Difference between my wordpress site and the same self hosted

  • Unknown's avatar
    timcarabas · Member ·

    I think I understand that there is support for sites on WordPress and not elsewhere. I’m a non-specialist and incredibly confused.

    I have one website designed by a friend from a wordpress template hosted by Rochen.

    I created my website here FoolsandAngels using the Pianoblack template. I just paid for additional hosting with Rochen and uploaded wordpress and the same template. Only the customise option screen is completely different and missing the option to change the background.

    I’m completely confused. Is this a newer less user friendly version? Is it some ‘perk’ for using wordpress as a free host? I just don’t understand and I’ve spent months working on material and waited for help from a friend who I don’t see often but did today and won’t see now for a while.

    Can anyone help and explain what’s going on?

    The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

  • senff · Staff ·

    A rundown of the differences between WordPress.COM and a self-hosted WordPress.ORG site can be found here:

    WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org

    In short, when you have a WordPress.COM site (in your case, http://foolsandangels.wordpress.com ), WordPress takes care of a lot of stuff for you (and will help you when needed), but there’ll be some restrictions. For example, you won’t be able to add plugins, or customize your theme (unless you have a premium subscription).

    On a self-hosted WordPress site (the one you have on Rochen), you have full control, but you really have to do it all by yourself. Hosting, setup, configuration, customization, everything.

    There’s many more difference (in the settings, software, possibilities), but this is basically the idea.

  • Unknown's avatar
    timcarabas · Member ·

    Hi Senff,

    Thanks for the reply. I mostly get it – sort of.

    Part of the reason why I was planning on moving it was because I realised that you had to host elsewhere for the plugins as you say.

    On the other hand, while I wouldn’t expect support from wordpress, is it the case that the feature that enables customization is disabled on the downloaded template? In other words that it ‘assumes’ that you’re capable of coding instead?

    It sounds like it but would just like to be sure as kind of changes everything…

    Thanks,

    Tim

  • senff · Staff ·

    is it the case that the feature that enables customization is disabled on the downloaded template? In other words that it ‘assumes’ that you’re capable of coding instead?

    I’m not familiar with the theme in question, but it’s possible. Some themes have an option screen where you can edit the (CSS) styling or set a lot of other configurations (header image, title type, etc.). Other themes don’t have these options available.

    But with any theme, customization can be done by using code. Not by changing the theme itself, but by using a child theme.

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