If you have indeed followed all of the instructions up to this point, you would have created a MYSQL database and ensured the user of this database has sufficient access privileges. The reason you are seeing this error is because the path to the Database host on ICDSoft is not the standard path suggested by WordPress.

Ironically, in earlier version of the wp-config file, there is a comment beside the DB_HOST field that says there is a 99% chance you won’t need to change this value. Well, ICDSoft users fall into the 1% category that will have to change this value. The code from the wp-config file is displayed below:

// ** MySQL settings ** //

define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘database_name’); // The name of the database

define(‘DB_USER’, ‘username’); // Your MySQL username

define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘password’); // …and password

define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘localhost:/tmp/mysql5.sock‘); // 99% chance you won’t need to change this value

define(‘DB_CHARSET’, ‘utf8′);

define(‘DB_COLLATE’, ”);

As highlighted in bold, the correct path for the DB_HOST is not localhost, it’s localhost:/tmp/mysql5.sock

Add this to your config file, revisit wp-admin/install.php and you are good to go!

Here’s a promo code for 20% your hosting package if you want: http://www.icdsoft.com/promo-code/ICDsoft20

Shopping for a good WordPress theme for your blog can be a huge challenge. How do you find one that has all of the elements you need, but still feels original? It seems like anything on the main WordPress Theme Viewer is either forgettable or inadequate, and many of us lack the technical skills to develop a fully-customized theme. Here are six quick tips to help you conquer the boring blog blues, and come out with something that original and dynamic.

Start with the WordPress Themes Directory. As you begin to identity things that work and things that don’t, you can borrow some of the searching tips below and migrate over to Google for some queries YOU think of that span the wider web.

1. Search by most recent: sometimes the newest WordPress themes are the most advanced and original, so limit your searching by including the current year, or just the past 3 months, etc.
2. Find one theme you ALMOST like, and visit the homepage of the designer of THAT theme. It’s likely that he/she has created other themes that will be up your alley. Some of my favourite WP theme designers include Allan Cole and Darren Hoyt
3. Look for themes that are compatible with the latest version of WP (at the time of writing, the current version 2.7, with 2.8 is currently in beta). Again, like tip 1, it ensures your theme will be new and pretty original — for the time being.
4. Check out people’s personal stashes of WordPress-related bookmarks on del.icio.us. (Here’s mine.)
5. Find out what specific style of WordPress theme you want, and narrow your search down to those types. For design professionals and illustrators, I’d recommend using queries like “portfolio style wordpress theme” or “photo blog.” Other possibilities might be things like “magazine style” or “2-column.”
6. Use search.twitter.com to look for themes that are making people talk. On Twitter, following entities I Heart WordPress will give you some pretty good re-tweeted tips.

Of course, any theme you choose will depend on you to take it to the next level with your customizations: modify it enough to make it truly your own.

Open Source. It’s a concept that has quietly become one of the greatest influences on innovation in history. Open Source is an approach to design and development that believes in the sharing of ideas and information for the purpose of creation. Because Open Source projects are public projects, the products or concepts are free to use and develop with.

Due to the Internet’s power to connect like-minded people, this had been a popular method of working together, especially on internet related projects. The variety and diversity of open source projects on the internet is amazing. In this post, we’ll list of some notable open source projects that are relevant to graphic design and web development.

Drupal

Drupal is an open source content management system. It offers users some great features such as the ability to access statistics and logs, an advanced search feature, a feed aggregator, profiles, comments, forums, polls, security and even OpenID support. Drupal was originally written as message board software by developer Dries Buytaert. It became open source in 2001. From May 2007 to April 2008, Drupal was downloaded more than 1.4 million times. In 2008, it was voted the best open source content management system by the CMS Awards.

WordPress

Similar to Drupal, WordPress is Content Management System for blogs and websites. The brainchild of Matt Mullenweg, who is unlucky at cards, WordPress first appeared in 2003. The power of WordPress lies in its easy to navigate admin panel and slick system of changing the look and feel of a website quickly by selecting a new theme. Plug-ins are another great benefit of using WordPress. Due to it’s popularity, there is a vast number of plugins that will do a variety of different things. From automatically adding Adsense code to, adding a dropdown menu to navigation, the chances are very good that what you are looking for is out there.

The GIMP

The GIMP (or GNU Image Manipulation Program) is an image editor. It is a raster editor, which means it allows users to paint and edit pictures interactively. The GIMP is typically used for creating logos, and is very similar to Adobe Photoshop, but it was never designed to be a Photoshop clone. The development of the GIMP started all the way back in 1995. The wolf which is used as the mascot to the project is known affectionately as Wilber.

Scribus

Scribus is an open source desktop publishing system, and is widely recommended as a free alternative to such expensive software as QuarkXPress, Adobe InDesign and Adobe PageMaker. It can create newsletters, as well as animated and interactive PDF files. The newsletters it produces are print ready, which is a bonus. It was first released on June 16th, 2003.

Audacity

Audacity is a free audio recording application. It has many cool editing features, including noise removal and frequency change. As of the 30th January 2009, it had received over 54 million downloads on SourceForge.net, a popular open source software hosting site. In 2007, it won the SourceForge Community Choice Award for Best Project for Multimedia. All in all, a great piece of software.

Open Office

Open Office is a free software package which is available for many operating systems. It offers all the features of the Microsoft Office package, and it has a very slick interface. It was released in July of 2000. In 2008, it was voted as the best open source software package by SourceForge.net.

Form Tools

Form Tools is a system for web developers who work on online registration sites, or sites that require any form of information gathering from their online visitors. This system provides automatic sending and storage of registration and feedback forms meaning there is no need to reprogram a form each time it’s designed. Form Tools was written and designed by Ben Keen of Black Sheep Web Software who resides in Vancouver. Form Tools remains one of my best Open Source finds over the years.

All in all, open source projects provide great opportunity and value for both the developer and the end-user. There are many more available on the web, and the best place to find them is SourceForge, the open source software host.

If you know of any other great open source projects, let us know in the comments section of this post!