Wasn’t it just 4 months ago that I rebuilt this site in a custom built Code Igniter platform?  Wow time flies, but I’m proud to announce yet another change.  Actually, not a change - an upgrade.  What you see in front of you now is DerekAllard.com completely rebuilt using ExpressionEngine.  It was actually a really painless migration, although moving the data sucked… Anyhow, there are still a series of “under the hood” improvements to be made, and some refining here and there.  If you find anything on teh site broken, please let me know!

I’ll start writing a few entries about using EE as a blogging platform, but I’ve been using it for some time as a content management system in other capacities. Actually, this move brings to mind one of its foremost strengths… flexibility.  I was able to re-create my (old) custom url structure, so no Google penalty.  I was able to implement all the features I had custom built, and easily at that.  And finally, I was able to build it entirely on a local system, and move it live in the time it took to FTP the files up.

If you’re reading this and run a blog, and still use Wordpress but are looking to ditch that horse and buggy, then take a look at the free ExpressionEngine core.  There are easy migration paths into EE, and I promise you that you won’t regret it.  The honest truth, is that there is a learning curve, but its pretty short, and once you are up to speed, you fly!

Incidentally you Wordpress users… make sure you aren’t affected by the latest in a long line of security concerns.

DerekAllard.com has completed the transformation into ExpressionEngine, but it’s not live yet (want to migrate the data first).  It took all of about 2 hours after I finally forced myself to sit down in front of my computer and turn off my email.  Funny how your own “personal” stuff always seems to take a back seat to “important” work, but I’ve just finally grown frustrated with the roll-my-own solution.

I’m really, really, happy with the codebase I built for this site in Code Igniter, but the problem is that every time I want a new feature I need to go fix it up.  And also, in honesty, it pains me to see all the kick ass features in EE that I haven’t built into my blog yet… and well, I want to be one of the cool kids.

So now the really painful part - data migration.  Anyone who’s ever worked with legacy system and/or code can tell you want a pain that can be.  The good news, moving the posts over is a pretty straight-forward process.  The bad news, moving the comments over won’t be.

Sigh… no rest for the wicked I suppose!