Wordpress Theme
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- nylon
Thinking about adding another string to my bow by being able to build Wordpress templates rather than using developers who inevitably let me down.
Is there a good class you would recommend? A Lynda/Udemy type class that I could take OR is it far more deeper than that.
I am NOT a developer and respect what they do but it would be great for me to have some sort of knowledge that I could potentially develop...
If you say 'dont go there - use a developer' - I trust you guys... Well some of you!
Thanks
- yuekit3
How's your knowledge of HTML/CSS/JS?
If you really want to code themes from scratch, I would start by learning those basics rather than jumping straight to trying to develop WP themes.
On the other hand, if you have a solid foundation there as well as a little basic PHP, then WP development is pretty easy.
- +1noneck
- +renderedred
- Thank you - much appreciated.nylon
- thisfadein11
- ++++sted
- BabySnakes1
It also helps to learn by dissecting a theme. Use a browser inspector tool to see how themes are built, especially in wordpress where the layout patterns will stay the same to what you plan on editing.
- nocomply4
A word of caution about dissecting themes though... So many of them are unnecessarily bloated and complex.
I'd check out Underscores (_s): https://underscores.me/
https://torquemag.io/2017/08/beg…
That's a bare-bones starter theme made by the developers of WordPress that gives you everything you need and nothing you don't. This is the #1 best place to get started hacking away, adding in new features, and breaking things as you go. That's how I learned, and I still use _s on some projects today.
I'd beware of stepping into frameworks like Genesis before you know the basics of theming. Genesis is great, but it can be a lot in the beginning.
- Cosmodrome0
From the feedback and links I've seen posted here and in other threads, I was thinking I'd use Underscores or FoundationPress as a starter theme, then use a page builder like Elementor to build sites out visually.
I've been building sites in concrete5 for years and need to get into Wordpress. That seems to suit my usual process with c5. Would that put me on the right track with Wordpress?
- noneck1
Underscores is great, and there are other versions that have different frameworks integrated into underscores already.
- Are there any versions with integrated frameworks that you would recommend?Cosmodrome
- nocomply3
For page builders I'd highly recommend Beaver Builder (yes, that's really it's name), and really, nothing else.
Beaver Builder will place nicely with Underscores or the Genesis framework. I use it with both.
But keep in mind that WordPress has it's own page builder called Gutenberg which is coming to core soon unless the roadmap changes.
It represents a huge change in the way content is managed from within WordPress. I haven't had the chance to play around with it yet. It's worth keeping in mind though.
- Thanks! Any particular reasons why Beaver Builder is your go-to?Cosmodrome
- Beaver builder is like other builders live divi’s but cleaner I prefer it but I use various builders just to not get stuck using 1 tool I guessmoldero
- plash1
I'm a big fan ThemeCo X Pro
> https://theme.co/pro/it's fantastic, very much supported by the developers, super flexible and it's pretty fast loading (although that also depends on what you make out of it). it takes a little time to get used to (just like all page builders) but it's pretty intuitive and supports custom code/css/js
big selling points:
- one time cost (unlike Beaver Builder)
- lifetime updates per domain (you get a live and staging license)uses a modified cornerstone page builder engine (which ThemeCo also is the creator of)
it's the last page builder theme i'll ever purchase.
- nylon1
So I wanted to give you all an update. I found some beginner NTML stuff online - Im going through it - its hard but hey - practice makes perfect.
I also wanted to let you know that I purchased 'Elementor' which has basically allowed me to build a new site and have controlled near on everything. Im guessing its like Beaver Builder.
$36 to buy and technically cheaper than a theme.
Im sure its shite for all you coders but I was pretty amazed by it...
Would love to know what you lot think
Thanks again for all your help on this one...
- if you want 4-6 wordpress themes i will give them to you in hopes of learning the structure.. lmk..pockets
- pockets3
you know themes are good but to be completely genuine you should build yours from the ground up (you are in the right direction), include child themes to customize your blood and sweat. the biggest helper in making a theme is the understanding of files, structure and call actions/functions.. if i could give you the biggest piece of gold in making a theme it would be this graph
print it on canvas if you're are serious. i've been involved with wordpress for 17 year and still reference this image. wordpress might be complicated at first but you will learn its clay to do whatever you want..
keep in mind wordpress is not a good cms to build a ecommerce sites on with over 400 products, you need something more robust like magento, but its defiantly a starting point into the ecommerce industry and can change your life if you fully understand wordpress (it will carry on to other cms's)
before you get this far you got to reference comments above, css, html, php, java and general call actions in the worpress structure are something you must learn or understand before jumping head first.
wordpress can be a big piece of clay-dough if you understand the structure and the code that goes along with it..
if anything reference the Wordpress Discussion thread for help