Finally, finally, someone has done an clean job developing a membership solution for WordPress, and Buddypress. S2 Member aka “subscriber to member” is a newer plugin developed by Primo Themes (a division of Web Sharks). It is the most robust membership plugin that I have seen, and the only membership plugin I know of that is extensible. To me, as a developer, this plugin is a dream because it provides a really solid foundation, and puts all the tools and hooks I need to be able to work out any solution my clients need (which is the same reason why I LOVE WordPress).

What I like about S2 Member:

• It uses the native processes WordPress and Buddypress use for registration. One of the biggest pitfalls most other plugins make, is they monkey with the registration process (which is usually why they don’t work with Buddypress).
• Uses WordPress’ database tables for a seamless integration. Many of the other membership plugins use their own database tables to store information, which is not ideal when you start adding other features (and other plugins) to your site
• Provides several PHP conditionals you can use in template files.  Some of the other plugins also do, but they don’t provide as many to work with.
• Integrates with any existing  Affiliate software that supports pixel tracking (all the ones worth using), which also makes it easy to integrate with Google Analytics. Most of the other membership plugins want you to use their “affiliates” plugin as well, so they don’t leave the door open for you to use anything you want/need.
• It isn’t encrypted. Most of the premium membership plugins are, and you are stuck with their support team (in my experience, usually poor support) for any issues you need to fix/debugging you need to do.
• It’s FREE. The only plugins that compare to S2 Members feature set are $150+

S2 Member, especially for me, is a dream come true. Thanks to the team at Primo Themes for making my life easier, especially Jason!

1. Embeddable Wall
2. Slideshow
3. Zoom
4. Meta Data

and more:

1. Full Screen Ability
2. Live Feed Via RSS
3. Picasa, Flickr, and Facebook Integration
4. FLV Video Integration

check out this sample feed

I knew nothing about RSS feeds at the time, but the documentation at Cooliris was all very straightforward, so I didn’t run into any walls through the process. I got it up and running, and integrated into the website in a few hours. Here is how….

PicLens Publisher

Don’t know how to make an RSS feed for your pictures? Cooliris provides a small app that will do it for you, and created all the required thumbnails as well. All you have to do is run PicLens, then FTP the folders it creates to your website, and point your gallery to the .rss file in those folders.

OR, Cooliris supports streaming your pictures from Picasa or Flikr if you prefer that route.

Cooliris Plugin

You may notice that Cooliris pushes their browser plugin, which by the way is definitely worth having, but the embeddable gallery does not require users to have the plugin. It does however add 3D functionality and effects to your wall if they do have the plugin installed.

Web Designer’s Wall

At the top of the list, I would have to recommend Web Designer’s Wall along with its sister sites N.Design Studio and Best Web Gallery. The sites are all created and maintained by Nick LA, a distinguished freelance illustrator and web designer who has been published in many magazines, and has quite a following (20,000 subscribers and counting). Web Designer’s Wall has some of the most relevant and well written tutorials I have ever seen in one place, and he also keeps you up to date on trends and technologies with well organized collections of what’s out there. Check out some of my favorites:

1. Building a Custom WordPress Theme
2. Best CSS of 2008
3. SEO Guide for Designers
4. Javascript in Modern Design
5. jQuery Tutorials for Designers
6. CSS Gradient Text Effect

In no particular Order.

• A List Apart

  
  A List Apart is a magazine “for people who make websites,” that features a multitude of writers. The site is clean and easy to navigate, and always has relevant, well written articles and tutorials. I picked up a lot of ideas for CSS navigation and other CSS tricks through the site.
  
  

• 24 Ways

  
  24 ways is “the advent calendar for web geeks.” It features 24 packed posts from some of the leading web professionals out there every December (since 2005).

• CSS Tricks

  
  CSS Tricks is another great resource along the lines of Web Designer’s Wall. It is a bit of a newer find for me, and always a good read.

• Net Tuts

  
  Net TUTS is yet another great resource for tutorials and the latest technologies. Keep this one bookmarked for sure.