to.
All status updates are logged in a member’s activity stream. Status updates can also be fed into other results such as member search results, member listings and other screens involving the display of members.
Photo Albums Top ↑
Members of a BuddyPress installation will be able to create their own photo albums. These albums can be shared with friends and groups.
Each member is given a certain amount of space, which can be set by the site administrator. Albums and photos can be tagged. It will also be possible to browse public photos via photo tag pages that other members can browse (just as you browse blogs via tags on wordpress.com).
Photos can also be tagged to a group as mentioned previously in the group component overview.
Photos can be uploaded from a members computer, and will be resized accordingly using the built in Wordpress image manipulation functions.