Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
I
•
Import your blog from the file you previously exported.
•
Choose from a much wider range of themes, tweak an existing theme, or create your own
theme.
•
Reinstall any widgets that you previously used if your theme supports widgets (or replace them
with plug-ins).
•
Choose from a wide array of plug-ins, tweak existing plug-ins, or create your own plug-in.
Table 1.1 sums up the advantages and disadvantages of each platform.
Table 1.1
WordPress.com Versus WordPress.org
WordPress.com
WordPress.org
Setup
Free hosting
X
✓
Easy setup
X
✓
Automatic backup, software
Extra cost
✓
upgrades, and security
Extensions
Choose from existing themes
Limited to 70+
✓
Create your own theme
X
✓
Avoid Automattic ads for users
Extra cost
✓
Choose from existing widgets
✓
(many themes)
✓
Choose from existing plug-ins
X
✓
Create your own plug-ins
X
✓
Run your own ads
X
✓
(via plug-ins)
Naming of Parts
One of the most confusing aspects of the WordPress.com versus WordPress software choice for
many people is the wording used to describe it. WordPress.com is often referred to as a
hosted
solution
. WordPress.org is called a
self-hosted solution
, even though most WordPress software
users don't actually host it themselves. Confused? You aren't the only one!
WordPress.com is a website where Automattic, the owners of WordPress, offer free hosting of a
WordPress blog for anyone who wants it.
The key point, if you decide to use the WordPress software directly, is that hosting is your respon-
sibility. You might pay a third party to handle the responsibility for you, but it's no longer up to
Automattic. From their point of view, you're self-hosting, even if you're paying a third party to do it.
Self-hosting really means “hosting by someone other than Automattic, somewhere other than on
WordPress.com.”
