Display Error if GD library ins't installed/enabled

[stormrockwell]

I recently moved a website to a new server and ran the Regenerate Thumbnails plugin which ended up breaking my site because it couldn't generate the image sizes. Looking at their reviews there are a number of people bashing the plugin for breaking their sites because they do not have the GD library installed. I was very confused for awhile and I couldn't google the issue I was having but then remembered it required the GD library.

This isn't an issue only directed at the plugin because when you upload an image it will only show the full size available which left me puzzled for awhile.

I think if we could display an error in the media library after uploading an image that it failed to create the image sizes because of the missing PHP library that would be very helpful.

[stormrockwell]

correction: GD/Imagick library

[blobfolio]

Thanks for the suggestion, @stormrockwell!

I would have to double-check, but I do not believe GD or Imagemagick are hard requirements for WordPress itself. Not every blog needs images, or more specifically, automatically-generated image thumbnails.

But I agree most modern sites would probably incorporate media into their posts in some fashion. Along those lines it would be nice to do a simple check and append an informational notice to the Media Library page in cases where neither extension are present, just so users are aware that functionality will be limited.

But as for the plugin you referenced, you should open a support ticket for the plugin (Pull it up on WP.org and click its "Support" tab.) Given its image-centric scope, it really should run checks to ensure the host supports at least one of the image extensions. :)