Buddypress is only a WP plugin. So if you know how to install wordpress and manage plugins you know how to install Buddypress. In your WP admin search buddypress in the new plugins dialog, install it. Then go into your themes and choose the buddpress theme. Thats it. Buddypress must have a buddypress theme. Click extend above and then themes for some theme options.
Hi there Modemlooper,
The basics I can do and have installed buddypress on a test site. My problem is really with getting a concept of how it all works.
I am setting up a WORDPRESS Buddpypress premium member website. I’ve had a BIG respon$e to my first tweets about the idea and people want in on my project, but alas, I’m no tech geek!!! So I have customers but no website, lol!
What I need to know at this point is this should I go down the road of using (a) standard WP for my site or (b) use WPMU for my premium website? I want to set it up properly and put a good foundation under it before it goes live.
— > It will be a basic member directory for low-level internet users, with groups and forums and there will be only ONE main blog. I am relatively wordpress / website savvy ( 7/10 ) but lack deeper knowledge of what makes them tick ( 1/10 – I can use filezilla ) and get lost in all the terms; i.e. perl, mysql, etc.
I’m intelligent however, so right now I need a stick-figure concept of Buddpress and the difference between WP and WPMU ( and why it is always quoted as being ‘above the average users head’ which it may be, but I have customers to serve so I want to go ahead with the project. )
Cool if you can point me in the right direction – demand for the service is growing and I haven’t even put the site up yet! Yee-hah!!
Brendan
WPMU is only needed if you want individual user blogs à la wordpress.com.
If you don’t need this functionality, get standard WP.
True? Okay then, what’s the fundamental difference between the two? I.e. Would it be easier to bite the bullet now and set up WPMU now so that later I can offer blog functionality? ( I only think about 5% of my users would want that feature anyway; I think I will just elect the best members for roles as contributors… )
I’m trying to scale things back to the bare minimum-but still offer a great service if you know what I mean? They are low-end internet users so they won’t care.
Okay then, how does Buddypress do on a standard Wp install… I.e. Will my web host crack it? Thanks for the insights…
The only difference between WP and WPMU is on WPMU each user on the site will have their own blog with an admin. It’s like having your own wordpress.com. If you want just a social network type site then I’d go with WP + BP. Functionality wise there really is no difference between BP on WP or WPMU.
As for hosting. Thats a personal choice. I use shared hosting with some cacheing and I off set with hosting static files on Amazon S3. If you make your themes slim and compress files you should be ok unless you get linked to by a major site and a million people are hitting your site.
One last thing. BEFORE you post questions in this forum PLEASE search first. Things have been answered 20 times over.
Good reads:
BuddyPress Codex
“Would it be easier to bite the bullet now and set up WPMU now so that later I can offer blog functionality? “
WPMU is being merged in with the next version of WordPress. You’ll be able to enable it fairly easily. So, start with WordPress.
“I’ve had a BIG respon$e to my first tweets about the idea and people want in on my project, but alas, I’m no tech geek!!! So I have customers but no website, lol!”
Then my best advice would be to hire someone to build it for you. 
