Automating Wordpress Installations

[Nomara]

I'm interested in writing a program that will automatically create a wordpress installation for a subdomain or domain on my shared host. I need the WP installation to have the theme I select automatically set up and all of the plugins I like setup and configured by my script.

What is the best way to go about this? Write a program that runs from my home machine and does cURL/snoopy/http request/whatever to go through the process of logging into cPanel, creating the WP database, logging into the WP console, selecting the correct theme, and activating and configuring the plugins? Or is there a way I can create a fantastico-type script that I run on the host to perform all of this? Or maybe all I need is a MySQL script that I run from phpMyAdmin (not sure if this would be able to setup the plugins)?

Thanks!

 

[argh01]

If you suffer through the pain of setting up wpmu (it's about as bad as a paper cut, not pulled-out-hair or broken leg ), you can install a wp-mu plugin called "plugin commander" that'll let you force global plugin activation. If you're really planning on $subdomain.domain.tld, then I'd go that route. Not sure about the themes; I'm still working on that myself.

On the other hand, if you're serious about the wp installation, I'd go with one mysql database and varying table prefixes; then you don't have to set up a bajillion databases.

If you do go through the wp-mu route, don't copy your wp-config-sample file to wp-config.php; I did and it was a headche. The install process will create that for you.

 

[Nomara]

Thanks, I'll take a look at WP MU and hopefully my paper cuts will heal.

 

[threehundred]

are you using 1 domain or multiple domains?

 

[Nomara]

One domain for now (multiple subdomains), but I'll eventually want to roll out to multiple domains.

 

[teychui]

there is a company doing this, called massautomationtools or something like that.

 

[bam bam]

Mass Automation Tools

 

[starstreet]

i think you can use wp mass installer