Best way to create a user programatically

I want to create a user via a standalone script. I want an activation email to be sent out, in the same way that it is when a user is created from the Add User screen. An email is set out with a link to create the password. There is no password in the email.

There seem to be various functions for creating new users.

• wp_insert_user
• wp_create_user
• [register_new_user][3]

There’s also

• wp-admin/user-new.php

Below is the code I have. It creates a new user, but it isn’t the notification email. I’ve checked that wp-mail() and php mail() are working correctly.

I’m not sure that this is the right direction. I feel there might be an easier way to do it. If this is the right direction, any pointers on why the notification is not being sent?

Thanks.

<?php
define( 'SHORTINIT', true );
require_once( '/var/www/html/mysite/wp-load.php' );
require_once ('/var/www/html/mysite/wp-includes/user.php');
require_once ('/var/www/html/mysite/wp-includes/formatting.php');
require_once ('/var/www/html/mysite/wp-includes/capabilities.php');
require_once ('/var/www/html/mysite/wp-includes/pluggable.php');
require_once ('/var/www/html/mysite/wp-includes/kses.php');
require_once ('/var/www/html/mysite/wp-includes/meta.php');
function __() {}
wp_create_user ( 'testuser8', 'apsswd', 'someone@gmail.com' );
wp_new_user_notification ( testuser8,null,'both' );
?>

You should read the codex page re wp_create_user.

You don’t describe the context in which your code runs.
You shouldn’t need all those require_once calls.

Anyhow, in this line wp_new_user_notification ( testuser8,null,'both' ); what is testuser8 ? It’s not a variable, it’s not a string, it’s just some text that probably throws an error.

Try:

$user_id = wp_create_user ( 'testuser8', 'apsswd', 'someone@gmail.com' );
if( is_wp_error( $user_id ) ) 
    var_dump( $user_id );
else
    wp_new_user_notification ( $user_id, null,'both' );