This Plugin Rocks!

The best part of this plugin and I hope is a sign that all BuddyPress component type plugins will follow is the ability to create from the front end with easy to use edit screens. Setting up an achievement is easier than creating a blog post in the admin. Choose a type, fill in the title and description, specify the activity and how many times you complete task to achieve this badge, save and choose an image for your badge.

edit / create screen

What Is This Plugin?

This plugin is similar to Foursquare in the sense you earn badges for different types of achievements. The site admin creates achievements on various site activities and when a user finishes that activity they earn a badge. The badges are created from images.  There are two types of achievements, badges and events. This may seem confusing as you earn badges for either. (note: the plugin author may want to change the badge achievement name to something else)

The badge achievement is not earned through activity but given out at random by the site admin. Where as the event achievement is earned automatically through completion of site tasks like posting forum topics or creating blog posts.

example achievement page

Widgets Galore!

I love widgets and so do most BuddyPress site admins. Why? Because it adds drop and drag functionality. Paul Gibbs has given 6 widgets that filter various achievements from featured achievements to your own unlock achievements.

Each achievement can have points attached to it. BuddyPress achievements comes with a leader board widget making it super easy to set up a points based system for your site.

achievement widgets

Additional Features.

Site designers can easily customize the achievements pages. They follow a similar layout to the default BuddyPress directories and groups theme files. The plugin comes with a default list based directory but you could easily create a grid based layout for listing achievements by creating your own theme files.

I suggested to the developer that he add in the ability to have an achievement attached to a specific group and he is working on integrating this. That additional feature alone will make BuddyPress achievements a very powerful plugin for site admins to create a fun and rewarding badge earning / points system for any BuddyPress site.

You can attach achievements to other BuddyPress hooks extending it’s functionality. You could unlock a group after a certain achievement is earned or supply users with deals, prizes or higher membership levels.

*Plugin to be released at the end  of  September.

This site is a membership site. That means if you are a member then you can download any theme you want and get help customizing them. There is going to be a mix of WordPress, BuddyPress and SocialGO themes. JOIN HERE.

I will also be posting tips and tutorials on hacking BuddyPress, WordPress and SocialGO.

The site will open soon.

P.S. If you are a member of this site then you will be able to get a copy of BuddiPhone, an iPhone theme for BuddyPress. buddiphone.com