If you’re like me, getting WordPress loaded onto a webserver for the first time is a pain.
Some hosting companies use Fantastico, or some other automated way to get the WordPress code uploaded and unzipped on the server, but many don’t. Mine doesn’t.
So what people like me have to do is download the ZIP file from wordpress.org and unzip it; then using an FTP program, upload all the individual files (and there are many… over 9Mb and over 800 files!) up to the web server. And one of the joys (not!) of FTP is that it’s as slow as a wet week.
Even on a fast broadband connection it can easily take close to 20 minutes to get all the WordPress code up on the server. Frustrating as heck if you do a lot of WordPress sites.
There had to be a better way. So I created it.
WordPress Loader is a single 66Kb file that you upload to the directory on the web server where you want WordPress to be installed. Upload the file, view it in your web browser, click the button you’ll find there… and, hey presto, the latest and greatest version of WordPress will be loaded and unzipped for you (in about five seconds!).
Download WordPress Loader Now! (11kb ZIP file)
Of course, you will still need to setup your MySQL database and your wp-config.php file… I can’t do everything for you!
(A technical note: I’ve included most of the pclzip library, which handles the unzipping. Sure, some hosts configure PHP for zip support, but many don’t.)
34 Comments
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Excellent info – I just started venturing into WordPress – thanks for the tip!
This is an alternative.
EasyWP WordPress Installer
http://www.funscripts.net/php-scripts/
Hey Alister, this is great! I do have Fantastico but I know that many VAs don’t and I’m always telling them how wonderful WordPress is. I’ll be passing your post on to many of them to let them know.
Thanks Kathie. Much appreciated
Sounds very useful Alistair, thanks for posting, I’ll be checking it out.
WordPress is such a fantastic tool. I have a lot of respect for WP plugin creators… they really are the bees knees
WordPress is amazing! I just started using it and am very impressed. By the way, if you ever need to ship a yacht or a boat, look up Yacht Exports. They’re awesome. Keep up the good work! If you havent already, give WordPress a chance!
I dont like fantastico at all. Going to have to say: WordPress. Its the obvious better choice.And Tim, I checked out yacht exports and was impressed. guts
It seems nice solution if you do not have SSH access, right now my process is to upload zip file via ftp and unzip via ssh, upload config file via ftp with db settings and setting permission and run installer. Once all done, upload new themes if i have any and activate it
Very cool Alister! Luckily, I have yet to come across a server where a manual installation was necessary (jinxing myself), but going to keep this one on file in my archives of useful stuff! Thanks!
Ha, I have to thank Godaddy hosting tonight. It’s as simple as a single click!
I don’t think I could of ever started my blog without it.
I have used both fantascico and ftp for uploading wordpress and you are right the ftp is very slow. This does sound like a much better option
Hello Alister, I thought I would stop by your blog and let you know there’s some interesting stuff in there. Keep up the good work.
Jeanette
Hello Alister, I’m using WordPress and very impressed..Love your blog.
Jeanette
See ya next time
Very nice, indeed. Personally I always look for hosts that provide the cPanel which comes with Fantastico and the installation is as easy as it gets. But it’s good to see a tool like this for situations where you simply cannot get cPanel…
Iulian
Modifying config file and setting up MySQL is not that tough
But if your web host doesn’t have option to upload zipped files, then you have a big headache with hundreds of WordPress files.
You should check your web hosting company before you purchase or you have to keep your finger-crossed that this script works on your server
My hosting company uses these guys http://www.simplescripts.com/
It’s the easiest install you will find (I can’t imagine an easier one unless you get someone else to do it for you!).
From the website it looks like you can use it from your own host even if they don’t supply it as standard, 3 free installs with a trial account.
They also have the option to install the latest releases of beta builds as well for those that like to live on the bleeding edge.
Great post Alister, i agree installing wordpress is time consuming and frustrating, hopefully your solution with wordpress loader will be the better option on installing the wordpress folder quicker. Cheers and much appreciated, I’ll pass the info on to my colleagues, they’ll also find this tool very useful.
Interesting, I will try using WP loader, till now I was installing WP on WAMP and then I was exporting database and uploading it to server with all files.
Thanks great work!! It’s very useful and easy!
Alister, that’s good work. Many thanks. Will certainly try it out. It’s always tedious waiting for those files to upload!
Jason
If you change…
echo “WordPress uploaded and unzipped successfully!”;
… to…
header(“Location: wp-admin/install.php”);
… it saves another step.
Seems like a great little program, but Ive always made sure my host has Softaculous or fantastico, but Ill make sure to pass this script around to other people
Nice little tool you’ve got there Alister.
I released something similar’ish a while back, but ours appears to be a little more polished.
http://pixopoint.com/2009/07/14/pixopoint-wordpress-unzipper/comment-page-1/#comment-2917
Ack! lol!
My previous comment was supposed to say “yours”, not “ours”.
Ours sucks. Yours is much better. Bad mix up of words there :p
This is a great tool! As a web designer, I am constantly doing new WordPress installs and although I’ve never had it take 20 minutes, it does seem to take longer than I’d like. I’ll have to give this a try, thanks!
Works like a charm! Thanks-a-lot! I’ve been having problems with my ftp all night, this finally uploaded everything in seconds. I’m happy again
I always use Fantastico de Luxe to create my blogs and always work great on hostgator. I have a wordpress blog up and running in a few seconds but I will give a try to WordPress Loader and see how it works. Thanks for sharing.
Friend of mine told me about this. All I can say is thankyouthankyouthankyou! You would not believe how much trouble/time this will save me in the future. didn’t know it was possible.. miss a lot of knowledge there. power to the tech-heads!
Alister, I can’t see info about the license of the script (I think about a modification & release). In case you’re ok with it, do you have a tip how to “decompress” the script into a readable form? Thanks.
Umm… readable form… do you mean tabbing and such? I think HTML Tidy can do that with a PHGP plugin… I think! As for license… do as you please
Cool. You made one of the easiest things even easier!
Seriously – some hosts’ fantasico installers have also started pre-installing plugins like SuperCache and JetPack. I guess for the DIY consumer that is probably a good thing, but I prefer other plugins to do those jobs so having my own WP installer is a good idea.
Very good !
Thank you! I see that you gave su FREE licence =D
I want to modify the code to have a langage selector for the wordpress installation or the option to use a custom URL to a zip. Do you have de “decompressed”/“uncompressed” file? or how to do so because I can’t fing a way.
Emanuel, you are welcome to create your own version of this, and do as you please with it. I’m honestly not sure what the issue is for you. You will need to be a good PHP programmer to do what you’re hoping to do. If that’s so, then the decompressed PHP file is where you’re work will be done. Cheers!
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