Setting up a WooCommerce shop

Somebody asked how to set up a WordPress / WooCommerce shop with the Flatsome theme. Understand that this is a web site operations project, not a development project, at least until you get it basically working. For now, ignore any advice to use Bricks, Elementor, Divi or some other site builder. You’ve chosen Flatsome. Get … Read more

ffmpeg Metadata Processing notes

I find myself needing to hack ffmpeg metadata in order to post Gordon Bok’s collection of Kalmyk music. The files ripped by ITunes contain all sorts of metadata. It can be extracted by a command like this and the output looks like this, including a bunch of ITunes-specific metadata items, as well as identifying metadata. … Read more

SQLite3 in php — some notes

This entry is part 1 of 3 in the series php features

I’ve been working on the SQLIite Object Cache plugin for WordPress, so I’ve had to figure out a few things about using SQLite itself and php’s SQLite3 extension. Here are some notes. There are various versions of the SQLite software around. If you will run your code on multiple different hosting providers and server configurations, … Read more

APCu in php — some notes

This entry is part 2 of 3 in the series php features

I’ve been working on the SQLIite Object Cache plugin for WordPress. I’m using the APCu User Cache, php’s RAM cache subsystem, to accelerate cache lookups — specifically to support wp_cache_get() and wp_cache_get_multiple() operations. I’ve had to figure out a few things about this php feature. Here are some notes. Its documentation is not as comprehensive … Read more

php, Ubuntu, fpm, xdebug, PhpStorm

Here’s an oddity which baffled me and kept me from being able to use xdebug with PhpStorm for a while. I installed a bunch of different versions of php on my Ubuntu VM. I used Ondřej Surý’s repository, rigging my vm to install them like this. Then, I followed the directions emitted by the installer … Read more

Setup Problem at Google Workspace for Nonprofits

Recently I worked to help a local nonprofit org sign up and start using Google Workspace for Nonprofits. It’s basically private-labeled gmail and Google Drive. An org can use their own domain to get email. For example, if you use Google Workspace you can get your email at programs@example.org address instead of programs.example.org@gmail.com, or whatever. … Read more

Testing internet over 5G wireless

Photo of 5G gateway device standing on its shipping carton in front of a window. The device is nine inches tall.

tl;dr This didn’t work out. Why not? Random disconnects requiring user intervention, and a very weak 5G signal. The LTE signal was strong enough, but it looks like the less congestion-prone 5G isn’t really provisioned in my neighorhood as of mid-December 2022. I’m testing a T-Mobile internet-over-5G service. My phone is on T-Mobile, so they … Read more