Posts tagged comicpress

Response – WebComic + InkBlot vs ComicPress

Before I begin: The following is a response to the article posted here. I highly recommend reading the entire thing before reading this, as I’m responding to specifically quoted sections from that article.

Let’s start with ComicPress (to try to be more fair I set it to the 3C theme so it had 2 sidebars there WITH default widgets that load): [image] 47 Queries, 3.25MB Memory Usage, 0.117 seconds load time.

…

So moving on, I added the WebComic Plugin and now its: [image] 54 Queries, 15.75 MB mem used and loads in 0.574 seconds

I’m sorry, why? ^ clearly wtf.

We have a performance comparison to start out, with absolutely no specifics provided beyond the code used to actually display the numbers. The data is meaningless, but it certainly looks impressive: Webcomic & Inkblot are sending more queries and have nearly five times the memory usage of ComicPress. Scary, huh?

Here are the results I ran on my deveopment box (a 2009 mid-range 15” Macbook Pro) with a fresh install of WordPress 3 RC3. The first screenshot is ComicPress 2.9.1.2 (the version currently available from comicpress.org and the WordPress Theme Directory) and the second is Webcomic 2.1.1 with Inkblot 2 (the versions currently available from the WordPress plugin directory and Google Code, respectively):

If anything, all this proves is that your server has as much to do with performance as the software it’s running. Here, we have ComicPress making 33 queries, using 18.25mb of memory, and loading in 0.266 seconds. Webcomic & Inkblot make 41 queries, use  17.75mb of memory, and load in 0.171 seconds.

Edit: For comparison, here’s a base install of WordPress 3 RC3 running the default TwentyTen theme:

That’s 15 queries using 16.25mb of memory with a 0.269 second page load.

Now let’s look at InkBlot (no default widgets loading only one sidebar active)

[image]

Oh wait, you CANT, Inkblot requires a Plugin to actually work. ComicPress does not, you name the files put them in the comics directory and associate the categories in the comicpress-config.php and that’s all you need for a functioning working system.

Here we have a fundamental misunderstanding of how Webcomic (and Inkblot) work compared to ComicPress. Unlike ComicPress, Inkblot is not a standalone theme. It’s specifically designed to work with the Webcomic plugin, which is why it requires said plugin. Inkblot provides absolutely no comic management features of it’s own; it relies entirely on the Webcomic plugin, which itself can be used with any WordPress theme. Inkblot is a beginners theme for the Webcomic plugin.

WebComic + Inkblot has only a handful of options and none of them let you take control of your site. ComicPress let’s you handle everything from what sort of order you want to use to where you want the actual comics to post on, giving you full control over what you want to do without editing a single bit of code.

Here we have the assumption that more equals better. ComicPress certainly does have more customization options on it’s eight settings pages (compared to one settings page for Webocmic and one for Inkblot). If the mere thought of opening a CSS files gives you a heart attack then yes, ComicPress’ poorly-organized list of hundreds of settings split over several pages is the way to go.

The options even let you change how the template pages work, .. oh wait, does WebComic + Inkblot have additional templates to handle how the archives and comics display? No, not a single one.

Here, again, we have a fundamental misunderstanding of how Webcomic (and Inkblot) work compared to ComicPress. Inkblot has a number of options for configuring how to display archive pages on the Add/Edit Page pages, using a custom Metabox with options specifically related to archive display and an Archive page template specifically designed for comic archives. The Inkblot Settings page itself has a number of options related to comic display (whether or not to display comics on archive pages, how to display navigation, etc.) which a cursory look at might’ve revealed.

On page 3 we have a screenshot showing Webcomic’s new widgets compared to ComicPress’ new widgets, with very little explanation (seems to be more equals better, again). Hard to argue with that, though some of the widgets certainly are interesting, like two separate widgets for bookmarks that could’ve been rolled into one.

This is just one of *many* examples of bad coding. It completely taxes the wp-cache and database for it’s options. Everytime an option is used it loads over and over again through the various WordPress functions to get the right information.

The “one of many” examples being showcased here is the use of WordPress’ own add_option() function, which (in Webcomic 1 - 2.1) is run exactly once for each setting when the plugin is first installed (not “everytime an option is used”). WordPress itself has quite a few more options saved to the database in a similar fashion when you first install it.

If you look, they’re both on the same track here, it’s unfathomable for a newbie to find the right areas to change via CSS. However, ComicPress uses a functions and widgets directory that clearly defines by name what is inside the code for easily accessible information and where to find what does what.

Finding something in inkblot is the equivalent of a needle in a haystack, virtually impossible to do for someone who doesn’t want to get frustrated trying find something as simple as a text change.

Once again, there’s a fundamental misunderstanding of how Webcomic (and Inkblot) work compared to ComicPress. Inkblot provides absolutely no comic-related functions or widgets of it’s own, so it doesn’t have any files related to them (trying to find them in Inkblot would, in fact, be impossible because of this). All of these features are included in the Webcomic plugin (in files like wc-widgets.php) which can be used with any WordPress theme, not just Inkblot.

They BOTH utilize child themes that you can edit to override the defaults and never lose your themes look. Except ComicPress has the plugin ComicPress Companion to give you even another level above that.

The plugin being referenced is actually called Theme Companion (it used to be ComicPress Companion), which adds a basic CSS editor to the WordPress administrative dashboard. As far as I can tell it’s usable with any theme (not just ComicPress as is implied here) and allows you to type CSS into a styleized textarea with line numbers, a fullscreen option, etc. It also includes a small handful of basic CSS examples. WordPress itself includes a built-in code editor that allows for roughly the same thing, minus the stylized editing field and basic CSS examples.

*ALSO* ComicPress gives you the ability as a designer/programmer/developer to change CORE Theme functionality, for example:

[image]

Every important function for display is wrapped in a way that it can be changed in the child theme so the child theme not only contains the ability to add new widgets, add new sets for graphics but *also* can change the core functionality of how ComicPress works.

What’s being described here is the ability to redeclare functions (replacing them) and the the fact that, at least for the functions displayed in the image, the function output is run through a filter using WordPress’ own filter functions so that a developer could modify the output of a built-in ComicPress function without editing the core files. Webcomic 1 - 2.1 does not utilize WordPress’ filter functions in this way, nor does it check to see if any of it’s own functions have already been declared. A number of handy users have directly modified the plugin without much trouble, and Webcomic 3 is built on an extensible class framework and does utilize WordPress’ filter functions for more advanced modification to the plugin.

Did I mention sets? Yes, EVERY graphic set, moods, avatars, calendars wallpapers, calendar archive images, navigation everything can be made into sets and placed into the child theme and recognized immediately!

^ coincidently, WebComic has NONE of those features at all.

There’s no specific explanation of what sets are (besides collections of graphics) so I’m not sure what to make of this. There are at least ten WordPress plugins that provide “mood” features that work with any theme. Avatars are built in to WordPress (and there are a number of plugins related to those as well). Navigation imagery can be added, though Inkblot does not include a default set of images for navigation (it assumes you’d like to use your own). Calendar archives have never been included in Webcomic and will continue to be absent until someone can provide a compelling argument for including them (because ComicPress can do it isn’t a compelling argument, and such archives could still be built by a knowledgeable user).

Just to give kudos to something WebComic has over ComicPress is Documentation, ComicPress needs documentation badly. Kind of easy though for WebComic + Inkblot to make documentation though, since there’s really not much to make documentation on.

It’s nice that at least one sentence was spared for a (very backhanded) compliment, but it’s pretty clear that the biggest issue here is a severe misunderstanding of the differences between ComicPress and Webcomic (and Inkblot). Actually looking at that documentation might have cleared up some of the confusion; there are even video tutorials that explain how to use features that apparently don’t exist in Webcomic or Inkblot.

Both of the developers are quite happy to assist you with whatever you need to do and are approachable for questions and answers, some without ulterior motifs and just want to help whether your using their CMS or not. (me)

In summary, use WebComic + Inkblot if you don’t want to have the options.  Use ComicPress if you want want the real deal…

We also don’t have the fanboys belittling you for using what you choose to use. ComicPress users are known to just want to see you succeed with your comic, whatever you choose to use.

Notice how in the preceding paragraph Frumph disparages Webcomic and Inkblot and then feels the need to insult the developer (myself) and even Webcomic and Inkblot users. He seems to honestly believe that I have some kind of ulterior motive and am totally out to get him and ComicPress and take over the world!!!

Here’s my entire history with Frumph:

I didn’t know the man existed until early last year (2009), well after the first versions of Webcomic and Inkblot had been released. I had no idea he was directly involved with ComicPress when I did finally learn of his existence; all I knew was that he was involved in the comic community and seemed to be popular for his apparent knowledge of web development and WordPress.

He contacted me maybe two or three times to chat about various things; what specifically I can’t recall now, but he was generally cordial. We did chat once about adding Webcomic & Inkblot as an option on Webcomic Planet, to be offered alongside ComicPress, but Webcomic wasn’t WordPress MU compatible at the time and I didn’t have much interest working on supporting it. I was even offered some kind of judging position in the Webcomic Planet Awards thing that eventually imploded.

Sometime last year Frumph contacted me about ComicPress’ Theme Moods to let me know he was releasing it as a plugin (I have no idea why). I happened to be working on a similar plugin (Empathy) at the same time, which ended up getting released about two days after Theme Moods. Frumph immediately insulted me by claiming I was completely unoriginal and was stealing his ideas; I responded back that the two plugins were quite different in how they worked, the idea wasn’t original (there are at least ten other mood plugins that predate Frumphs), and that his code wasn’t worth stealing (yes, I am happy to respond to an insult with an insult).

Since then I’ve been on Frumph’s “shit list” (or whatever he likes to call it). He’s made random insults directed at Webcomic, myself, and now it’s users, and seems to have a genuine fear that I’m somehow out to get him and destroy ComicPress and the webcomic community. I’ve never paid much attention to the man, and don’t really care that he hates me (his tantrums over things like this provide endless amounts of humor, at least).

I started Webcomic (and Inkblot) on a whim back in 2008 after trying to help a friend modify her existing ComicPress (then 2.5, I believe) site and thinking “I can do better.” I’ve never cared for ComicPress as a comic publishing option (which I’ve made clear in my own personal blog posts), but I know it’s popular and I’m certainly not trying to somehow force everyone to use Webcomic & Inkblot. My own opinion aside, ComicPress is a decent option with some issues; there are great alternatives, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Here’s the ones I’m aware of (besides Webcomic):

If you want the “real deal”, as Frumph calls it, try them all and pick the one that works best for you. It’s your webcomic, and there are plenty of people out there willing to help you with whatever you choose to run it with.

The Next Webcomic

After an extended and much needed hiatus from near-constant updates (for both myself and some of Webcomic’s users, I imagine), I’m starting to kick around ideas for the next version of the Webcomic plugin. Working on Webcomic taught me a lot about PHP and the WordPress platform, and feedback and additional projects (Empathy and Chapbook) have greatly expanded my understanding in both of those areas. I’ve learned quite a bit, and I’d like to bring this knowledge back to Webcomic.

First, some of my current thoughts on the next Webcomic:

  • It will be a major update, much like the transition from Webcomic 1 to Webcomic 2. It’ll probably end up being Webcomic 3.
  • Unlike the transition from Webcomic 1 to Webcomic 2 I’m not limiting myself to what exists now. Webcomic 2 was a heavy rewrite of Webcomic 1. Webcomic 3 is an entirely new plugin built from the ground up and borrowing things I’ve learned from Webcomic, Empathy, and Chapbook.
  • There will be some new features (some you may have seen elsewhere, others you may have not) but my primary focus will be making Webcomic even better at the things it already does, which is quite a lot to begin with.
  • As with all major releases there will be a new companion theme, possibly more than one.

I’m really glad so many people have chosen to use WordPress with Webcomic to publish their own comic. I never imagined something I started on a whim (as a challenge by Liliy of The Adventures of Wiglaf & Mordred no less) would turn into such a fun and, admittedly, draining project. There have been a few minor conflicts along the way but nothing of consequence, and a lot of support from Webcomic users. Overall it’s been a great experience.

What I’d like to ask of all Webcomic users (past and present) out there now is for your own thoughts: on Webcomic, on how it works for you, on what doesn’t work so well for you, and on how you’d like it to work in the future. To this end, I’ve put together a brief form I’d like as many Webcomic users to fill out. Thanks everyone!

Take the Webcomic Survey

WordPress as a Comic Publishing Platform

This post was spurred along by a comment at webcomics.com which has since been deleted, though I’ve been meaning to write something like this for awhile. I’ll be focusing primarily on ComicPress here but we’ll eventually move on to alternatives like WP-Comic, Manga+Press, stripShow, and Webcomic.

WordPress is an incredibly flexible publishing platform and has become a popular choice amongst webcomic publishers. In the webcomic world, of course, WordPress is often equivalent to ComicPress, the self-described industry standard for publishing webcomics. And while ComicPress has done a lot to make webcomic publishing more readily accessible, it’s a great idea that doesn’t go far enough and ultimately hinders the publishers that use it and the platform it utilizes.

ComicPress: First, not the Best

One thing that seems to be lost on many webcomic publishers is that WordPress is not the same thing as ComicPress. WordPress is a web publishing platform that started out primarily as a blogging tool but has evolved into an extremely robust content management system that’s suitable for many kinds of sites, webcomics included. One of it’s best features is it’s extensibility via plugins and themes.

Plugins and themes serve two distinct purposes in WordPress. Plugins, as the WordPress documentation notes, “are tools to extend the functionality of WordPress.” Themes, on the other hand, are “a collection of files that work together to produce a graphical interface with an underlying unifying design for a weblog.” As the documentation notes Themes are essentially skins for your site, but they can also alter both the look and presentation of the website.

It’s important to note that while ComicPress is often used interchangeably with WordPress in the webcomic world (WordPress/ComicPress is how the platform is usually mentioned) ComicPress is also mistaken as a WordPress plugin. The confusion probably stems from the fact that ComicPress does extend the WordPress platform in a few ways that would be better handled via a plugin, but ComicPress itself is a WordPress theme. Five themes, in fact, each serving the exact same purpose but with slightly varying layouts (two columns, three columns, etc.).

ComicPress was the first and, for a time, only ready-made option for webcomic publishers looking at WordPress, and it remains inextricably tied to WordPress in the minds of webcomic publishers. As the theme approaches it’s fourth year, however, it continues to languish in slow development, poor support, and non-existent documentation. Common feature requests such as alternate text for images and comic transcripts were just recently implemented in version 2.7, and most-often requested features like multi-comic support continue to be ignored despite being available in other WordPress webcomic publishing options.

Such features that are implemented are often poorly implemented. Comic files must contain post dates in their filename in a specific format to work with ComicPress, and ComicPress transcripts (for example) do not support user submitted transcripts and aren’t searchable using WordPress’ default search. In fact, an entirely separate plugin was pasted directly into the ComicPress functions.php file to enable transcript search, but it requires a separate search widget.

Further hampering the project is a decided lack of support for core WordPress technologies. Wherever possible the developers seem to build entirely new functions even if the functionality already exists in WordPress, or use existing functionality improperly. A perfect example is the storylines feature recently added to ComicPress Manager, a WordPress plugin designed to ease the management of a site using the ComicPress theme. The developer chose to use Categories, WordPress’ taxonomy for organizing posts, to simulate storylines by forcing any subcategory of a comic category to be automatically interpreted as a storyline.

The stated reason for using Categories as storylines in this way is “…to be more compatible with plugins and future developments of WordPress…” What the developers apparently missed is that WordPress has an entire Taxonomy API designed specifically for adding new post taxonomies that can be used to create an entirely new way of organizing posts, like storylines. The Taxonomy API is at least as future proof as Categories as well, since Categories are managed with the same Taxonomy API available to developers.

Ignoring built-in functionality like this has lead to repeated trouble for ComicPress as WordPress continues to advance. Each major WordPress release is typically incompatible with ComicPress, forcing the theme to be updated to address the incompatibilities before ComicPress users can actually upgrade their WordPress installations.

Numerous other shortcomings affect the ComicPress theme and ComicPress Manager plugin. None of the five themes are web-standards compliant, and all require directly modifying a special comicpress-config.php file to set basic options like the site comic category, an archaic method of configuration that could easily be supplanted by a theme settings page but continues to be hand-editting process. There’s also no stated reason for providing five different themes when a single theme could serve each of the layouts the ComicPress themes offer, and many more, with just a few simple options.

Most damaging to the project, however, is a decided lack of direct support for users. Support questions on the official forums often go unanswered or are answered in short statements that provide little substantive assistance. Despite being available for nearly four years neither the ComicPress theme or ComicPress Manager plugin have any substantial form of documentation beyond a simple readme that comes with the theme.

There’s a Plugin for That

The great thing about WordPress, however, is that there are plugins for just about everything. And while ComicPress may have been the only option for webomic publishers for a brief time there are at least four other alternatives now, many of which have significant advantages over the aging theme. Here I’ll describe, in brief, some of the available alternatives and how they compare to ComicPress.

WP-Comic

Like ComicPress, WP-Comic is a WordPress theme with integrated webcomic functionality. It uses standard WordPress functions for uploading and managing comic files, and provides a simple administrative page for adjusting various theme settings (no config file).

Manga+Press

While it doesn’t provide every feature ComicPress does, Manga+Press is a WordPress plugin that provides new webcomic functionality that can be used with any WordPress theme. It uses the regular WordPress media functions to manage webcomic files and provides basic webcomic site features like comic navigation and archives.

stripShow

The stripShow plugin actually began back in 2007 as a heavy modification of the ComicPress theme which was eventually split into a plugin. The most recent version uses the highly customizable, general-purpose Sandbox theme as an example and starter theme for using the plugin, and comes with a sizable PDF document that outlines all of the plugin features and how to use them. As a plugin, stripShow is not tied to any particular WordPress theme like ComicPress, and could be used by a knowledgeable user to create new webcomic themes or turn existing themes into webcomic themes.

Additional features include a relatively easy to use administration page for managing the plugin settings (no config files), support for Flash comics, integrated transcript searching that doesn’t require a new search widget, and storyline support that doesn’t require the use of WordPress Categories, among others.

Webcomic

I started working on the Webcomic plugin November 2008 in response to the shortcomings I saw in ComicPress and made the first official release in December 2008. The initial release included many features ComicPress lacked at the time and some it still lacks, including storyline support, transcript support, comic hover text support, a comic library management page, a simple configuration page (no config files), a large collection of new theme template tags that could be used to turn any WordPress theme into a webcomic site, and a custom built, highly-customizable theme that provided a simple configuration page to alter the appearance and functionality of the theme, providing hundreds of possible site configurations in a single theme.

Since that time, Webcomic and it’s companion theme Inkblot have been continuously updated to provide new features such as Flash comic support (also available in stripShow), user-submittable transcripts, the oft-requested multi-comic support, support for loading entirely different WordPress themes based on the current comic, advanced storyline navigation, WordPress MU support, and internationalization support.

Stop Hacking, Start Using

What ComicPress did for webcomic publishing should not be understated; like WordPress has done for blogging, ComicPress made webcomic publishing easier and more accessible for many. After four years, however, the platform that made it all possible has left ComicPress behind as it stagnates with slow development and poor support. A number of more functional, easier to use alternatives are now available, and users owe it to themselves to explore all of the available options before settling on the “industry standard” in webcomic publishing with WordPress.