chris everson-wchtx-2010
TRANSCRIPT
Exploring Theme Development
Diving In
• Plan Your Build• Development Environment• Frameworks• The Codex• WP_Query• Workflow• Deploying Your Theme• To Infinity and Beyond!
Plan Your Build
Set Your Path
• Know what you want before pen hits paper.
• Is the theme going to be for a single project or is it going to be reused?
• What can I get this theme to do?What do you want your theme to do?
• Is WordPress right for this project?
PLAN YOUR BUILD
Wireframe
• Draw it out!
• Digital VS Analog
• Not the designer? Blueprint it.
PLAN YOUR BUILD
No Page Left Behind
• Know what page types you might use.
• Public Release? Include the defaults.
PLAN YOUR BUILD
Development Environment
Physical Environment
• Code is poetry, your workspace should be too.
• Avoid distraction.
• Respect your sanity or lack thereof, take some breaks chief!
DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT
Essential Tools
• Your software is your team.– Text editor– FTP Client– Image editing– Utilities
• Code Snippet Storage• Digital Color Meter• Firebug• On-screen ruler
DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT
Hosting
• Mimic the anticipated deployment environment.
• Local hosting VS Remote hosting
DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT
Local Filesystem Efficiency
• Organize your files!
• Become a packrat, avoid a headache.
DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT
Frameworks
What Are They?
• Your almost-blank canvas.
• Benefits you ask? Frameworks are a huge time saver.
FRAMEWORKS
Options
• Build your own?
• Popular frameworks– Thematic ( themeshaper.com/thematic/ )– Sandbox ( plaintxt.org/themes/sandbox/ )– Hybrid ( themehybrid.com/themes/hybrid/ )
FRAMEWORKS
The Codex
Template Tags
• The Template Tags portion of The Codex covers tags used frequently in standard template building.
THE CODEX
Function Reference
• The Function Reference portion of The Codex covers tags that are used in the core functionality of WordPress.
THE CODEX
Theme Development Guide
• The Theme Development Guide is your bible for theme standards and best practices.
• The Theme Development guide also contains the Template File Checklist which is essential if submitting to the WP Theme Directory.
THE CODEX
Theme Unit Test
• The Theme Unit Test provides test data to check your theme against all data types.
THE CODEX
WP_Query
Make The Loop Work For You
• Don’t let default queries define your template.
WP_QUERY
Potential Uses
• Access query variables
• Modify queries
• Implement multiple loops
WP_QUERY
Workflow
• Comment your work as you go.
• Maintain clean code throughout the development process.
• Build it all then break it up.
Deploying Your Theme
• Remove unused/unnecessary code and files.
• Double, triple, quadruple check!
• Public Theme? Submit for WordPress Gallery.
To Infinity and Beyond
• Continue learning and building your skillset– Theme Options– Plugin Development– Hooks