For all of our talk within the WordPress community about building applications with our favorite CMS, I know of very few branded apps out in the wild. I’d like to know of more, to help spread the word and point to when we’re pitching app development at Rocket Lift.
Specifically what I’m looking for are “web application built with WordPress”, defined* as:
- Use WordPress as primary framework on server(s) and to render HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (WordPress can be customized as needed)
- Users create accounts and log in to use the service
- Generates revenue for the operator
- Is not simply an e-commerce store selling downloads or physical merchandise.
- Bonus criteria: Provides some service beyond managing website content (which WordPress does out of the box)
I know of exactly one application that meets all of these criteria: Hellobar.
When I asked this question Saturday on Twitter, some people suggested HappyTables.com. HappyTables looks like a great service, but it is a “vertical” — WordPress fine tuned to manage specific kind of websites (in this case for restaurants) — and thus it doesn’t meet my “bonus” criteria. I don’t mean to say HappyTables isn’t an application. Criteria number five is a bit arbitrary and reflects that I’m looking for applications outside of WordPress’ core strength of website publishing.
If you know of something that meets these criteria, please post it in the comments!
Thanks. :)
*I’m sure these can be better defined if needed, and I’ll update based on feedback.
WebDev Studios built a really neat app for a YMCA branch for kids to earn badges by staying active and tracking their activity while at the branch. I’d poke WDS about it.