Issue #146 Loop WP

Hi, friend. 👋

Welcome to Issue #146 of Loop WP!

Last week, we changed things up by discussing a more controversial topic: the environment and WordPress (although the discussion was not limited to WordPress).

This week, we are back to a more regular format, looking at another of my must-use WordPress plugins.

Let’s go! 👇

WP Crontrol

🧟‍♂️ WP Crontol is one of my “go-to” plugins that I install on WordPress. It’s useful for many reasons, like finding zombie cron jobs left behind by uninstalled plugins.

The context for this newsletter is slightly different from redundant (zombie) cron jobs. It doesn't just apply to the plugin below; it can apply to any plugin requiring a cron job.

🗓️ If you use the Amelia Booking plugin and an Nginx server, especially Kinsta, this week's topic is particularly useful.

Managing Cron Schedules and Events

This is how I typically use WP Control in a client context 👇

1. A new client with an existing WordPress website - I installed WP Crontrol and checked the Cron Events for any unnecessary crons running for plugins that are no longer installed.
   
   Or for cron events that have no "action". **
   

2. After uninstalling a plugin - WordPress plugins could be better at tidying up after themselves. Some are better than others.
   
   Sometimes, when a plugin is removed, a (zombie) cron command is left behind. WP Control can help check if this is the case and, like above, remove it.

⚡️ ** Maintaining a healthy set-up is always good, so removing unnecessary crons and freeing up resources is good practice.

Using Crontrol for Cron Jobs (Events)

So, friend, remember I mentioned the Amelia Booking plugin?

For one particular client hosted with Kinsta, I now use it to add custom cron jobs for the Amelia Booking plugin (or for other plugins).

⚡️Kinsta recommends turning off the WP Cron and using their own cron command to trigger this instead (many hosts do this as the WP cron isn’t reliable).

However, adding the correct cron command for this particular plugin caused me real issues (more on that below).

💪 Kinsta's support is excellent, and they are upfront about their limited support policy for crons. A support staff member tried to tweak my cron command but with no success.

Even after reaching out to a couple of colleagues I know use Kinsta and understand the technical side of things haven't touched the custom cron feature.

🎉 So, in the end, I used the WP Crontol plugin to add a PHP-triggered cron event.

It’s not ideal, but it gets the job done.

Security Note

Adding a PHP-triggered cron event will not be available if (like I do) you have the following security constant in your wp-config.php (which you should):

define( 'DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true );

🧠 You need to comment out this line before adding the PHP cron event and then remove the comment once the cron has been added.

The last thing you want is to allow anyone to add PHP-triggered cron events within WordPress. That is just asking for trouble.

Sponsorship Opportunities

🚨 The Google Doc contains all the details if you’re interested in sponsoring the Loop WP Newsletter.

Before You Go

⏭️ Next week, we’ll look at Gravatar (yeah, remember that), some significant changes and alternatives.

See you next week! 😀

Weekly WordPress News, Tips & Black Friday Deals

This week's excellent and insightful WordPress News & Tips:

• A new WP Community? - Connecting product owners, service providers, and consumers while being a one-stop shop for all things WordPress. (Influence WP)

• Brilliant Resource - The WordPress performance checklist. (Perfmatters)

• Class Action - Automattic Hit With Class Action Over WP Engine Dispute, Accused of Anti-Competitive Tactics. (The Repository)

• Plugin Debugger - This is so cool, and it’s been updated. (Brian Coords)

• Thoughts & Trends - Paul Charlton and his peers answer “What We're Excited About In Web Design 2025.” (WP Tuts)

• Free Webinar - Performance and Security with Remkus de Vries and Vikas Singhal. (Insta WP)

• WooCommerce 9.7 - Smarter shipping displays and faster performance. (WooCommerce)

• How They Did It - Refactoring Product Context Block Registration in WooCommerce. (Tom Cafferkey)

• Guide - How to Quickly Create a High-Performance Website. (GeneratePress)

• ClickWhale 🐳 – The Ultimate WordPress Link Manager & Bio Link Plugin! 🔗 (FREE Download). (Florian Dee)

• Very Cool - Simple Dynamic Pop-Ups with the Off Canvas. (Web Squadron)

• Do You Agree? - Why Businesses Migrate Away from WooCommerce. (Business Bloomer)

•  Managing your WordPress - sites with shell scripts and Kinsta API. (Kinsta)

• Security - WordPress 6.8 will use bcrypt for password hashing. (WordPress)

• Tessa Kriesel - Exploring CMS Options Beyond WordPress ft. Maciek Palmowski. (The WP Minute)

• CMS Evolution - Exploring CMS Options Beyond WordPress ft. Maciek Palmowski. (Brian Coords)

If you have a question about this email or WordPress, reply, and I will answer you as soon as possible.

👋 Until next time,