Introduction & Link to My New WordPress Site
I recently set up my own WordPress site, which can be found here (Please click on “About”).
Getting everything up and running was surprisingly straightforward once I installed WordPress on my hosting environment. I created a simple “About” page to introduce myself and share my interests, and I’m already discovering new ways to customize the site.
WordPress Installation and Setup Experience
The entire process of installing WordPress was quite interesting. I activated several plugins and chose a new theme to personalize the look. Although it took some trial and error to configure everything, I enjoyed the freedom to decide how my site should look and how I wanted my information to be structured.
What I Can Do With This Platform
One of the biggest appeals of a self-hosted WordPress site is the opportunity to share more about myself—my hobbies, my technical skills, and my future goals—without being limited by a social media platform. For instance, I can post photos or stories about golfing, skiing, paragliding, or even short clips of me playing the piano. I can also write blog posts about AI/DL/ML, and other areas I’m passionate about, ensuring everything is in one place for visitors to explore.
Hosting Independently vs. Using Third-Party or Social Media
By hosting my own website, I gain complete control over content presentation, site policies, and any additional features I might want to implement. This directness is valuable for people who genuinely want to learn more about me. At the same time, maintaining the site’s security, updating plugins, and ensuring good performance can be time-consuming. However, I find it worthwhile because it keeps all my information consistent and centralized, rather than scattered across different social platforms that often change their interface or terms unexpectedly.
Reflections on Omeka and Metadata
When I use Omeka to manage digital collections, I need to think carefully about how I label and describe each item. Even if I follow existing guidelines or reference materials, the wording I choose inevitably reflects my own perspective, which means my metadata can’t be fully objective. Recognizing these subtle biases helps me be more transparent and careful in deciding what metadata fields to include and how to describe each object.
Understanding the WordPress Database Structure
In WordPress, most content is stored in a series of interconnected tables within the database. Both posts and pages reside in the same table, differentiated by a column specifying their type. Comments are managed in a separate table and linked back to the specific post or page via an ID. User accounts and additional profile data are stored in certain tables. This relational system allows WordPress to flexibly organize everything.
Impact of Plugins and Theme Changes on the Site
Installing or activating plugins can sometimes modify the database, especially if they require custom tables or need to store specific configuration options. For example, Akismet needs to store spam-related data and preferences. Changing themes is typically more about aesthetics and layout, but it can also affect the database if certain theme options need to be recorded. In most cases, however, the core structure remains the same.
