The WordPress application files can be downloaded for free if you want to perform a manual installation. If you've got a website host, this process is extremely easy and requires no previous programming skills or advanced blogging experience. Some web hosts offer automatic installation through the host's online control panel. One of these automatic installation methods is described later in this chapter.
Installing WordPress manually
Preparing the environment
A good first step is to make sure you have an environment setup that is ready for WordPress. This means you need to ensure that the server meets the minimum requirements and that your database is ready. For WordPress to work, your web host must provide you with...