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ManageWP Orion Developer Diary #2

,

Update: There have been some changes from the time the Orion idea has originated. I would highly suggest reading our newest edition of Developer Diary #8! 🙂

It’s been almost a month since we kicked off the Orion Developer Diary. It’s crunch time in the ManageWP HQ, and we’ve got some great news for you.

You Were Promised Backups In The Previous Diary

Initially the Dev Diary #2 was intended to give you a tour of the new backup system we planned to release into Orion Beta by then, but the beta tester feedback was so overwhelming that we needed to pause further development and sort out the fundamentals.

So before I go over these changes I’ll just drop a small teaser of the new backup system that will DEFINITELY be in the next dev diary (the design is still a bit off, don’t hold this against us) 🙂

Restore backupPictured: a concept of pure awesomeness

This Is Why Your Feedback Matters

You gave us a lot of food for thought, so a lot of the dashboard elements were sent back to the To Do list. The first one on the chopping block was the Overview tab in the Statistics widget:

mighty_overviewOriginally intended as a feel-good part of screen real estate, it did not strike a chord with you so we replaced it with more useful information; instead of getting a quick numerical overview of the available updates that was in the initial Orion Beta, the new Overview tab content is of much higher quality: you’ve got an overview of backups, updates, uptime and traffic all in one place.

We also took a shot at redesigning our most important widget that handles the plugin, theme and core updates:

updates_widget1

You haven’t sent us negative feedback regarding this widget, we felt we need to go above and beyond, so we added the Ignore and the Automated Update buttons to this widget, reducing the number of clicks you need to make in order to manage the available updates. There are also bracket numbers you know the exact number of plugins, themes and core updates in each category, for your convenience.

We’re also close to locking down the uptime monitoring widget design:

Uptime_Widget

 

You’ll notice that we’ve made some improvements over the current version of ManageWP – there are more stats, better error logging, and the uptime can be included in the client report.

Other Major Improvements

  • You are now able to add websites that are fully behind HTTP authentication
  • You are now able to manage websites with the altered wp-admin URL
  • Whenever a website is added, it will automatically be linked to the correct Google Analytics website if your Google Analytics account has been connected
  • You are now able to add the website on a server with a self-signed SSL certificate
  • The Refresh IP button has been removed. An algorithm now checks if your website IP has changed and updates it for you
  • There are now inspirational quotes on our loading screen 🙂

Got any questions or suggestions, or want in on the beta? Let me know in the comment section and I’ll be happy to write back. Good times ahead!

Want more info? Check out the Orion Developer Diary #1

Update: ManageWP Orion Developer Diary #3 is out with a detailed rundown of our new backup system!

Nemanja Aleksic Avatar

126 responses

  1. Lara Littlefield Avatar
    Lara Littlefield

    These developer diaries offer so much detailed insight. They’re a really fantastic resource. Thanks for sharing and taking the time to do this!

  2. bob@visible.com.au Avatar
    bob@visible.com.au

    Beta please? How’s the rank tracking stuff looking? Is there a way to tell the automagic system that its tracking the wrong keywords for the wrong sites?

  3. ngmatthews@gmail.com Avatar
    ngmatthews@gmail.com

    I would love to get on the beta to check out the new system

  4. matt.rutherford@gmail.com Avatar
    matt.rutherford@gmail.com

    Happy to help Beta test if I can be of use!

  5. lincetto@gmail.com Avatar
    lincetto@gmail.com

    Happy to test! 🙂

  6. christian@nextpage.no Avatar
    christian@nextpage.no

    I’d love beta access.

    Also wondering, is there a notification/reporting API on the road map? It would be great to be able to seamlessly import some of the information from the ManageWP dashboard into other, more comprehensive busisness dashboards.

  7. bill@cprax.com Avatar
    bill@cprax.com

    Beta access would be appreciated – thanks!

  8. Jonathan.downam@voltairegroupllc.com Avatar
    Jonathan.downam@voltairegroupllc.com

    Would like to try the beta.

  9. FMS Avatar
    FMS

    does the ‘add websites that are fully behind HTTP authentication’ feature work with wpengine’s Password Protected/Block Traffic feature?

    i’d love to be in the beta too!

  10. jatinsapra Avatar
    jatinsapra

    really interested in trying the beta 🙂

  11. janbear Avatar
    janbear

    On the backup system, I’d appreciate more accurate reporting of what has and hasn’t been backed up (to Amazon S3). Sometimes it says the site hasn’t been backed up, but it really has. Sometimes, it says the site has been backed up, but the backup got stick in the server. Backups have to be shepherded every day.

    Thanks.

  12. ivahost1@gmail.com Avatar
    ivahost1@gmail.com

    Will be glad to test the new system

  13. BlizzDesign Avatar
    BlizzDesign

    We would love to try the Beta version!

  14. ff@dreimorgen.com Avatar
    ff@dreimorgen.com

    Wow, this looks well thought out! I am excited. I just got around working with ManageWP and it’s awesome already. Can’t wait to see what you have build! I’d also like beta access 🙂

  15. post@header.no Avatar
    post@header.no

    This looks great. Love to be beta and test this live 🙂
    Good work!

  16. maginleym Avatar
    maginleym

    I would like to contribute to the Beta if you still users.

  17. tamas.ratkai@pixeland.hu Avatar
    tamas.ratkai@pixeland.hu

    A public Trello board would be really nice so we can check the milestones. Frontapp uses it also. Check it out for inspiration: https://trello.com/b/kZsVVrc8/front-product-roadmap

  18. vicente@lecluster.com Avatar
    vicente@lecluster.com

    I would love to help testing. Please add me to the Beta :).

  19. straitline Avatar
    straitline

    I’ll take beta access, thanks.

  20. Happily Organised Avatar
    Happily Organised

    Yes please – sign us up!

  21. holotrope Avatar
    holotrope

    I’m interested in the beta program if still open. Thanks!

  22. jtaylor Avatar
    jtaylor

    Would love to be a beta tester.

    J

  23. scott.robinson@wkkf.org Avatar
    scott.robinson@wkkf.org

    Would love beta access. This looks great!

  24. hi@brianjackson.io Avatar
    hi@brianjackson.io

    Would love to help test the beta guys! Thanks

  25. mwp2 Avatar
    mwp2

    I love MWP! I’d love to be a beta tester.

  26. randywstevenson@gmail.com Avatar
    randywstevenson@gmail.com

    Add me to Beta. I work in Web Hosting support and I recommend ManageWP a lot 🙂 Fantastic tool.!

  27. staff@datachieve.com Avatar
    staff@datachieve.com

    We would like to be added as a beta test.

  28. daniel@push10.com Avatar
    daniel@push10.com

    I hope the current issues have been addressed:

    1. You can’t have different backup settings for different websites
    2. You lose all your FTP settings if you uncheck the FTP option during a backup

  29. Thomas Avatar
    Thomas

    Nice improvementsI would also like to take part in the beta programm. Thanks!

  30. dan@kardell.org Avatar
    dan@kardell.org

    I would like to be considered for the beta program

  31. ryan@dijt.co Avatar
    ryan@dijt.co

    Please include us in your beta. Thanks!

  32. jainlv Avatar
    jainlv

    would like to beta

  33. zarian@himerit.com Avatar
    zarian@himerit.com

    I would love to give you feedback on beta

  34. cdybenko@gmail.com Avatar
    cdybenko@gmail.com

    This is great stuff. I’d love to get in on the beta!

  35. modescoo@gmail.com Avatar
    modescoo@gmail.com

    I would like to be beta tester

  36. Zac Davis Avatar
    Zac Davis

    Beta rules! …I am guessing.

  37. martin@academicdigital.co.uk Avatar
    martin@academicdigital.co.uk

    would love to come onboard and try the beta

  38. Brad Avatar
    Brad

    Plugin or theme rollback possible? I know updates break things at times-going to previous or earlier version seems like a good idea.

  39. Jillyn Avatar
    Jillyn

    I’m loving Orion and am very excited about the updates you’ve made (especially the update all – yay)! Thank you for a great tool and all of your hard work!

  40. Daniel Bell Avatar
    Daniel Bell

    Looks you implemented the design feedback! Looking much better. I can’t tell but are you accounting for retina screens now?

  41. managewp@stratusclear.com Avatar
    managewp@stratusclear.com

    I’d like to join the beta

  42. accounts@treccreative.com Avatar
    accounts@treccreative.com

    Our Design house would LOVE to be a part of the beta!

  43. WP Lab Avatar
    WP Lab

    Those screenshots look awesome! I can’t wait to be able to play with it, so please sign me up for the beta 🙂

  44. brac.wardlaw@klevur.com Avatar
    brac.wardlaw@klevur.com

    I would like to be a beta tester.

  45. anders.b.eriksson@gmail.com Avatar
    anders.b.eriksson@gmail.com

    I would like to be a beta tester:)

  46. spencertaylor@gmail.com Avatar
    spencertaylor@gmail.com

    I would love to be a Beta tester. I use ManagerWP everyday, and I am excited to get to Orion now, not later. Plus, as a developer, I’m really good at breaking stuff 🙂

  47. pal@toppkarakter.no Avatar
    pal@toppkarakter.no

    I would love to be a beta-tester.

  48. sales@throwitwide.com Avatar
    sales@throwitwide.com

    beta please. 🙂

  49. Website Creatives Avatar
    Website Creatives

    Wow, Orion is looking pretty good, can’t wait to have a go at it! Any chance I could get a beta invite?

  50. jmazza@eitechs.com Avatar
    jmazza@eitechs.com

    Would love to beta

  51. mlaasri@gmail.com Avatar
    mlaasri@gmail.com

    I would to be a beta-tester.

  52. ghc Avatar
    ghc

    I’d like to beta test

  53. info@hayesabrams.com Avatar
    info@hayesabrams.com

    Looking good. I would be interested in participating in the beta.

  54. tontonweb@gmail.com Avatar
    tontonweb@gmail.com

    hello, looks great !
    i’d love to be in the beta too!
    thx

  55. trent@bitstorm.com.au Avatar
    trent@bitstorm.com.au

    Can’t wait to see this go live. Please as me as a Beta Tester.

  56. pvdochtend@gmail.com Avatar
    pvdochtend@gmail.com

    It would be great to be a beta tester and test this new enviroment !!!

  57. DT Media Avatar
    DT Media

    Please add us a beta tester

  58. craig@pitsch-media.com.au Avatar
    craig@pitsch-media.com.au

    We’d love to participate in the Beta!

  59. cmundell Avatar
    cmundell

    I’m up for beta testing!

  60. Ken Westgaard Avatar
    Ken Westgaard

    Don’t know if this has been asked before, but will there be possible to run scheduled security scans? And get some kind of notification if something is wrong?

  61. daniel@push10.com Avatar
    daniel@push10.com

    When do you think Orion will be released? Summer? end of the year? I don’t need a specific time-frame, just a general idea. We’re considering switching services, but I would like to give Orion a try before.

  62. thetouchstudios Avatar
    thetouchstudios

    I want in on the beta. Can’t wait to see it.

  63. Nemanja Aleksic Avatar
    Nemanja Aleksic

    All of the people who asked for beta in the comment section so far have been added to the beta list; some of you already received the invite. Have fun and make sure you break as much as you can! 🙂

  64. apwebdev Avatar
    apwebdev

    Would love to be part of the beta.

  65. acmanage@wpgate.com.br Avatar
    acmanage@wpgate.com.br

    BETA PLEASE!

  66. DT Media Avatar
    DT Media

    Please add us to the beta!

  67. wesleyellismusic@gmail.com Avatar
    wesleyellismusic@gmail.com

    Beta – add me for sure. I’ll give feedback.

  68. Stein Avatar
    Stein

    Looks great! Count me in on the beta, please.

  69. atjuch@gmail.com Avatar
    atjuch@gmail.com

    can you add me to the beta? 🙂

  70. info@arseneault.ca Avatar
    info@arseneault.ca

    Still possible to be switched to the Orion beta ?

  71. info@outliners.nl Avatar
    info@outliners.nl

    beta please

  72. webproducer Avatar
    webproducer

    Please include me in the beta program – thanks

  73. andymarkle@willowmarketing.com Avatar
    andymarkle@willowmarketing.com

    Please add me to the beta!

  74. dan@kardell.org Avatar
    dan@kardell.org

    Can’t wait to try this out. Would still like to be considered for the beta

  75. boydstonmarketing Avatar
    boydstonmarketing

    Would love to be added to Beta!

  76. kevin@sanderling.co.uk Avatar
    kevin@sanderling.co.uk

    Yes please to beta if possible.

  77. Matt2012@gmail.com Avatar
    Matt2012@gmail.com

    Brand new to managewp and still in my trial but would love to try out the beta looks very nice.

  78. zach@mindsize.me Avatar
    zach@mindsize.me

    Would love to be a part of this beta!

  79. Nemanja Aleksic Avatar
    Nemanja Aleksic

    Everyone up until now has been added to the beta list. If you don’t see the invite by the end of the week, please check your spam filter.

    Looking forward to letting you all test Orion!

  80. Michael@wizdealz.com Avatar
    Michael@wizdealz.com

    Please add me to the beta. Can’t wait to restrict out.

  81. jamesbarlo@gmail.com Avatar
    jamesbarlo@gmail.com

    i want to beta test this

  82. Terence Avatar
    Terence

    I have a couple of sites I where I would be interested to try out the new beta. One is an established multsite network and the other a new single site in development. The development site is SSL only, both are on different DigitalOcean VPS, on NginX/Apache2 servers and both are behind CloudFlare’s reverse proxy.

    I mean, how hard can it be? Not much could go wrong there, right?

    Terence.

  83. admin@igoo.co.uk Avatar
    admin@igoo.co.uk

    hi, id like to sign up for beta testing if possible! 😀

  84. permakitalo@gmail.com Avatar
    permakitalo@gmail.com

    I would like to try the beta, thanks.

  85. msgliniewicz@gmail.com Avatar
    msgliniewicz@gmail.com

    Hi, I am new to the plugin and like what I see.. I would like to see more info with the reports.. Such as: as baseline report when a new site comes online showing, WP Version, Plugin Version, broken links, last virus scan, number and names of ADMIN users, SEO errors, etc) then be able to track this info over time. This is critical for my clients and my ROI.

    Thanks

  86. alexbangle@live.com Avatar
    alexbangle@live.com

    I would like to try out the new beta. Thanks!

  87. Nemanja Aleksic Avatar
    Nemanja Aleksic

    You’ve all been added to the Orion closed beta. If you can’t find the invitation in your inbox or spam folder, let me know!

  88. Corinne@RealDesignGraphics.com Avatar
    Corinne@RealDesignGraphics.com

    I would love to join the beta if there is still room

  89. webmaster@noxqs.nl Avatar
    webmaster@noxqs.nl

    I would like to join the beta 😀

  90. andrew@thesportsfamily.com Avatar
    andrew@thesportsfamily.com

    Yeah sign me up have a bunch of multisite so should look good

  91. mordavia1982 Avatar
    mordavia1982

    would love to become a beta tester

  92. mike@lanbran.com Avatar
    mike@lanbran.com

    We’d love to have our staff beta test Orion as well. How can our account be added to the list?

  93. Liz Avatar
    Liz

    I’d love access to the beta as well, please! 🙂

  94. contact@creativeadhd.com Avatar
    contact@creativeadhd.com

    Please add me to the beta. Thank you!

  95. mads@safi.dk Avatar
    mads@safi.dk

    Please add me to the beta!

  96. Nemanja Aleksic Avatar
    Nemanja Aleksic

    Invites for everyone! So excited about the new Developer Diary next week 🙂

  97. chrisjohns03@gmail.com Avatar
    chrisjohns03@gmail.com

    I’d like to test the Orion beta!

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