Create a custom WP install with plugins, theme etc already installed?

Question

Is it possible to create a Wordpress install that will automatically install with multiple pliugins, a particular theme and custom settings so when I setup multiple blogs I don't have install so much extras each time?

It's because I will be installing lots of Wordpress blogs of different kinds that require different plugins and different themes and I want to be able to just install with everything already there..

Thanks

Answer 1

I found this which looks interesting. I'm going to work on the output code to modify it for a custom theme. If I have success I'll update here.

http://wpkgr.com/

Answer 2

In the past I've had success in making custom WP installations using custom install.php file. I remember I mostly followed this tutorial and improvised:

Automating WordPress customizations – the install.php way @ WordPress Bits

The trick was in overriding the installation process by putting your own install.php into wp-content directory.

Note that both articles are from 2007. It worked for me in the past but I'm totally not sure if this method works now with WP 3.3.

Presently I just use a custom bash script to do a quick install with my favorite plugins and a small plugin to loop through the settings I'd always used to change. I can share a code of both if needed but I believe much better scripts for both can be found online.

While I was searching for the above tutorial I've found WPkgr: WordPress Custom Install PKGs - I've never heard about it nor tested it but it looks like worth a try.