Disqus Wordpress Integration: Javascript vs API

posted by jangro on (4 years ago)

Today, Sam over at CostPerNews scooped the world on the news that the Seesmic/Disqus integration is finally complete. Sam, are you following Loren as Loic's most recent houseguest?

The guys over at Disqus have been delivering some steady improvements to the Disqus platform, and video comments are by far the most significant. Previously, they announced some improved popup profile information as well as inline editing of submitted comments. There may be more that I've missed.

I miss these updates because here on Jangro.com because I'm using the Disqus wordpress plugin that is based on their API instead of using Javascript integration to load up the comments. The Disqus guys are not keeping that version of the plugin up-to-date with the new features.

What's this API version of the plugin? When you integrate with Wordpress, you have two choices of plugins to grab from Disqus.

The Javascript plugin is a "client-side" integration. When your blog post is served up, there's some javascript code runs in the reader's browser that goes off and grabs any comments from the Disqus service, very much like how Adsense works. If you look at the source of a page with this on it, you won't actually see any of the comment text. It's loaded after the page is rendered using Javascript code that fetches the content from Disqus.

The API, Beta version does this calling to the Disqus service on the server-side, before the page is sent down to the browser. This means that the comment text gets sent down as HTML along with the blog post.

If you've followed my love affair with Disqus, you know that it started with an evaluation of third party comment system plugins. A major factor, if not THE major factor, that had me choose Disqus was this server-side integration.

In my opinion, comments are the life-blood of an active blog and not only do they show readers that there's a vibrant community behind a blog, it gives search engines more to work with. This becomes especially important as the blog content itself becomes less and less text-rich with video and audio podcasts.

Search engines cannot see the comments rendered with the Javascript plugin. They do see the comments displayed via the API version of the plugin.

The Javascript implementation does have its benefits. In addition to ease of integration and feature updates, the fact that comment text is unavailable to search engines means that comment spam is rendered completely ineffective. There are other ways to accomplish this, and for now, I'm uncomfortable with using a full Javascript implementation.

I may change my mind down the road, especially if the Disqus guys abandon the API version of the plugin and force a decision on me.

I do hope the bring it up to date and give us the choice.


Comments & Reactions

  • jangro saved this to Blogging 4 years ago
  • Posted by VeraBradley 4 years ago

    I agree with you that comments are getting more important these days. Thats why its important to present your article in such that it generates discussion, rather than just allow the readers to just take and not give.

  • Posted by journey 4 years ago

    yea some good discussion might bring up a whole new insight to a article.

  • Posted by seo 4 years ago

    I prefer API than Javascript. You have an excellent post here, very informative

  • Posted by Sam Harrelson 4 years ago

    Just saw this on Twitter from Disqus' @danielha:

    "danielha: @duncanriley I agree. Looks like you're using the (outdated) API version. A new one is imminent"

    :)

  • jangro

    Posted by jangro 4 years ago

    Nice. good news Sam.

    C'mon Daniel, spill it!

  • Posted by Tara Nigma 4 years ago

    Looks cool, but I'm getting worried about putting yet another WP plugin on my site. reply

  • Posted by loans 3 years, 12 months ago

    'In my opinion, comments are the life-blood of an active blog and not only do they show readers that there’s a vibrant community behind a blog, it gives search engines more to work with.'
    Agree with this.

  • Posted by A Better Blog Comment System: Disqus 3 years, 11 months ago

    [...] I installed the JavaScript version. Vlad uses the API for SEO purposes (javascript comments are not indexed by the search engines). Disqus says the API is out of date. Thus, is does not support recent enhancements, like the Seesmic video integration. Alas. Undecided on which one to install? Read this post and decide. [...]

  • Posted by Vincent 3 years, 7 months ago

    Did you remove disqus? If so, why did you do it?

  • Posted by Scott Jangro 3 years, 7 months ago

    I did remove disqus because it was crashing Internet Explorer on a few posts here on my blog that have over 1000 comments.

    I've spoken to the guys at Disqus and they're working on it. As soon as it is fixed, I'll gladly put it back.

  • Posted by Alex 3 years, 6 months ago

    Wow thanks man excellent post

  • Posted by Pandammonium: blogs [pandammonia 3 years, 5 months ago

    [...] Disqus Wordpress Integration: Javascript vs API | Jangro.com. [...]

  • Posted by seotest 3 years, 5 months ago

    i believe can settle

  • Posted by Fuziosurveys 3 years, 5 months ago

    I decided to using this serivce. It reallly nice

  • Posted by busbyseotest 3 years, 5 months ago

    why u remove disqus?

  • Posted by busbytest 3 years, 4 months ago

    We wait the progress

  • Posted by Registry Repair 3 years, 3 months ago

    Better than the other service, really nice!

  • Posted by hectic 3 years, 2 months ago

    Yes I will try to use this service. thanks for sharing

  • Posted by wholesale Electronics 2 years, 4 months ago

    I decided to using this serivce on my blog

  • Posted by iphone clone 2 years, 4 months ago

    i will try to use it ,hope it is really good

  • Posted by tom 2 years, 4 months ago

    test

  • Posted by Jewellery Tips 2 years, 3 months ago

    Disqus supports various blogging platforms including Blogger, Wordpress, Typepad, Movable Type and Tumblr.i love disqus blog comment system...

  • Posted by John Lee 2 years, 3 months ago

    I have been using Disqus for several months now and it's an excellent system it is too easy and Disqus is measures to prevent spammers I think it's amazing system.....

  • Posted by Saabira Robinson 2 years, 2 months ago

    It is really good things about DISQUS is the ability to log-in using a Facebook this means visitors can leave comments quickly and painlessly without having to create another account...

  • Posted by Serine Lawson 2 years, 2 months ago

    I think DISQUS is a great commenting system because I like reading a blog and I used DISQUS plug-in.And DISQUS is also great with the Facebook,Twitter and Open ID.

  • Posted by Rachelis Bennette 2 years, 2 months ago

    Disqus Comments is for bloggers and publishers who wish to use Disqus on their sites, while Disqus Profile is for the rest of us who are commenting on sites powered by Disqus.

  • Posted by State Of Economy 2 years, 2 months ago

    hkhjkhjkhjkhjkhjk

  • Posted by Bella Emery 2 years, 2 months ago

    Disqus is a great tool, I have it on many of my blogs already. It will only get better in the next few years..Disqus is a popular commenting platform...

  • Posted by Bonnie Morgan 2 years, 1 month ago

    I absolutely love Disqus and am happy that you guys are trying it out. I get all excited when I see other websites using Disqus, and it encourages me to leave a comment. :)

  • Posted by Georgia Griffin 2 years, 1 month ago

    This is really great news, because it will increase your comment count dramatically! As you can see it for this post already :)

  • Posted by Wholesale laptops 2 years ago

    disqus is the best blog comments systems.

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