Memory Outage Errors in WordPress
Many people on the WordPress.org forums have experienced an issue where they see errors on their site that say something like “memory exhausted” when they try to use a video or image plugin on their site (however, it can occur for other reasons also). In most cases this is not a coding issue with the actual plugin they are trying to use, it is an issue with their server.
Typically this error shows up on sites that are hosted as part of a shared server. In PHP there is a setting that allows the server admin to set exactly how much memory PHP can utilize for any one process. This is designed to make it difficult for one site on a shared server to overwhelm the entire server’s resources, and therefore make all of the other sites inaccessible. When it comes to image or video processing though, memory is very necessary to allow resizing or other effects to properly allow the presentation of the file. In cases where this memory issue continually occurs you will need to contact your server admin and request that they boost your memory limit enough to prevent the error from occurring. It may also be time to think about moving to your own server (especially if you are getting very popular).
If you get these memory errors using AWSOM Pixgallery, you do have some other options. In some cases reducing the number of images per gallery page may help out the situation–Do this by making the Rows and Columns setting for Thumbnails (in the Pixgallery options area) smaller so as to extend your Gallery onto multiple pages when showing your gallery. Another option is to reduce in file size the size of the images you are using in your gallery. You may not have noticed that your images were large in filesize, and lowering their size (not necessarily resolution, but re-encoding maybe at a lower .jpg quality setting) may help reduce your overall PHP memory usage (and lower your bandwidth transmission also). In many cases the memory error will only occur the first time a gallery is viewed (the first viewing of a gallery initiates the auto-thumbnail creation). If all else fails, you can contact me and I might be able to give you a few more advanced tips specific to your situation.
In any case, now you know why this mysterious error occurs and how you can work to resolve it.
Upcoming Development
I’m currently knee deep in work on my plugins. The AWSOM Drop Down Archive will be getting new options for archive types, as well as CSS theme options. AWSOM Pixgallery will be getting a new absolute linking system option (to allow easier access to your images through RSS feeds and to help with complicated WordPress installs), a new custom image system for folders, an automatic gallery/image caption cataloging system, and other interface upgrades.
Most of the new features are from feedback from users of the plugins, so if you are using one of the plugins and want to see something new added please contact me. You can also get added to the “People Using AWSOM ideas” box too!
I’m also investigating some new ideas for plugins, but it’s too early to talk about them. But, I’ve found that the best plugins are for things that people routinely need to do or want to see in their site, but just doesn’t exist currently, or is clunky to get done. If you have anything like that that you feel might be a good idea for a plugin, especially if it is art or webcomic related, please contact me and it might just turn into the next AWSOM plugin (and you will get credited in my plugin notes).
Webcomic Sites Using WordPress: DeadofSummer.org
As part of my series of mentioning sites that use WordPress to host their comics I would like to present DeadofSummer.org. These guys are using WordPress with the ComicPress (classic 1.6 version, I think update: Marty chimed in to let me know they are using 2.0) theme. As such they are a perfect candidate for using AWSOM Pixgallery as their image archive of their comics (hint, hint) since it has automatic support for linking back to the news post for the image being viewed in the archive.
I think it’s always important to see what others are doing with their sites as you develop your own, so go check them out.
AWSOM Pixgallery 4.4.3 SE released
A minor update to the AWSOM Pixgallery plugin for WordPress has been released and can be downloaded from it’s product page at Awsom.org. This is a minor bug fix release that corrects an issue that prevented certain server configurations from properly updating the Pixgallery Options page. (due to the way php code is inserted into HTML). If your version of the plugin is working fine there’s no pressing need to upgrade.
Thank You To Advertisers
I wanted to thank the advertisers who have been placing ads through Project Wonderful and our own advertising service. They help make it possible for me to provide all of the plugins and other stuff that’s done here to you guys for free. So please check out their sites.