May Meetup

When: May 5, 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Where: Chattanooga Public Library (4th Floor Downtown)
What: Why and How We Use WordPress for a framework at Jetty – Josiah Goff

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Meetup Notes

• They wanted to use wordpress to build an enterprise app.
• What is Jetty?
  • The ICS is a tool for handling emergency response system, jetty interacts with this to provide information to the public and query trends on social media.
• Why did they choose WordPress?
  • WordPress gave them half of what they needed out of the box. No other frame offered that flexibility.
  • There are other Saas’ that are using wordpress as a platform.
• How are they using WordPress as a FrameWork?
  • They are loading all plugins as dependencies via composer.
  • They have reskinned the dashboard and customize run the way they want it to.
  • The have overlaid single page JavaScript apps throughout the dashboard for more real time functionality.
• Social Media Aspects
  • They have added social media monitoring using the REST API.
  • You can query social media and sync it to users who may need the information. This is updated in real time.
  • The user can set who can see the inquiry.
  • The user can respond to inquiries in a number a ways via SMS text message, Email, Website form, Phone calls, and social media accounts.
• How they are using Posts
  • They use the same post hierarchy as wordpress.
  • You distribute a post in several different ways including social media
• What’s Next For Jetty?
  • Custom Dashboard, built from scratch
    • Single page JS
  • Native mobile apps
    • Powered by REST API
  • Giving back to the WP community
    • Allow some of their custom built apps, to be open to the open source community.
• Questions
  • Have you had any companies that care that you’re using wordpress?(Kevin)
    • No, most companies don’t care since they are hosting on their own server. Sometimes the IT department doesn’t like the idea.
  • Is it one big multisite install?(Robin)
    • Generally all installs are multisite. They do one price product for enterprise users.
  • Looking back would you use wordpress as the framework?(Kevin)
    • Yes, There are times when it gives headaches. One great thing is the ability to change handoff themes to third parties.
  • How big is your team?(Kevin)
    • Just 3 people.
  • How do you manage working as a team if one person is remote?(Kevin)
    • They must be really intentionally with their communication. Making sure everyone is on the same page
  • How do you manage projects?(Kevin)
    • He hands out task list using asuna? and tells his jr dev to go through them in order.
  • How are you marketing?
    • We’re not marking. They are not really a startup, they are on the payroll of a response group.

 

Kevin mentioned

• There was a big security update for WordPress.
  • There were about 40 different plugins that needed updates for this security problem.
  • If you see that a plugin needs an update, make sure to update them and update your theme as well.
• Everyone tweet