BuddyPress.org - WordPress Social Network Software

The extended profile component allows site admins to create specific profile fields for site members to fill in.

The type of field can be set (such as text box, date selector, radio buttons etc) and profile fields can then be grouped.

When BuddyPress is first installed, a “Basic” group is created with “First Name”, “Last Name” and a profile picture upload option. These fields cannot be modified or removed as they make up the base of a member’s profile. The site admin can add fields to this Basic group. Any fields that are in this group will appear on the signup page when a member registers. By doing this, new members can partially fill in their profile and be ready to go upon first login.

For each new profile field group created by the site admin, a new sub tab is added to each members administration area. Within each sub tab a fillable form is rendered so that members can update or add their information even after they have registered.

BuddyPress private messaging works like internal site email. Members can message people on their friends list as well as forward and reply to received messages.

Each member will have their own individual Inbox, Sentbox, and Drafts folder. They will be notified of new messages by a new message count as well as email notifications if enabled.

Sending of messages to multiple friends, as well as site wide messages by an administrator are also possible.

Members of a BuddyPress enabled installation can be connected together by one member adding another as a “friend” and then the other member accepting the friendship request.

Each member has a visible list of their friends on the site. Friends lists are browsable and members can click on each friend to see more information – or add them as their own friend. Profiles are not restricted as a whole.

The ability to search for members by and piece of profile information is also included in with the built in members directory.

Groups in BuddyPress are a gathering of members, wires posts and forum topics. In future versions members will be able to post any sort of content to groups including blog posts, images and links.

Any member can create a group in BuddyPress. They then become the group administrator giving them heightened privileges within that group.

Every group includes a place for group information, and the latest group news which can be kept up to date my group administrators. Groups also include a group forum (bbPress), and wire where group members can engage in discussions. These features can be selectively enabled by group creator.

Activity streams aggregate all activity across a BuddyPress installation, as well as allowing members to post short updates. It’s possible to follow activity site wide, just for your friends, or just for your groups. Others can comment on your activity and you can even mark activities as favorites so you can keep track of conversations.

Allowing multiple blogs and multiple users per blog is a key feature to WordPress MU. BuddyPress preserves this functionality.

The blogs component will aggregate all blogs, blog posts and comments for a member across the entire installation. This means other members can easily find all blogs that a member belongs to or owns, as well as their recent posts and comments.

The blogs component also adds an easy to use screen for creating new blogs built right into the theme.

The forums component allows groups to create and manage their own bbPress forum. Group members can post and reply to topics all from within the group’s page.

Forums are not specifically tied to groups, they are generic, just like the wire. Forums can be attached to any content within an installation. This means third party plugins
and new components can make use of the forums component in the future.