TwitterBuddy is a plugin for WordPress that makes it easy to link to Twitter/Pownce users' profile pages while creating or editing posts. It also makes it easy to link Hashtags. Just type a Twitter username in your post as you would if you were posting a tweet on Twitter and TwitterBuddy will automatically convert it to a hyperlink that points to http://twitter.com/username.
For example, you post this:
I found this application via @aalaap. It's a wonderful little free app that...
... and TwitterBuddy will automatically convert your post to this:
I found this application via @aalaap. It's a wonderful little free app that...
As easy as twittering!
Usage is the same for Pownce, just that you need to prefix the username with a !, and for Hashtags, where you need to prefix the tag with a #.
TwitterBuddy will also set rel="external" and title="Twitter / username" to the a tag. Also, it will avoid erroneously linking email addresses to Twitter accounts (for eg. hello@hello.com will not link hello.com to the Twitter). If you come across a Twitter link that shouldn't be there, @ reply me on Twitter.
As of version 0.2, you can also set a class and a window target name for the links. A class will let you style the links in a manner different from the other links in your blog, and the target name will let you open the links in a specific window (an IFRAME, a popup, or just _blank to open it in a new window).
Since this is an alpha release, TwitterBuddy will only be available from this location. Once I get fair feedback, I'll send it up to the WordPress plugin repository.
TwitterBuddy should work with WordPress 2.0 and higher. It has been tested with 2.6.2 and it works a-okay.
Download TwitterBuddy 0.2 (.zip, 4kb)
Download TwitterBuddy 0.1 (.zip, 4kb)
Like any decent plugin, extract the twitterbuddy.php file from the downloaded zip archive into your /wp-content/plugins directory and activate the plugin from the admin panel of your blog.
Visit the TwitterBuddy settings page in the admin panel and ensure your relevant services (Twitter, Pownce, Hashtags or all) are turned on. Then simply start posting.
I'll write this when my internet connection starts working again. It's no fun writing and uploading documentation on GPRS.
Till then, follow @aalaap on Twitter and ask away or leave feedback on the UserVoice page for TwitterBuddy. Too bad this page isn't powered by WordPress, or I wouldn't have had to manually link my username to my Twitter page!
Version 0.2 Alpha - 19th October, 2008. Added support for Pownce and Hashtags. Added admin panel to change settings.
Version 0.1 Alpha - 18th October, 2008. First release.
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
Developed by Aalaap Ghag. Everything else comes later.