Setting Up WordPress

As discussed in the Introduction, there are two ways you can set up WordPress:

• Create a free account on WordPress.com. This sets up a basic version of WordPress that has mostbut not allfeatures of a full installation. This is both easy and free.
  
  
  
  
• Install WordPress on a server. This enables you to use just about all of WordPress's features and to customize WordPress by installing new themes, modifying theme files, and installing and activating plugins. You have two choices for the server:
  
  
  
  
  • Set up on an ISP's server. Keep in mind that your ISP may impose restrictions on access, installation, or running PHP scripts.
    
    
  • Set up on your own server. This requires that you maintain your own server and Internet connection if you want your blog accessible on the Internet. But if you're a Web designer interested in running a WordPress blog for internal development, the Internet connection is not required.
    
    

This chapter explains how to set up WordPress on WordPress.com and a server.