You may or may not be aware that I run this blog on WordPress; a ready-made php blogging suite available free from WordPress.org. http://wordpress.org/

Yesterday I opened the admin account to discover that a new version of WordPress had been released. It was emblazoned across every page (Not on the public blog but on the pages I use.): “A new version has been released – Upgrade now” or some similar linked wording. I ignored it for the time being, and went to Windows Live Writer to write up yesterday’s scoop. Having uploaded that to my blog I returned to WordPress the edit screen within WordPress to give it a final edit and proof-read prior to publication pending addition to the RSS feed. Still nagging me in my vision were the linked words “Upgrade now”.

After I’d published the scoop I decided to click the link in question: The manual upgrade instructions looked fairly straightforward and none too baffling but it was a case of getting it right first and only time: ‘Not one of my specialities. I decided to leave it for now and clicked the back button in my browser. “…Upgrade now” was the first thing I saw. Nag , nag, nag. OK it needed doing. but can I please turn the notification off until I reboot or something?

No. Upgrade NOW…NOW…It was starting to make me feel guilty for not doing so. I read a few other blogs – Words like “I upgraded my WP install today without any problems – ‘Piece of cake…”.

F..k this! I am not going to be made to feel guilty for doing my upgrade in my own time. I will not bow to pressure. I’ll do it tomorrow for definite. Close Page, make more coffee.

Today I log in. ‘First thing I see: “…Upgrade now”: Oh for f..k’s sake! Yes I’ll do it NOW – All right?! (Redhead part of me activated.) I’d heard or read somewhere that there was an auto-upgrade plugin. I know it’s NMA (Negative mental Attitude) but I knew I was going to make just the one mistake with a manual upgrade that would send the whole thing tits-up and lose everything: Murphy’s Law in action.

I Googled and found the plugin:-

http://techie-buzz.com/wordpress-plugins/wordpress-automatic-upgrade-plugin.html

Save to local machine – done – unzip- done -ftp up to the correct directory on kkomp.com – done…”This is too easy: Whatever you do don’t start panicking. Hold it together girl”… log in to account – done – activate plugin – done – run plugin (Hovers mouse over link; closes eyes…and…) – done:

Five self-explanatory steps or so later and – Yes: Target neutralised! (I sooo wish I’d captured the screens – but I was too emotional to care at that point.) Success!

My experience with the auto-update plugin was a happy and positive one. The plugin’s creator, Keith D’sousa, has put a lot of time and effort into making this plugin and fully debugging it to enable it to work flawlessly. If you use it either now or in the future please please do donate: Even $5USD is a minimum amount as a thank-you for all the effort that’s been put into it.