WordPress 2.3 “Dexter” Is Out!

If you don’t know yet, WordPress 2.3 or “Dexter” as the WordPress team calls it has been officially released a few hours ago. This version is named after the great tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon. I know some WordPress have been dreading this release, while others are anxious and excited about it.

Brand New and/or Improved Features:

  • Native tagging support
  • Update notification
  • Canonical URLs
  • Pending Review
  • Advanced WYSIWYG
  • Full Atom 1.0 support
  • New jQuery
  • Taxonomy system
  • New method of doing SQL queries

Because of the plugin compatibility issue, I’ll be waiting a while before I jump in and upgrade my WordPress installation. Also, there are a few plugins I heavily use that will be updated soon by the author and I want to make sure all my plugins work when I do the upgrade. I know I’ll be spending a lot of my time doing research on the plugins and other issues involving tags. I wish I did it earlier like my friend Jhay who installed WP 2.3 RC 1 on one of his blogs.

For those who are intimidated or afraid of doing the upgrade, you don’t have to be. Just make sure you backup all your files especially your database. Then check if the plugins you’re currently using are compatible to WP 2.3 and update them to the latest version if you need to. You can check the plugin compatibility list for the plugins that work or don’t work.

If you’re using a plugin that doesn’t work with 2.3, you can look for an alternative plugin. I’ve already downloaded several plugins that will replace some of the plugins that I use which don’t work with 2.3 (in case the author won’t update them) and downloaded some plugins that are designed just for WP 2.3. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask help from your friends, other bloggers who have done the upgrade, plugin authors or from bloggers who you think can help you.

One more thing. Make sure you download all your plugins and WordPress 2.3 only from reliable sources.

Have you upgraded to WordPress 2.3? Did you experience any issues or problems? What plugins did you have to uninstall or install for this new version? If not, what’s keeping you from doing the upgrade? Share your thoughts!

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17 Comments

  1. Hello,

    Someone asked: On the other hand, maybe you’re a PHP coder and you know how to fix: WordPress database error….

    There are two database statements which need to be fixed for WordPress 2.3 by joining against different tables. For the first one, I didn’t check the ordering columns or exclusions but it’s a start:


    SELECT DISTINCT $wpdb->terms.term_id AS cat_ID, $wpdb->terms.name AS cat_name
    FROM $wpdb->links
    INNER JOIN $wpdb->term_relationships ON (object_id=link_id)
    INNER JOIN $wpdb->term_taxonomy ON ($wpdb->term_taxonomy.term_taxonomy_id = $wpdb->term_relationships.term_taxonomy_id)
    INNER JOIN $wpdb->terms ON ($wpdb->terms.term_id = $wpdb->term_taxonomy.term_id)
    ...

    The second one:

    SELECT DISTINCT link_url, link_name, link_description
    FROM `$wpdb->links`
    INNER JOIN $wpdb->term_relationships ON (object_id=link_id)
    INNER JOIN $wpdb->term_taxonomy ON ($wpdb->term_taxonomy.term_taxonomy_id = $wpdb->term_relationships.term_taxonomy_id)
    INNER JOIN $wpdb->terms ON ($wpdb->terms.term_id = $wpdb->term_taxonomy.term_id)
    WHERE link_visible = 'Y'
    ORDER BY `$wpdb->links`.link_$link_order $link_sort");

    I hope that helps,
    Paul

  2. @Allen – What did you use to install WordPress locally, Xammp? No problem about the plug. Hehe I’m sure some people who’ll read this post would want to check your post to help them with their upgrade. :)

  3. I have managed to upgrade my wordpress installation locally. Too bad I cant connect to my blog’s FTP right now to make the live upgrade… Umm I have documented what I did to upgrade on my blog. (Shameless blog promotion haha)

  4. I think it would take me to “wait” for the semestral break before I could start updating my two WP installations. School’s tough, and I shouldn’t even be commenting here right now. :lol: I hope every plugin I use would support WP 2.3 then.

  5. @fruityoaty – Sorry to hear bout that. It’s good that you were able to fix it and make it function again. I think the best way to test an upgrade is to simulate it like jhay did and do it locally on your computer.

    Thanks for the heads up on the IMP Links plugin. I also like it. I hope the author updates it or someone else creates a similar plugin.

    Sorry but I’m not a PHP programmer. It could be a plugin trying to access the link2cat table which no longer exists in WP 2.3. Try deactivating your plugins one by one and see if the error still shows up.

  6. On the other hand, maybe you’re a PHP coder and you know how to fix:
    WordPress database error: [Table ‘fruity_wrdp1.wp_link2cat’ doesn’t exist]

    SELECT DISTINCT cat_ID, cat_name
    FROM `wp_link2cat`
    LEFT JOIN `wp_categories` ON (`wp_link2cat`.category_id = `wp_categories`.cat_ID)
    WHERE 1=1
    ORDER BY cat_name ASC

  7. Mine didn’t go so smoothly… Even after updating all my plugins and removing the “known incompatible” plugins before updating plus deactivating plugins, a lot of breaks occurred. Anyway, after 3 hours of reinstalling and troubleshooting, I’ve gotten my site mostly functional again.

    Note, iMP Links (which you are using, I know) is majorly broken… and NO, the author won’t be fixing it anytime soon… because if you go to his site, he has more bigger issues to deal with… His site currently says, “Attention, I have lost my database.” It’s been like that for over a month now.

    Start looking for a replacement links plugin. Too bad, I really liked that plugin. :(

  8. @jhay – I also plan to do the same thing before I do the actual upgrade. Same here, haven’t blogged as often as I usually do coz my parents are here visiting from the Philippines. I only get to check my blog and email before I go to sleep. Hehe :D

  9. I simulated upgrading my blog to WP 2.3 by using a copy of the database which I mounted on an offline installation of WP on my PC. It was as smooth as silk.

    I’m really happy I played with WP 2.3 on a test blog beforehand. Upgrading and toying around with databases and plugins were more fun and less nerve-wrecking.

    the only reason I can’t upgrade my actual blog is my hectic school schedule. It’s been 4 days or so since I last blogged! :shock:

  10. Yeah, me too. I might wait a few days. But it's not because I'm afraid to do the upgrade. It's because I'm waiting for Dreamhost to update their WordPress version under "Goodies". Then I can just upgrade my WP blog via my Dreamhost Panel. No sweat! :lol:

  11. @trench – Good for you! I guess you don’t use a lot of plugins like I do. Anyways, are you referring to the “tag cloud”? I’m not sure but I think there’s a new plugin made especially for WP 2.3 to display the tag cloud. I’ll look for it and tell if you I find it.

  12. @mr nice ash – I’m sorry but I don’t think that’s possible with 2.3 especially if you’re using several plugins. If you don’t use any plugins and you’re using the default WordPress theme, then it might be possible. :D

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