February 07, 2005
Goodbye, Movable Type?
As much as I really dread it, I think I'm going to have to change my blog over from Movable Type to another blogging platform. My web host recently sent out an email to all subscribers advising them of a new change in policy that requires all third party scripts installed in your web space to be upgraded to the latest version because of security problems.
Fine enough. I can understand their need to keep the servers safe, secure, and far from the hands of malicious attackers who would use my Movable Type blog to send out mass emails. My big problem is with Movable Type. In order to upgrade, I have two options.
- Upgrade to the free, unsupported version of Movable Type
- Upgrade to a paid, but supported, version of Movable Type
Either way, I will have to adapt my style sheets to conform to the new MT 3.X platform because I am still using the old, free MT 2.6 platform. I am really not looking forward to this. I spent a lot of time up front working on the look and feel of this blog, including hacks to the Perl code for a variety of reasons. It took me a very long time to put it together.
Now, no matter what happens, I will have to put in more time and effort to re-create the blog that I'm so happy with as it stands now. The question for me is, "Do I want to upgrade to a lesser version of Movable Type (the free version), or should I move on to another blogging platform?" I refuse to pay for new blogging software because I do not blog as much any more as I did in the past, so why pay for something I don't use very often? I am also not willing to put in the time right now that it would take to either recreate or modify my stylesheets because I have other, far more important things on my plate that need my time and attention.
Basically, no matter what, I will have to move my blog away from MT 2.661.
So, if you were me, which blogging platform would you use? Are you happy with the blogging software you're using now? If so, what do you use, and why do you like it? Does it offer a blacklisting feature to prevent comment and trackback spammers from hitting your blog with more than one or two spam comments per week? (Yes, you read that correctly ... one or two spam comments PER WEEK. That's all I get now, and that's what I expect out of my new blogging software.) I know someone who uses Word Press and seems quite happy with it. I don't know anyone using the free version of MT 3.X. I am open to all opinions, recommendations and scathing editorials of blogging software that should be avoided.
Posted by Kasey on February 7, 2005 05:43 PM | Filed Under: LifeSeveral points
1) The free version of MT 3 is fully functional. They haven't removed any functionality whatsoever as its based on the honor system
2) You don't have to make any changes whatsoever to your stylesheet if you don't want to. The only time you need to touch your templates is if you want to use Typekey. If you don't then there's no reason to. Also if you switch blogging apps, you'll probably need to change your design again to suit that app and the way it works.
3) I had sent you a discount code for MT 3, why not use that?
4) If you really want to quit, I'd advise WordPress. Let me also say that spam isn't just an MT problem. My WordPress installation has been hammered with spam which is scary considering it is a private install not listed on any search engine etc.
I'd suggest you upgrade to MT 3, I don't see any reason not to :)
Posted by: Arvind on February 8, 2005 03:37 AMWell, you know that I already switched over to Wordpress. Along with Spam Karma it has been handling the comment and now trackback spam very well.
I did have to redo my template. But I decided that change was good. :)
Good luck in which ever software you choose to use.
Posted by: Bruce on February 8, 2005 06:21 AMThanks, Arvind, for setting me straight on several of those points concerning Movable Type. I was not aware that the free version of MT 3.0 was fully functional. I thought it had restrictions.
As for purchasing an upgrade license to Movable Type, I don't think I'll be doing that, even though you were so kind and generous as to give me a discount code. I don't want to go into too much personal detail or actual numbers here about my financial state of affairs, but let's just leave it at the fact that if you go back and read my post about "A Change Around the Corner," you'll know where I'm coming from. At this time, I have more important needs requiring money than purchasing blogging software. Although I truly enjoy my blog, I don't have the kind of time to devote to it that I used to, and I think that purchasing any kind of software would be an added expense that I don't want to take on, no matter how minor it may seem to be to others out there who have already purchased the software. Besides, for me, blogging is a hobby, not a stream of income, so I should be a good girl and devote my money towards the creation of income, otherwise my hubby might be just a wee bit upset with me! ;-)
So, if you read my post about "A Change Around the Corner," you know what's happening at my work. We still have no word yet on which people will be affected by the lay-offs. Either way, I am planning on changing professions and becoming a "professional" stock trader to generate my main source of income. Essentially, I am starting a new business, and there are a lot of start-up costs associated with doing that. The investment of time and money associated with personal training, education, practice and accumulation of experience uses up all of my available free time and disposable cash -- hence, the reason I have no time to adjust my stylesheets and no cash to pay for software that I'll rarely be using.
Posted by: Kasey on February 8, 2005 04:19 PM