the Mind’s Chew Toy

This week, we decided to share some of the best plugins we use on our site, and the ones we think should be included in any WordPress install.

Akismet

This one comes pre-installed with any WordPress.org download, and is still the best spam defender we’ve found. With the latest version, it even seperates the spam by category (trackback, comment, ping). A must-have!

Code AutoEscape

If you post code on your site, CodeAutoEscape makes it so much simpler. Rather than having to search for the HTML references for the code to make it show up correctly, CodeAutoEscape automatically retains your code in between the code tags.

Easy Post-To-Post Links

This great plugin by Coffee2Code allows you to link to other posts just by using <!--post=""--> (with the post# going between the quotes). As your post# doesn’t change even if you change categories (or servers), you’ll never have to worry about having to update your links to your other posts again!

Google XML Sitemap

With a few simple steps, this provides a Sitemap that google and other search engines can index, and automatically lets them know when it’s updated. A great way to get yourself listed quickly on the search engines.

Instant Upgrade

This one makes upgrading to the next version of WordPress a one-click process! With one click, it downloads and installs the new version - and you’re ready to go!

WP-SNAP!

The best plugin we’ve found for keeping specific categories nicely alphabetized. Plus, it doesn’t alphabetize by A, An or The, making it the perfect solution for all your website alphabetizing needs! Plus, it’s super simple to add to your site.

WordPress Database Backup

A must-have for any WordPress site. You can have this automatically send you a backup copy of your database based on your timeframe, plus you can also do it manually (if you’re planning an upgrade or major change).

iMP Auto Slimbox

If you’re planning on displaying large pictures on your site, this one is a must! It’s the fastest version of Lightbox we’ve found - plus, it’s also the least conflicting out of all of them! (For those of you who don’t know, Lightbox overlays your full-size photo over your webpage - without the annoyance of opening a new window). Plus, it has the ability to showcase a caption for each photo as well.

There you have it - those are our favorite plugins so far. Got any you think should be on this list? Drop us a comment and let us know!