So, I make things that I need and share them every now and again. This is one that I’ve shared.

To add plugin shortcode to some text area of a widget that you’ve built, follow these three steps. Keep your eye on the my_content tag.

1. Make sure that the variable that you want to add the short code to has apply_filters applied to it.
   $content = apply_filters('my_content', $instance['content']);
2. Throw the following two lines into your functions.php file.
   add_filter( 'my_content', 'shortcode_unautop');
add_filter('my_content', 'do_shortcode');
3. Add the shortcode to your widget.

Steps two and three come from http://digwp.com/2010/03/shortcodes-in-widgets/.
Step one was sort of inferred from http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/do_shortcode

You told me that good things come to those who wait. I waited for you Janet, but you were bad.

Problem:

I want an easy way to indicate to motorists which direction I’ll be headed when biking at night.

Solution:

Cobble together a pair of gloves, a couple of arduinos, some flex sensors, and a bunch of LEDs for fun and profit. In other words, make a glove that blinks when the index finger is fully extended.

Read on →