Umbrella Blog

Sign and authenticate your web content with cryptographic proof.

A WordPress blogging plugin that provides what every writer needs: a simple way to prove "these words are mine." Using native Cardano blockchain integration, you can one-click sign your blog posts with immutable, cryptographic proof of authorship - no wallet popups, no complicated ceremonies, just write and sign.

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The Problem This Solves

Ever write something online and wish you had a permanent, tamper-proof receipt proving you wrote it at that exact moment?

Traditional publishing has no built-in proof of authorship. Anyone can copy your words, claim them as theirs, or dispute when you actually wrote something. Digital signatures exist, but they're complicated - requiring browser extensions, wallet connections, and technical knowledge most writers don't have.

Umbrella Blog changes that.

What Makes This Special

This isn't just another WordPress blog plugin. Umbrella Blog combines:

• True Native Cardano Integration - Server-side signing using PHP, not browser extensions
• One-Click Signing - No wallet popups, no complex words, just click "Sign Post"
• Server-Side Wallet - Fund once with a few dollars, sign hundreds of posts
• ADA Handle Integration - Your $handle becomes your author identity
• Distraction-Free Writing - Markdown + Rich Text editors, no Gutenberg bloat
• Cyberpunk UI - Beautiful dark glassmorphic theme with neon accents
• Complete SEO Suite - Meta tags, Open Graph, Twitter Cards, JSON-LD
• Lightning Fast - Custom database tables, no WordPress CPT overhead

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Key Features

Writing & Editing

• Dual Editor Modes - Toggle between Markdown (with live preview) and Rich Text
• Draft/Publish Workflow - Save drafts or publish immediately
• Word Count & Reading Time - Auto-calculated as you write
• Categories & Tags - Full taxonomy system with auto-complete
• Image Upload - Drag-and-drop image management for posts
• Clean Interface - Focus on writing, not fighting with the editor

Cardano Blockchain Integration

How it works:

Unlike traditional EVM chains, Cardano uses a UTXO model - just like shopping at a grocery store with cash. You send a transaction, receive change, and get a receipt. Transactions on Cardano are cheap (around 0.2 ADA) and can contain rich metadata.

The plugin creates a server-side Cardano wallet that you fund with a few dollars. When you click "Sign Post with Cardano" - BAM, done. The server builds the transaction, signs it with your encrypted wallet, and submits it to the blockchain. No browser extension required.

Features:

• Cryptographic Signing - Sign published posts on Cardano blockchain
• CIP-20 Metadata - Store post metadata permanently on-chain
• ADA Handle Support - Use your $handle as author identity
• Wallet Management - Generate or import HD wallets (BIP39 24-word mnemonic)
• Encrypted Storage - Wallet keys encrypted with AES-256
• Mainnet & Preprod - Supports both networks with network-specific API keys
• Transaction Verification - Direct links to CardanoScan for signature verification
• Immutable Proof - Cryptographic proof of authorship and publication date

Built on:

• PHP-Cardano - Native PHP wallet generation and signing
• Anvil API - Transaction building and submission
• Blockfrost - Blockchain queries and ADA Handle lookup

SEO & Metadata

• Complete Meta Tags - Title, description, keywords, robots
• Open Graph Protocol - Beautiful previews on Facebook, LinkedIn, Discord
• Twitter Cards - Optimized Twitter/X sharing
• JSON-LD Structured Data - Google rich snippets for better rankings
• XML Sitemap - Auto-generated at /blog-sitemap.xml
• Canonical URLs - Prevent duplicate content issues
• Focus Keywords - Track primary SEO keywords per post
• Character Counters - Live feedback for optimal meta tag lengths

Design & Theming

• Cyberpunk Theme - Dark glassmorphic design with neon cyan/magenta accents
• Color Presets - 6 built-in themes (Cyberpunk, Matrix, Sunset, Ocean, Purple, Fire)
• Custom Colors - Live preview with primary/secondary gradient customization
• Responsive Design - Beautiful on desktop, tablet, and mobile
• Clean URLs - /blog/ and /blog/your-post-title
• Fast Loading - Optimized CSS with backdrop-filter blur effects

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Installation

Requirements

• WordPress 5.0+
• PHP 7.4+
• MySQL 5.7+
• For Cardano features:
  • Blockfrost API key (mainnet/preprod)
  • Ada Anvil API key (mainnet/preprod)

Step 1: Upload Plugin

1. Download the plugin files
2. Upload to /wp-content/plugins/umbrella-blog/
3. Or use WordPress Admin → Plugins → Add New → Upload

Step 2: Activate

1. Go to WordPress Admin → Plugins
2. Find "Umbrella Blog"
3. Click Activate

Step 3: Database Setup

After activation, the plugin automatically creates database tables. If you experience issues:

1. Go to Umbrella Blog → Database Setup
2. Click "Run Full Setup"

Step 4: Configure Settings

1. Go to Umbrella Blog → Settings
2. Set your default network (Mainnet or Preprod)
3. Add your API keys:
   • Blockfrost Preprod/Mainnet keys
   • Ada Anvil Preprod/Mainnet keys
4. Optionally customize color theme

Step 5: Flush Permalinks

1. Go to Settings → Permalinks
2. Click Save Changes

This registers the /blog/ URLs.

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Cardano Wallet Setup

Generate New Wallet

1. Go to Umbrella Blog → Wallet Manager
2. Click "Generate New Wallet" tab
3. Enter wallet name
4. Click "Generate Wallet"
5. IMPORTANT: Copy and securely store your 24-word recovery phrase
6. The wallet is encrypted and stored in your database

Import Existing Wallet

1. Go to Umbrella Blog → Wallet Manager
2. Click "Import from Mnemonic" tab
3. Enter wallet name
4. Paste your 24-word recovery phrase
5. Click "Import Wallet"

Wallet Security

• Private keys are encrypted with AES-256
• Mnemonics are only displayed once after generation
• Never share your recovery phrase
• Wallets support both Mainnet and Preprod networks

Multiple Wallets

• Create separate wallets for Mainnet and Preprod
• Archive unused wallets
• Only one wallet can be active per network

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Writing Your First Post

Create Post

1. Go to Umbrella Blog → Add New Post
2. Enter Title and Excerpt
3. Choose editor mode:
   • Markdown - Clean syntax, live preview, great for code
   • Rich Text - Familiar HTML formatting
4. Write your content

Add Metadata (Sidebar)

• Categories & Tags - Organize your content
• SEO Basics - Meta title, description, slug, focus keyword
• Social Sharing - Custom OG/Twitter images (optional)
• Advanced - Canonical URL, robots directive

Save or Publish

• Save as Draft - Store privately, continue later
• Publish - Make live immediately

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Signing Posts on Cardano

Prerequisites

1. Active wallet for your selected network
2. Sufficient ADA for transaction fees (~0.2 ADA)
3. (Optional) ADA Handle in wallet for author identity

Sign a Post

1. Publish your post first
2. Go to Umbrella Blog → Blog Posts
3. Find your published post
4. Click "Sign on Cardano"
5. Wait for transaction to be built and submitted
6. Transaction hash will appear when complete

What Gets Signed

The blockchain transaction includes CIP-20 metadata (label 674):

{
  "674": {
    "msg": {
      "type": "blog_post_signature",
      "version": "1.0",
      "post_id": "123",
      "title": "Your Post Title",
      "slug": "your-post-slug",
      "url": "https://yoursite.com/blog/your-post-slug",
      "published_at": "2025-11-04 12:00:00",
      "author_handle": "$yourhandle",
      "word_count": 1234,
      "excerpt": "Your post excerpt...",
      "signed_with": "Umbrella Blog v1.0"
    }
  }
}

Viewing Signatures

Published posts with signatures display:

• Author ADA Handle - With profile image (if available)
• Signed Date - When the signature was created
• Transaction Hash - Link to CardanoScan for verification
• On-Chain Metadata - Expandable view of blockchain data
• Immutability Notice - Explanation of blockchain permanence

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🎨 Customization

Color Themes

Built-in Presets:

• Cyberpunk (Default) - Cyan/Magenta neon
• Matrix Green - Classic terminal green
• Sunset Vibes - Warm red/yellow gradients
• Deep Ocean - Cool blue tones
• Purple Dream - Purple/violet gradients
• Fire & Ice - Orange/yellow heat

Custom Colors

1. Go to Umbrella Blog → Settings
2. Scroll to "Appearance"
3. Choose a preset or enter custom hex colors
4. See live preview of gradient
5. Save changes

Network Settings

• Default Network - Choose Mainnet or Preprod
• API Keys - Different keys for each network
• Dev Mode - Use mainnet handles on preprod (for testing)

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📊 Database Structure

The plugin creates 5 custom tables:

wp_umbrella_blog_posts

Main posts table with fields:

• Basic: id, title, slug, content, excerpt, status
• Editor: editor_mode (markdown/richtext)
• SEO: meta_title, meta_description, focus_keyword, canonical_url, meta_robots
• Social: og_title, og_description, og_image, twitter_* fields
• Stats: word_count, reading_time
• Cardano: signature_tx_hash, signature_metadata, signature_wallet_address, signature_handle, signed_at
• Timestamps: created_at, updated_at

wp_umbrella_blog_wallets

Cardano wallet storage:

• id, name, network, status (active/archived)
• payment_address, payment_keyhash
• mnemonic_encrypted, skey_encrypted (AES-256)
• created_at

wp_umbrella_blog_categories

Category definitions:

• id, name, slug, description

wp_umbrella_blog_tags

Tag definitions:

• id, name, slug

Relationship Tables

• wp_umbrella_blog_post_categories - Many-to-many post ↔ category
• wp_umbrella_blog_post_tags - Many-to-many post ↔ tag

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🛠️ Technical Details

Cardano Integration

Wallet Generation:

• Uses CardanoWalletPHP for pure PHP HD wallet derivation
• Implements BIP39 mnemonic generation (24 words)
• Derives payment keys using CIP-1852 derivation paths
• Supports both enterprise (payment-only) and base addresses

Transaction Signing:

• Uses Ed25519 pure PHP implementation for signing
• Builds transactions via Ada Anvil API
• Signs locally with encrypted wallet keys
• Submits to Cardano network via Anvil

Blockchain Queries:

• Blockfrost API for address balance, UTXOs, ADA Handles
• Ada Anvil for transaction building and submission
• Network-aware API endpoint switching

Security Features

• AES-256 Encryption for wallet private keys
• WordPress nonces for CSRF protection
• Capability checks (manage_options) for admin actions
• SQL injection prevention via $wpdb->prepare()
• XSS protection via esc_html(), esc_url(), esc_attr()
• Input sanitization for all form data

Performance Optimizations

• No WordPress CPTs - Custom tables for faster queries
• Direct database access - No post meta bloat
• Minimal dependencies - Only marked.js for Markdown preview
• CSS custom properties - Efficient theming system
• Debounced auto-save - Reduces database writes

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🌐 API Integrations

Blockfrost API

Used for:

• Fetching wallet balances and UTXOs
• Retrieving ADA Handles from addresses
• Verifying transaction confirmations

Required API Keys:

• Preprod: https://cardano-preprod.blockfrost.io/api/v0
• Mainnet: https://cardano-mainnet.blockfrost.io/api/v0

Get your keys at: https://blockfrost.io

Ada Anvil API

Used for:

• Building Cardano transactions
• Submitting signed transactions
• CIP-20 metadata attachment

API Endpoints:

• Preprod: https://preprod.api.ada-anvil.app/v2/services
• Mainnet: https://prod.api.ada-anvil.app/v2/services

Get your keys at: https://ada-anvil.io

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📝 Markdown Cheatsheet

# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3

**bold text**
*italic text*
~~strikethrough~~

[Link text](https://example.com)

![Image alt text](image-url.jpg)

- Bullet point
- Another point

1. Numbered list
2. Another item

`inline code`

\`\`\`javascript
// Code block with syntax highlighting
const greeting = "Hello World";
\`\`\`

> Blockquote text

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Horizontal rule

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🔧 Development

File Structure

umbrella-blog/
├── umbrella-blog.php          # Main plugin file
├── admin/
│   ├── css/
│   │   └── umbrella-admin.css # Cyberpunk theme styles
│   ├── editor.php             # Post editor page
│   ├── post-list.php          # Posts listing page
│   ├── wallet-manager.php     # Wallet management UI
│   ├── plugin-settings.php    # Settings page
│   └── image-upload-section.php
├── includes/
│   ├── WalletController.php   # Wallet CRUD operations
│   ├── WalletModel.php        # Wallet database queries
│   ├── WalletLoader.php       # Wallet decryption helper
│   ├── BlogSigner.php         # Cardano signing logic
│   ├── BlockfrostHelper.php   # Blockfrost API wrapper
│   ├── SEOMetaTags.php        # Meta tag generation
│   └── vendor/
│       ├── CardanoWalletPHP.php    # HD wallet derivation
│       ├── CardanoCLI.php          # Transaction signing
│       ├── AnvilHelper.php         # Anvil API wrapper
│       └── UmbrellaBlog_EncryptionHelper.php
├── templates/
│   ├── blog-list.php          # Blog listing page
│   └── single-post.php        # Single post view
└── README.md

Adding Features

The plugin is modular and easy to extend:

• New admin pages: Add to admin/ directory
• New database tables: Add to activate() in main plugin file
• New API integrations: Create helper class in includes/
• New editor features: Extend admin/editor.php

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🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Whether you're fixing bugs, adding features, or improving documentation.

Areas for improvement:

• Additional color themes
• More editor features (table support, footnotes, etc.)
• Enhanced blockchain features (multi-sig workflows, NFT minting)
• Performance optimizations
• Better mobile experience
• Internationalization (i18n)

Getting Started:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature)
3. Make your changes
4. Test thoroughly on WordPress 5.0+
5. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add amazing feature')
6. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/amazing-feature)
7. Open a Pull Request

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📄 License

MIT License - see LICENSE file for details.

Feel free to use, modify, and distribute this plugin.

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🙏 Credits

Built with:

• Blockfrost - Cardano API
• Ada Anvil - Transaction building
• marked.js - Markdown parsing
• CardanoWalletPHP - HD wallet derivation
• Ed25519 Pure PHP Implementation

Inspired by:

• Cardano's eUTXO model
• CIP-20 (Transaction Message/Comment Metadata)
• CIP-1852 (HD Wallets for Cardano)
• Cyberpunk aesthetics and glassmorphism design trends

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💬 Support & Community

For issues, questions, or feature requests:

• GitHub Issues: Report bugs or request features
• Documentation: Check the /Documentation/ folder for detailed guides
• WordPress Debugging: Enable WP_DEBUG in wp-config.php for detailed error logs

Get Help:

• Read CARDANO_SIGNING_README.md for blockchain setup assistance
• Check HANDLE_SELECTION_UPDATE.md for ADA Handle features
• Review WordPress error logs at /wp-content/debug.log

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🚀 Roadmap

Planned features:

• Multi-signature post approval workflows
• NFT minting for blog posts (turn posts into NFTs)
• Gated content with token/NFT verification
• RSS feed with blockchain verification hashes
• Archive posts to IPFS for permanent storage
• Reader comments via Cardano transactions
• CIP-8 message signing for portable identity
• Integration with other Cardano DApps

Want to sponsor a feature? Open an issue and let's talk!

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🌟 Why This Matters

In a world of AI-generated content, deepfakes, and content theft, having cryptographic proof of authorship matters more than ever.

Every time you sign a blog post with Umbrella Blog, you're creating a permanent, tamper-proof record on the Cardano blockchain that says:

• "I wrote these words"
• "I published them at this exact time"
• "This is the original version"

This isn't just for tech people. This is for writers, journalists, researchers, artists - anyone who creates original content and wants to protect their work.

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Built for writers who value authenticity and immutability.

Powered by Cardano

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Additional Resources

• Cardano Official: https://cardano.org
• ADA Handles: https://adahandle.com
• Anvil API: https://ada-anvil.io
• Blockfrost API: https://blockfrost.io
• CIP-20 Specification: https://cips.cardano.org/cips/cip20/
• CIP-1852 (HD Wallets): https://cips.cardano.org/cips/cip1852/