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GNU Terry Pratchett
Add an X-Clacks-Overhead header with “GNU Terry Pratchett” to all non-admin pages.
The facts
- Rating
- 5★ from 13
- Active installs
- 1k+
- Price
- Free
- Last updated
- 26 May 2026
- Added
- Mar 2015
- Requires WP
- 4.6
- Tested up to
- WP 7.0.4
- Requires PHP
- 5.6
- Downloads
- 19,021
Our analysis
AI-assistedThe GNU Terry Pratchett plugin adds an 'X-Clacks-Overhead' header to your WordPress site, allowing you to pay tribute to the late author Terry Pratchett. It can also add a corresponding meta tag in the HTML of your site. This plugin is designed for users who wish to honour Pratchett's legacy without modifying server configurations.
You can customise the text of the header and meta tag through the plugin settings. However, if you use a caching plugin, the HTTP header will not be sent unless configured at the server level.
Best for: This plugin suits WordPress users who want to commemorate Terry Pratchett on their site.
What it does well
- ✓Adds an 'X-Clacks-Overhead' header for tribute
- ✓Includes a meta tag in HTML
- ✓Customisable header text
- ✓Easy to install and configure
- ✓Free to use from the WordPress.org directory
Where it falls short
- •HTTP header not sent with caching plugins
- •Limited feature information available
Verdict
The GNU Terry Pratchett plugin provides a simple way to honour the author, though its functionality may be limited by caching plugins.
From the developer
Nick C's own description of GNU Terry Pratchett, lightly tidied.
The GNU Terry Pratchett plugin transmits an “X-Clacks-Overhead” header reading, “GNU Terry Pratchett” so that Terry’s name is whispered forevermore in the Internet’s “overhead”.
In Pratchett’s “Going Postal”, workers who die in the line of duty have their names transmitted up and down the Discworld’s telegraph system as a tribute.
This plugin makes it easy for WordPress users to do the same for Terry Pratchett, without having to modify their server configuration.
The GNU Terry Pratchett headers
The plugin adds the GNU Terry Pratchett header in two ways:
- As an HTTP header (if you don’t use a WordPress page caching plugin).
- As a meta tag in your HTML with the http-equiv attribute.
Settings
The text sent in HTTP headers and meta tags is “GNU Terry Pratchett” by default.
Change this by visiting Settings → GNU Terry Pratchett in your WordPress admin area and editing the “X-Clacks-Overhead header” field.
This option lets you honor other people you would like to remember by making them a small part of your site’s content forever.
Checking the HTTP header is sent
There are several ways to check that the HTTP header is appearing for your site:
- With your terminal (
curl -I example.com) - With Chrome’s Network tab.
- With the Clacks Overhead Chrome plugin or the GNU Terry Pratchett Firefox extension.
- Using the Server Header Checker.
Note that the HTTP header is not sent if you use a page caching plugin. To send the HTTP header and continue to use a caching plugin, add the header at the server level. See http://www.gnuterrypratchett.com/ for options.
Checking the meta tag is added
You can check that the meta tag is visible by viewing your site’s HTML source and searching for “GNU Terry Pratchett”.
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