I finished up the documentation that instructs people how to install Underpin using WordPress. I frequently get asked how to set up Composer in a WordPress install, so I took some time to add details on how to do that, too. Hoping this helps people get started.

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<a href="https://docs.underp.in/Installation/wordpress">https://docs.underp.in/Installation/wordpress</a>

Start with the basic building block of all narrative.

In a village of La Mancha, the name of which I have no desire to call to mind, there lived not long since one of those gentlemen that keep a lance in the lance-rack, an old buckler, a lean hack, and a greyhound for coursing.

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I finished up the documentation that instructs people how to install Underpin using WordPress. I frequently get asked how to set up Composer in a WordPress install, so I took some time to add details on how to do that, too. Hoping this helps people get started.

<a href="https://docs.underp.in/Installation/wordpress">https://docs.underp.in/Installation/wordpress</a>

Just wrote a ton of documentation on Underpin's registry/collections API, full of tons of examples with sample code and everything. Hoping I can add to this next week sometime.

<a href="https://docs.underp.in/reference/registries">https://docs.underp.in/reference/registries</a>

Just wrote a ton of documentation on Underpin's registry/collections API, full of tons of examples with sample code and everything. Hoping I can add to this next week sometime.

<a href="https://docs.underp.in/reference/registries">https://docs.underp.in/reference/registries</a>

I’m Committing to Better Standards for Underpin

In the midst of transitioning myself into rediscovering WordPress, and publishing <a href="/articles/blog-posts/rediscovering-wordpress/">content on my blog first</a>, I realized that one thing that kind of bums me out is that nobody posts comments on my site. As far as I'm concerned, anything that's published anywhere that's not on my site should be treated as ephemeral, even if it necessarily isn't.

In the midst of transitioning myself into rediscovering WordPress, and publishing <a href="/articles/blog-posts/rediscovering-wordpress/">content on my blog first</a>, I realized that one thing that kind of bums me out is that nobody posts comments on my site. As far as I'm concerned, anything that's published anywhere that's not on my site should be treated as ephemeral, even if it necessarily isn't.

So, when I receive a reply to something, or have a fun interaction with my content with someone else on social media, I find that at least a small part of me is sad, because I know that interaction is probably not something I'll keep. (I draw the line at manually cross posting comments lol).

So, when I receive a reply to something, or have a fun interaction with my content with someone else on social media, I find that at least a small part of me is sad, because I know that interaction is probably not something I'll keep. (I draw the line at manually cross posting comments lol).

I know that WordPress is going social, and I also know that someday, this problem might get drastically improved, but I am getting into the habit of choosing to comment on people's actual blog content first, and only replying to a post directly on social in situations where there is no other option.

I know that WordPress is going social, and I also know that someday, this problem might get drastically improved, but I am getting into the habit of choosing to comment on people's actual blog content first, and only replying to a post directly on social in situations where there is no other option.

I invite (and encourage!) you to start doing the same!

I invite (and encourage!) you to start doing the same!

Let’s Go Back To Commenting on Blogs

For my personal site, I realized that <a href="/micro/1335">I needed a way to convert tags into hashtags</a>, so that when I am showing a social feed I can make my tags look and feel as much like a micro post as possible. In-order to do that, I needed a way to transform <code>a tag like this</code> into <code>ATagLikeThis</code>. This is called PascalCase, which is very similar to camelCase, only the first letter is capitalized in the former, and it's lowercase int he latter.

For my personal site, I realized that <a href="/micro/1335">I needed a way to convert tags into hashtags</a>, so that when I am showing a social feed I can make my tags look and feel as much like a micro post as possible. In-order to do that, I needed a way to transform <code>a tag like this</code> into <code>ATagLikeThis</code>. This is called PascalCase, which is very similar to camelCase, only the first letter is capitalized in the former, and it's lowercase int he latter.

I decided that the perfect place to put this was inside <a href="https://github.com/Underpin-WP/underpin/blob/b69f3d7bb2ad6df8423c6ccd83f2c74096b7a8b6/lib/Helpers/String_Helper.php#L41-L47">Underpin's String Helper class</a>, which has loads of little helpers for string manipulation. It's largely inspired by Laravel's helper classes, and works in much the same way. I quite like this update, particularly how it's implemented, because it makes really good use of Underpin's <a href="https://github.com/Underpin-WP/underpin/blob/master/lib/Helpers/Processors/Array_Processor.php">Array Processor</a> class to make the conversion.

I decided that the perfect place to put this was inside <a href="https://github.com/Underpin-WP/underpin/blob/b69f3d7bb2ad6df8423c6ccd83f2c74096b7a8b6/lib/Helpers/String_Helper.php#L41-L47">Underpin's String Helper class</a>, which has loads of little helpers for string manipulation. It's largely inspired by Laravel's helper classes, and works in much the same way. I quite like this update, particularly how it's implemented, because it makes really good use of Underpin's <a href="https://github.com/Underpin-WP/underpin/blob/master/lib/Helpers/Processors/Array_Processor.php">Array Processor</a> class to make the conversion.

This has been added to <a href="https://github.com/Underpin-WP/underpin/releases/tag/4.1.0">Underpin 4.1</a>.

This has been added to <a href="https://github.com/Underpin-WP/underpin/releases/tag/4.1.0">Underpin 4.1</a>.

If you're not aware of what Underpin is, it's a set of utilities that make developing in non-Laravel applications a little easier. It tries to apply more-modern PHP approaches and helps make it easier to write test-able code. My use case is generally to use it within WordPress, but it is not coupled to WordPress at all, and I have also used it a bit for simple PHP projects as a standalone library.

If you're not aware of what Underpin is, it's a set of utilities that make developing in non-Laravel applications a little easier. It tries to apply more-modern PHP approaches and helps make it easier to write test-able code. My use case is generally to use it within WordPress, but it is not coupled to WordPress at all, and I have also used it a bit for simple PHP projects as a standalone library.

Underpin’s String Helper Can Now Convert strings to camelCase and PascalCase

Recovering From A Botched bashrc Change on DigitalOcean

One of the biggest challenges that comes from our current phase of travel is that we rarely get an opportunity to get away from our kids. They're always with us, simply because there's nobody nearby to watch them and they're too young to take care of themselves right now. We don't send them to school, because we homeschool. We go months on end without seeing any family, and as a result get a lot less time away from our kids than I think we need.

One of the biggest challenges that comes from our current phase of travel is that we rarely get an opportunity to get away from our kids. They're always with us, simply because there's nobody nearby to watch them and they're too young to take care of themselves right now. We don't send them to school, because we homeschool. We go months on end without seeing any family, and as a result get a lot less time away from our kids than I think we need.

This weekend, we're parked pretty close to a place where <a href="https://alexstandiford.com/micro/1170">family could come camp with us</a>, and they have taken our kids out for excursions every single day this weekend and left Kate and I to ourselves. Funny enough, each time all we did was go on hikes, which is something we do with our kids fairly often, but the experience becomes much more relaxing when you're not chasing a 3 year old (or dragging them along). It's been really nice to get away for a little bit. For a little bit, we got to be with each other, and just enjoy each other's company. Have deep thoughtful conversations, and reflect on our life.

This weekend, we're parked pretty close to a place where <a href="https://alexstandiford.com/micro/1170">family could come camp with us</a>, and they have taken our kids out for excursions every single day this weekend and left Kate and I to ourselves. Funny enough, each time all we did was go on hikes, which is something we do with our kids fairly often, but the experience becomes much more relaxing when you're not chasing a 3 year old (or dragging them along). It's been really nice to get away for a little bit. For a little bit, we got to be with each other, and just enjoy each other's company. Have deep thoughtful conversations, and reflect on our life.

It was nice to get to spend time with Kate this weekend, and I'm so grateful that I have family who made the trip to hang out with us, and give us some much needed time.

It was nice to get to spend time with Kate this weekend, and I'm so grateful that I have family who made the trip to hang out with us, and give us some much needed time.

PS: MY LEGS ARE SO SORE. we hiked a lot, and I am not in shape. It hurts so goooooood.

PS: MY LEGS ARE SO SORE. we hiked a lot, and I am not in shape. It hurts so goooooood.

Insert an image to make a visual statement.

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Image

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img src="https://content.standiford.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/PXL_20230311_204527780-1024x768.jpg" alt="Selfie of Kate and Alex standing beside each other, smiling. In the background there are woods with no green, just brown and dead leaves, and a very black swampy stream." class="wp-image-1194"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mandatory selfie at the end of our hike</figcaption></figure>

Casual Weirdness

A Much-Needed Respite In Virginia

SpinupWP – A Delightful Self-Hosting Option

My (Very) Basic PoSSE Setup

In-case you haven't heard me literally mention it in every post I write...I live in a camper. Like...with kids and stuff. They're loud. Like super loud. And as a result, Kate and I have become increasingly sensitive to noise in-general over the last few years of living in a camper. Or maybe it's literally just because we're just tired of noise in-general, and the fact that we live in a camper has absolutely nothing to-do with it. I don't even know anymore. Either way, <a href="/articles/essays/how-i-work-from-home-with-no-office-and-a-family/">I wrote a post a few years back about how I am able to concentrate while working inside an RV-based</a> office, and there's still a lot of truth there.

In-case you haven't heard me literally mention it in every post I write...I live in a camper. Like...with kids and stuff. They're loud. Like super loud. And as a result, Kate and I have become increasingly sensitive to noise in-general over the last few years of living in a camper. Or maybe it's literally just because we're just tired of noise in-general, and the fact that we live in a camper has absolutely nothing to-do with it. I don't even know anymore. Either way, <a href="/articles/essays/how-i-work-from-home-with-no-office-and-a-family/">I wrote a post a few years back about how I am able to concentrate while working inside an RV-based</a> office, and there's still a lot of truth there.

But there's one thing that I have notice that has changed since I wrote it - we have discovered the <a href="https://www.loopearplugs.com/">Loop earplugs</a>. (Not an affiliate, just a fan)

But there's one thing that I have notice that has changed since I wrote it - we have discovered the <a href="https://www.loopearplugs.com/">Loop earplugs</a>. (Not an affiliate, just a fan)

I know, I know, they're basically an earbud without the actual music part, but honestly they've become a staple in our home. Kate and I will just wear them sometimes for no reason. Like right now, my kids are asleep, Kate's quietly watching a video (with headphones on) and the only noise I can hear is the clacking of my keyboard, and yet I find myself wearing them because they just make it a little more quieter.

I know, I know, they're basically an earbud without the actual music part, but honestly they've become a staple in our home. Kate and I will just wear them sometimes for no reason. Like right now, my kids are asleep, Kate's quietly watching a video (with headphones on) and the only noise I can hear is the clacking of my keyboard, and yet I find myself wearing them because they just make it a little more quieter.

I'll wear these with noise-cancelling headphones on-top sometimes, just to add that extra oomph to isolating myself when the kids are being particularly loud. It's amazing.

I'll wear these with noise-cancelling headphones on-top sometimes, just to add that extra oomph to isolating myself when the kids are being particularly loud. It's amazing.

I've come to find that I really enjoy the "underwater" quality of sound when you're wearing ear plugs. It's nice to hear nothing but the gentle ringing in your ears.

I've come to find that I really enjoy the "underwater" quality of sound when you're wearing ear plugs. It's nice to hear nothing but the gentle ringing in your ears.

These little plugs have worked into our lives in ways I never considered when I first got them. We'll take them with us to places like the bowling alley we went to a couple weeks ago, where the music was just a bit too loud after a couple hours, or even just in the car to cut back on the car noise.

These little plugs have worked into our lives in ways I never considered when I first got them. We'll take them with us to places like the bowling alley we went to a couple weeks ago, where the music was just a bit too loud after a couple hours, or even just in the car to cut back on the car noise.

They come in a little travel case, and fit comfortably in my pocket, and with them there I find myself whipping them out a lot more often than I thought I would. It's kind-of addicting when you realize you can make your environment a little quieter at any time, but not so quiet that you can't hear people talking.

They come in a little travel case, and fit comfortably in my pocket, and with them there I find myself whipping them out a lot more often than I thought I would. It's kind-of addicting when you realize you can make your environment a little quieter at any time, but not so quiet that you can't hear people talking.

Loops, and my Sanity

Freelance Web Developer &amp; Senior Software Development Engineer at GoDaddy. Digital Nomad of 3 years. I talk about WordPress, off-grid, &amp; RV life.