Yeah, we've long since moved past the two version idea and have thrown a bunch of different ideas around.

Thank you for throwing in more ideas.

I actually contacted the author of a popular white label plugin to suggest the idea for future versions of their plugin:

http://wordpress.org/support/topic/will-white-label-cms-ever-become-truly-white-label

Thanks, Bryan

Two versions of WordPress? No thanks! :)

- Plugin
- Activate the mode
- .htaccess
- The link you shared http://www.rootstheme.com/#clean

I'm not demanding that WordPress take the idea seriously or implement it, that's clear now that they don't even want to consider it.

I just wanted it to at least have been allowed to appear on the front page http://wordpress.org/extend/ideas/ so that more people could have found it, voted, thrown in their two cents about the possibilities and how this could work etc.

It's a bummer, but not going to keep me up at night. :)

I think I'll come back to this idea with a plugin in mind and think about hiring a programmer.

Thanks, Bryan

I know your problem and feel your pain, that's why (as a developer myself) I often work with the Roots Development Theme for WordPress, where the rewriting is made automatically. You should definitely check it out.

This is everything it rewrites:
http://www.rootstheme.com/#clean

It's normal that they mark this topic automatically as 'not right now'. It would just be too hard to maintain 2 versions, it's better to focus on what's wanted for the big crowd... Don't worry too much. ;)

Pieter

That's a possibility I considered before and checked around and did some testing. Perhaps it's something an expert Apache programmer could tackle?

But, as far as I could tell it wasn't an avenue worth going down as it isn't an ideal solution.

I wish this idea wouldn't be automatically marked as "Sorry, not right now" so more people could find it, discuss it and rate it. Then we could throw around more ideas and possibilities instead of it just being buried.

Thanks, Bryan

Sorry, I thought it was self explanatory.

Actually, a lot open source software simply uses clean folder names like /admin/ etc as well. That's not really the debate here though because we're not talking about the core software.

I absolutely guarantee there are a lot of other people that want this. That are building sites that are a little more serious than personal sites and blogs that want a more professional experience for users/clients.

This is marketing and psychology 101, users/customers see /wp-login.php/ or /wp-admin/ or the WordPress logo when logging in and it's just unprofessional and borderline hokey.

I love WordPress and all, but as a hypothetical let's say I went to cnn.com and registered and when I registered I saw:

cnn.com/wp-login.php?action=register

I'm sorry, even I who knows better, I would think that's a little silly and unprofessional for a site like that, for them to even allow normal users to see that.

There are a handful of plugins already to handle "white labeling" WordPress in the admin:

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/search.php?q=white+label

and of course Theme My Login (which is massively popular) which is a pretty solid indication right there. This is just the next step in what people are already doing and want.

Real professionals care about the details, obsess about the details and user experience down to every last character in a URL, ease of use and pixel in design.

If you allow this to appear on the main ideas page we can at least let other people find it, rate it and more importantly join the conversation.

If this was just something I wanted I wouldn't even bother, but I know there are a lot of other like-minded professionals that would love this. But, you already admitted that many people have wanted this before so why do I have to make a case for it? Stop dismissing it, give it a chance and let the idea speak for itself.

Thanks, Bryan

WHY do this at all?

I'm asking honestly and sincerely. The only answer I see is you saying 'because I'd like it.' which ... well sure, valid for you. But sell me :) Sell EVERYONE. Tell us why this is a great idea, or there's no point to it.

"Clean and professional looking..."

Looking at the myriad 'professional' tools I use, they all prefix folders like that so as not to conflict with other apps. It's industry standard. Doesn't make anything more or less professional.

I know WordPress is free and I know you're a volunteer (I see you around) and I appreciate your help. I hope WordPress does and they should be paying you or giving you some kind of perks. Without you it would be pretty quiet around these parts.

I've moderated for a few WordPress theme companies and get paid for it. I do hope you're making money online in other ways at least. No matter how noble one is or how much something might be done just out of interest we still need a roof over our head and food in the belly.

I agree with you on all points, I edited/corrected my reply a few times so you might have missed those.

This would in no way, shape or form impact the integrity of Matt's stand on always keeping WordPress free, I'm not suggesting anything else.

Also, as I've said this isn't for the normal user, it's something extra for designers and developers that THEY (not normal users with the normal setup) would have to pay for.

We've eliminated the two version thing, I can see how that might be a nightmare, albeit most companies actually maintain both the free and premium version of products.

In any case, clearly this would need to be an already integrated thing like multisite that would need to be activated or a completely separate plugin like bbPress that integrates into the system nicely.

Unless you've been told personally by a WordPress employee to mark these as Sorry, not right now let's at least give it a fighting chance to be found and talked about once and for all instead of dismissed over and over and buried into the abyss.

I know WordPress makes a killing with hosting partnerships and referrals, but this would be an amazing next step for WordPress besides the financial gain.

Maybe, it's not even all that difficult. Maybe I could pay a programmer myself to make a plugin capable of this and make a bundle myself?

Thanks, Bryan

In the interests of a conversation, though, if you want it seriously considered, then think of this:

Why is it a good idea?

What benefits does it bring to the NORMAL user?

What benefits does it bring to the community, who now has TWO versions of WP to maintain?

How do you keep down the 'costs' (time) it takes to maintain two versions? (See 'Why WPMU and WP merged' for more on that subject, historically it's a PITA)