Wordpress Discussion

Out of context: Reply #164

  • Started
  • Last post
  • 174 Responses
  • cherub0

    Update:

    I said I would update the post above with my "lessons learned" observations as a new wp user. Here goes:

    -Wp doesn't come with a log built in. Start logging immediately bcuz there will be issues, guaranteed. This shit is buggy. I'm using 'simple history' plugin for this. I can't believe wp doesn't include a log by default without having to edit .php files.

    -Once the theme is installed don't be tempted to use the "edit site" link at the top of your homepage url to start building your wp. That was my 1st big fuckup. Actually create a page, then use the "edit page" button anytime you want to update it. If you choose "edit site" you think you are editing a web page, but you are actually editing your TEMPLATE for the front page. This is where things get murky... Even worse, if you don't create a page there aren't any revisions to track / fall back on in teh pages menu because the page never existed. Only the template. It is so confusing. Which brings me to my next point.

    -Under Settings > Reading There is a confusing dichotomy between the "Your latest posts" method of showing your homepage, and the "static" method with is actually 2 things: "Homepage" and "Posts" page(rolling posts), which are both set via dropdowns. Another problem is sometimes the page u create in pages don't even show in the dropdown so u can't choose it. Reason I say it's confusing is when u use the "your latest posts" method of showing your homepage, it's unclear where wordpress is getting your homepage from if you haven't created any pages yet, and have zero blog posts. In this case you have no recent posts, so I think it defaults to using your "front page" template from your theme since it thinks your edits to the template count as a "recent posts"

    -There is a cool hack you can do, if u happen to pick one of the rare themes that's missing the "customize" option under "appearance" you can go to your url/wp-admin/customize.php and it will give you that menu on the left if u want it.

    -It's probably a sign that your theme is sub par if u need to do that hack, tho.

    -As I mentioned before, having that "sync" checkbox turned on when creating patterns and/or template parts can REALLY fuck things up because it can end up reverting sections you've already finished... and overall I recommend AGAINST editing templates for site building because my theme kept reverting my edits anyway... even after I saved them I'd have to sometimes manually go to an earlier revision point to restore my edits back.

    -Overall wp seems like overkill and bloaty at this point for creating a simple landing page. I used some random free web host's wysiwyg editor last time and I was up and running in no time. Can't say the same for wordpress. Easy to get in the weeds.

    Anyway, hope I don't get flamed for any of this, if I got stuff wrong and I likely did, just correct what I said.

    Thanks.

    cherub 0Permalink
    UpvoteDownvote
    Flag
    • Its interesting to read someones take coming at wordpress as it is now as opposed to people who've used it for sometime and adapted.webazoot
    • I've thought they should either have made Gutenberg a new product and kept an official classic version or else not have rushed into it like they seemed to.webazoot
    • None of my clients who update their own sites can manage to use Gutenberg even though it was 'supposed' to be simpler.webazoot
    • they have a classic editor plugin for that.fadein11
    • Probably the best way to learn your way around how Wordpress works is to build a theme yourself from scratch.monNom
    • There are a bunch of YouTube tutorials on exactly that. You’ll understand where the difference between static pages and posts comes from, and where things live.monNom
    • The customize menu is actually a giant security hole, so it’s best to lock it down.
      All your logs are on the Apache server. Php logs, sql logs, etc.      monNom
    • And yes. Wordpress is way overkill for a landing page. Just do a static site. No worry about security, more performant, form handling can be done with embedsmonNom
    • The thing about Wordpress as a platform, is that it is so accessible that people with limited knowledge can launch a website, but they don’t know how it works.monNom
    • That can be a great way to democratize the web, but it can also be a great recipe to get sued. With Wordpress especially, you’ve got to be careful.monNom
    • "The thing about Wordpress... so accessible that people with limited knowledge can launch a website, but they don’t know how it works" This is me, lol.cherub
    • ^ and it’s not a slight. It’s just that you don’t know what you don’t know. So when problems arise they are confusing. Build a couple of themes and you’ll be...monNom
    • ...much better prepared to avoid issues, or repair problems when they arise.monNom
    • A couple of years ago, I had a problem with a huge WP site. I hired a security expert, and in 2 days, I learned more about this cms than I had in years...OBBTKN
    • By following a few simple security guidelines, 99% of attacks can be avoided ;)OBBTKN
    Show [[ numHiddenNotes ]] more notesAdd Note
    SaveCancel

View thread