There used to be a program from Microsoft called FrontPage that was the
first visual interface for creating Web sites that I saw. It worked like Word
or Publisher, so with very little knowledge, I was able to hack together the
world’s worst Web site in just a few hours without worrying about what was
going on under the hood.
Years later when I look back at that Web site, I cringe, but at the time it was
incredibly empowering. The software, though crude, helped me publish
something anybody in the entire world could see. It opened up a world I had
never imagined before.
Now, using software like WordPress, you can have a blog or Web site light-years
beyond my first one in both functionality and aesthetics. However, just as my
first Web experience whetted my appetite for more, I hope that your experience
entices you to explore the thousands of free plugins, themes, and customizations
possible with WordPress, many of which are explained in this book.
WordPress is more than just software; it is a community, a rapidly evolving
ecosystem, and a set of philosophies and opinions about how to create the
best Web experience. When you embrace it, you’ll be in good company.
WordPress users include old media organizations such as CNN, The New York
Times, and The Wall Street Journal, along with millions of personal bloggers
like myself for whom a WordPress blog is a means of expression.