15 helpful WordPress plugins for the savvy user
This article presents 15 WordPress plugins to help enhance and simplify the blogging experience of advanced users, especially web developers and designers. Most of the plugins were tested on a default installation of WordPress version 2.3.1 for basic functionality; relevant screenshots of the plugins in action are included.
What’s a savvy user?
- A blogger with basic to expert knowledge of HTML/CSS, and for a lot of the plugins featured here, PHP and MySQL experience is highly recommended.
- A blogger who needs to display complex content in posts and pages like displaying and colorizing code snipplets, running custom scripts only on certain posts or pages, incorporating custom web forms, etc.
- A blogger who knows what they’re doing - The default configuration of WordPress is too "fool-proof". For example, with the visual editor turned on, it will add unexpected indents and line breaks even inside
<pre>tags. Additionally, it blocks you from adding<div>tags, automatically "sanitizing" them into<p>tags.
If you match any of the above criteria, read on and maybe you’ll find a plugin or two that will make your blogging experience more convenient.
1) Google Syntax Highlighter for WordPress
Google Syntax Highligher for WordPress colorizes your code on-the-fly. It supports most programming/scripting languages such as C++, PHP, Perl, Ruby, and much more. The syntax is simple — just put your code inside <pre> tags and assign them the attributes name="code" and class="thelanguage".
The following code was tested:
<pre name="code" class="javascript">
var myString = "nSync";
if (myString == "Justin Timberlake") {
document.write("You're a winner");
} else {
document.write("There's always celebreality shows");
}
</pre>
This is how it colorizes my code:
You can learn more more ways to customize your highlighted code in the Google code wiki entry on Usage - syntaxhighlighter. Also check out the full list of supported languages on Google Code.
Other code highlighters available are:
WP-Syntax - A plain and simple code highlighter.
WP-CodeBox - also check out the basic usage and demo page
This plugin gives you two awesome <pre> tag attributes: download - which automatically creates a download link for your code snipplet, and colla - which gives you the option to collapse and expand the code block.
CodeHighlighter - It’s almost identical to WP-Syntax.
2) Exec-PHP
Exec-PHP gives you the capability of running PHP code inside certain posts and pages. You can insert PHP code directly into your posts without having to modify your theme files. You can find a more detailed documentation of Exec-PHP on Bluesome.
You have to turn off the visual editor whenever you use Exec-PHP in your posts or pages, It won’t work even in code view.
As a test, I used a WordPress conditional tag to see if it supports them, turns out it does — the conditional tag is is_single()
And this is what it looks like:
3) Save My <pre>
If you use the visual editor, then you’ve probably experienced the frustration of trying to figure out why it messes up your <pre> tags. Code in between
the <pre> tag should preserve the indents, spaces, and linebreaks, but the default visual editor doesn’t uphold this rule.
This is what I wanted my code snipplet to look like (minus the <pre> tags):
This is how WordPress renders it after I save my work from the visual editor.
Using Save my <pre> will prevent the WordPress editor from processing and "cleaning" up the stuff inside <pre> tags.
4) Maintenance Mode
Maintenance Mode just notifies your readers that your blog is undergoing maintenance and is currently unavailable. The message won’t appear if you’re logged in as an administrator, so you can see what your updates look like during maintenance mode.
Here’s the options page for Maintenance Mode:
This is how it looks for users that aren’t logged in or don’t have the proper credentials:
5) WP-DBManager
WP-DBManager gives you an administrative interface to manage, backup, and optimize your WordPress database. It has countless of options for making database management quite effortless. Installing this plugin gives you a new tab in the admin panel, called "Database".
6) Deactivate Visual Editor
If you need to write intricate posts that have code snipplets and/or custom scripts, it’s highly advisable that you turn off the visual editor. But if you find value in the visual editor of WordPress, then you just may want to exclude certain posts and pages from using it. Installing the Deactivate Visual Editor WordPress plugin ensures that nothing gets accidentally screwed up when you edit a post that shouldn’t be edited using the visual editor. To deactivate the visual editor on a post or page, you’ll need to create a custom field called deactivate_visual_editor and set the value to true.
7) Search and Replace
Ever wanted to change a user’s name, email, website URL on old posts? How about correcting references to an old post that no longer exists or whose name has been editted? Search and Replace allows you to do all of this inside of WordPress, through an intuitive admin interface.
Here’s how the admin interface looks like:
For this test, I created a few comments throughout the test installation using the name "myOldName". I then replaced it with "myNewName".
After pressing the "Go" button, search and replace simplifies this database update by not requiring you to run a custom MySQL query (alternatively, use WordPress’ $wpdb database class and PHP-Exec if you prefer to run your own update).
8) WP-DB-Backup
WP-DB-Backup offers a straightforward interface for backing up your WordPress database. It’s an excellent alternative to WP-DBManager if you’re only looking to create a backup. You can save the backup on the server, on your computer, or have it sent to you via email.
9) Tidy Up
Tidy Up cleans your HTML source code and attempts to correct invalid XHTML code. It utilizes WC3’s HTML Tidy conversion tool. If you’re concerned about XHTML validation this plugin can help.
Running the Tidy Up report gives the following output:
10) FormBuilder
FormBuilder is a simple plugin that allows you to create custom forms inside posts and pages.
Setting up a form is a walk in the park:
Here’s how the form looks (unstyled):
Other Notable Plug-ins
11) WP Super Edit
WP Super Edit is an alternative to the default visual WYIWYG editor (TinyMCE). It improves on the default editor by providing advanced users with additional options such as a button for inserting <div> tags in your posts.
12) WP-Debug
WP-Debug lets you see what’s going on when your WordPress web page is rendered. This plugin is vital for efficiently troubleshooting your WordPress installation.
13) Theme Preview
Theme Preview permits you to see how your new WordPress theme looks without having to switch it out. Use it on a demo WordPress site to showcase your theme designs.
14) post2pdf
post2pdf converts your blog posts into PDF format. This is terrific specifically for tutorial writers who want to provide a PDF download option.
15) X-Valid
X-Valid is another popular plugin to help you achieve XHTML validation by cleaning up HTML code.
76 Comments
Brian Moschel
April 3rd, 2008
The syntax highlighter and form builder are definitely getting installed. Syntax highlighting Sucks. If this is halfway decent it’ll make my life a lot easier.
Wassup
April 3rd, 2008
A very useful post and helped me to discover several plugins which I really need to install. Thanks!
Copes Flavio
April 3rd, 2008
A great list, thanks Jacob! Your discussion about the syntax highlighters is very useful.. I need one too :)
Nita K
April 3rd, 2008
You have lots of great plugins on the list. i really like post2pdf. I defnetly try some of these.
Thanks
http://blog.e-webtemplates.com
Jacob Gube
April 3rd, 2008
If you have a great plugin that you’d like to share with the rest of us, please drop the link to it here. I’ll test them out and either write a “readers’ choice” follow up or create a list later on down the comments section with some screenshots.
Matt
April 3rd, 2008
Nice list!
Russell Heimlich
April 3rd, 2008
Awesome list! I really like that DB_Manager one. I wrote up a list of my favorite Wordpress plugins with screenshots on my blog here -> http://www.russellheimlich.com/blog/my-favorite-wordpress-plugins-important-ones/
Andrew
April 3rd, 2008
Pretty cool stuff - what about the wordpress plug-in, PodPress (http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/podpress/). I’ve heard it’s really cool… anyone tried it?
Stephanie Blue
April 3rd, 2008
I would put a plug in (no pun intended) for photoxhibit, it has made my life so much easier when it comes to adding photos to my plugin. I use it for picasa but it supports flickr, SmugMug and it has its own Album Manager.
http://benjaminsterling.com/photoxhibit/
GoodOlClint
April 3rd, 2008
Here’s two that I have grown quite fond of:
PluginInstaller: http://henning.imaginemore.de/pluginstaller/
And
Wordpress Automatic Upgrade plugin:http://techie-buzz.com/wordpress-plugins/wordpress-automatic-upgrade-plugin.html
Joshua Dorkin
April 3rd, 2008
Great list. I was surprised to see that there were 2 that I hadn’t seen yet. I’m going to be testing these soon! Much appreciated.
Brad Hart
April 3rd, 2008
WP Super Edit is great but I have had trouble getting it to function in my 2.5 blog.
I wish the savvy plugin writer would hurry up and write one that will let us visually place the widgets in all columns at once. Then another one to put a color options page for the administrative pages.
wterminal
April 3rd, 2008
Nice post… but some of them are not compliant with the WordPress 2.5. Hope the plugins author realize the same…
Great compilation !!
Neezar
April 3rd, 2008
Actually, i have known some of them. But, i don’t know about search and replace plugin there. That is a very useful list. I’m impressed with your plugin example and screenshot, i think you need a lot time to get those screenshots and examples. Definitely, i will bookmark this post.
Hikari
April 3rd, 2008
Great tips! tnx a lot!!
I have 2 suggestions for ya:
Raw HTML 1.0.2
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/raw-html/#post-2767
Toggle Visual Editor
http://www.jackhumphrey.com/fridaytrafficreport/reviews/new-wordpress-plugin-toggle-visual-editor/
Justin
April 3rd, 2008
You missed Syntax Highlighter Plus. It’s the best syntax highlighting plugin.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/syntaxhighlighter-plus/
Lalita Negi
April 3rd, 2008
thanks for the good stuff. It really helps me a lot
Chris O'Rourke
April 3rd, 2008
Great list! I love the maintenance plugin. Some of these I hadn’t seen at all before.
One good new plugin automatically allows adding a webclip icon to your blog (works with iphone/ipod touch. You can find it here: http://cdcstudios.com/wordpress-plugins/iphone-webclip-manager/
Damn!
April 4th, 2008
Great article. I really like the pdf plugin. I may have to give that one a try along with WP-Codebox. Excellent!! Thanks for the article!
Whitney
April 4th, 2008
Thank you so much for the great list! I created 2 sites with WP and I am now a devotee!
Rajat Bhadani
April 4th, 2008
some new ones for me - should be useful
am currently trying to create a plugin for wordpress - you have any working knowledge on it?
DG
April 4th, 2008
Hi Jacob,
You may like to check this post DTWL - Best WordPress Plugins.
Hope, you’ll find some nice plugins.
DG…
Amit
April 4th, 2008
A very useful post of Wordpress…additional plugins worth noting.
Sparkus
April 4th, 2008
Maintenance Mode and Search and Replace are two potentially ultra helpful plugins I didn’t know existed. Thanks!
Riyad Kalla
April 4th, 2008
Jacob,
This was a brilliant post… about 4 “omg I need that” moments reading through your list of plugins I’ve been dying to have but figured didn’t exist.
Thanks for taking the time to post this!
Andrew
April 4th, 2008
If anyone is using pages a lot, my “My Page Order” plugin is quite handy for reordering pages with a drag and drop interface. Right now you have to visit each individual page to order them manually which is a major PITA with lots of pages. I have plugins for ordering post categories and links too. Handy if you need to get stuff in a specific order instead of by name or ID.
My Page Order
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/my-page-order/
My Category Order
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/my-category-order/
My Link Order
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/my-link-order/
Chris
April 4th, 2008
Jacob,
First off, great post.
Secondly, I saw the DB backup plugins available - are there any recommended tutorials on both backing up and migrating your wordpress install from one host to another (especially for an established site with months of posts.)
Thanks and keep up the great work!
JP Dela Torre
April 5th, 2008
i think “All-in-One SEO Pack” would be a good addition to the list.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/all-in-one-seo-pack/
jim
April 6th, 2008
Hi,
Another plugin for live search :
http://www.predictad.com
James
April 8th, 2008
Suddenly I feel un-savvy. Time to go install some plugins.
But seriously, these look/sound awesome. And most of them I’ve never heard of before.
PlugIn Junkie
April 8th, 2008
Wordpress is such an awesome publishing platform and the hundreds of Plugins available, make it unbeatable… Does anyone have any thoughts on the maximum number of plugins a person should have activated at one time… The one drawback to wordpress is that it can be a little sluggish and slow in page loading, and I’ve noticed that some plugins make the problem worse… Any thoughts on optimkizing the plugin experience?
rajeswar
April 10th, 2008
nice article for wordpress pugin
Brad Bodine
April 11th, 2008
Thanks for the great info. I have tried most but will be trying a few more that I just found after reading your post.
Cyanide
April 19th, 2008
Wow, this a really cool list for serious wordpress developers. As a new WordPresser, I really appreciate it. Thanks, sixrevisions.
Venu
April 20th, 2008
Google syntax highlighter and tidy up.. never knew about the existence of these 2 plugins. Thanks for coming up with a good list..
website design
May 5th, 2008
First off, great post.
Secondly, I saw the DB backup plugins available - are there any recommended tutorials on both backing up and migrating your wordpress install from one host to another (especially for an established site with months of posts.)
Thanks and keep up the great work!
Nelly Yusupova
May 12th, 2008
Here is a list of wordpress plug-ins that I use classified by different categories.
http://www.webgrrls.com/blog/2007/09/14/must-have-plug-ins-for-blogs/
Submarine
May 21st, 2008
Hi. I think this plugin would be a good addition to the list :
Category Icons
;-)
Xavier Damman
May 22nd, 2008
I think there is another great plugin for Wordpress which can be very useful.
It is called commentag (http://www.commentag.com).
It allows to tag comments to keep discussions sorted.
They use that on TheNextWeb.org and it is a great add-on!
advinci seo
May 26th, 2008
Great list.
jocuri
May 27th, 2008
That’s brilliant!
jocuri
May 30th, 2008
Keep up the good work! 10q
Jack - BloggingSupport
May 31st, 2008
Great list, the only extra one I use is Increase Sociability.
Jack
Richard
July 1st, 2008
Hi,
I just tried the wp-codebox plugin on wordpress-mu 1.5.1.
Is it me or Wordpress that is screwing with the text of the post when I save it? I created a new post with your example 1 code click save and then tag gets cleaned out.
**Example 1: PHP, no line numbers**
<?php
function foo() {
echo “Hello World!\\n”;
}
for (\$i = 0; \$i
Flick
July 11th, 2008
Wow… some really useful plugins here! :D Thanks for the recommendation! I was already aware of a few, like WP-DB Manager (which I think is very under-rated) but ‘Deactivate Visual Editor’ is a new one for me as was ‘Form Builder’! Thanks :D
p/s: Has anyone had a look at the latest WLTC Plugin Competition Blog? I peeked at it today after a few days, and seriously, there is some very very clever stuff there!
Darko Bunic
July 25th, 2008
I love Google Syntax Highlighter. It is pure JavaScript, means server side independence. I also made some plugin improvements to minimize load of unused JavaScript brushes and load of brushes moved to the page top. To achieve this, user has to describe what brushes to load per page in post custom fields.
Thank you!
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