Mostly Harmless » Web Apps

Configuring a Paypal Checkout on Gallery 2

Rowan — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:49:53 +0000

These days, gallery is a massive image oriented CMS (so much so that the developers are refocusing on their core objectives for Version 3), with a ton of modules / plugins and themes. It should be no surprise therefore that it’s easy to add a cart / checkout to it.

First, ensure you are using the [...]

How long can a vulnerable web script last online before it is compromised?

Rowan — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 14:10:21 +0000

Remember some years ago now all the (justifiable) furore around how long you could connect a vulnerable Windows PC to the net for before it got hacked / infected? The statistic ended up being 20 minutes, i.e not long at all.

I’ve not seen any similar research (at least as widely publicised) for popular web apps, [...]

Finding the current Joomla Version

Rowan — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:02:28 +0000

This is just a quick aide memoir, for how to find the current Joomla version in use if you do not have direct access to the admin panel. The version information can be found in

libraries/joomla/version.php

Edit: Just come across a Joomla install dated 2006, for this the version file is

includes/version.php

Hacked Wordpress Recovery

Rowan — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:53:37 +0000

Interesting to see this post from WP developer Donnacha, on removing various popular nasties from a wordpress install after it has been hacked or compromised.

At work we often see instances where it is not possible to simply return a user’s CMS install to a pre-hack backup and then upgrade (the safest course of action) because [...]

Moving SMF to a new server

Rowan — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:42:12 +0000

This post is an aide memoir more than anything else, but hopefully might come in handy to someone.

Settings.php

Database access details Local file system path URL (if changing)

Database

There are several instances within the settings table where the local file system path is stored within the database. Whether you pick find and replace (if restoring via a .sql file), [...]

Easier updating with Wordpress

Rowan — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 13:25:23 +0000

I’ve been pleased to see the inclusion of an update warning in recent versions of Wordpress when new versions are released. Coupled with the plugins page that now tells you when updates are available for your installed addons the system is becoming a lot easier for the non technical user to maintain, even if [...]

Mounting an FTP account on Linux

Rowan — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 16:27:33 +0000

Learning to use the command line is one of the hardest things about moving to Linux, however once you’re used to it, doing things becomes second nature and you actually miss being able to use the terminal in those cases where you have FTP access but no shell account. For some things using a GUI [...]

WPMUDev Premium – good idea?

Rowan — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:13:52 +0000

Recently a couple of the people who run the biggest WPMU based sites out there have put together a premium member’s area for those wishing to run serious MU based sites.

Seeing as Boz and I have been recently putting together an MU site for a group of friends this is an interesting development, I can [...]

Four Pre-Requisites to working with Wordpress MU

Rowan — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 20:47:03 +0000

The forums over at Wordpress MU aren’t really the hand holding sort, the regulars are just too busy. However if one has done some background work first there are good solutions in the threads and the regulars are happy to assist someone who has managed to get a part of the way on their own [...]

Wordpress as a website CMS?

Rowan — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 12:58:15 +0000

As further proof that whenever you have an idea the Internet is capable of crushing you by showing you that someone has already done it, I’ve been meaning to write an article on this for a while – and now I don’t need to.

Updating a personal website has always been something I’ve known I should [...]