From download
to a working starting point.

1. Upload the solution package

Download Launchboard or Commonroom from its solution page. In WordPress, open Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin. Upload the solution ZIP and activate the setup plugin. Do not upload this ZIP under Themes.

2. Review the setup screen

Open Tools → Launchboard setup or Tools → Commonroom setup. The screen explains which components will be installed, that your active theme will change, and that comment moderation will be enabled. An administrator must explicitly confirm before setup runs.

3. Choose your starting content

Optionally set a new site title and include a small set of clearly labelled sample entries. Samples contain no invented user accounts, votes or comments. Setup does not delete your existing content or enable public registration.

4. Run setup

The installer uses the component ZIPs included in your download, not a remote marketplace. Existing matching component folders are never overwritten. If they are already installed before a first setup, use a fresh staging site or the manual component guides instead. A failed setup may leave installed components in place; read the on-screen error before retrying.

5. Make it yours

Replace or delete sample entries, add your own topics or channels, and adjust the title, tagline and homepage wording. Create member accounts deliberately; don’t enable public registration until you have a moderation and spam-prevention plan.

6. Test before launch

Try a member submission, approve it as an editor, and check the public result. Test votes or threaded replies as appropriate. Configure and test your hosting’s mail delivery before relying on WordPress notifications. Keep a backup and inspect the mobile experience.

What setup doesn’t do

It doesn’t configure hosting, a domain, payments, paid memberships, email delivery, private messaging or an automatic updater. The alpha designs use PHP templates with theme.json editor settings, not full Site Editor templates.

Removing the installer

Once setup is complete, you can deactivate and delete the setup plugin. The installed design, functionality and content remain. To undo the full setup, restore your staging backup; deactivating the installer is not a rollback.