Date post: | 17-May-2015 |
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Technology |
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WordPress FrameworksWhich is the Best? Should I Even Use Them At All?
Allan Fuelling | @allanfuellingMike Zielonka | @mikezielonka
Heather Acton | @heatheracton78
Wednesday, January 11, 12
Intros
Allan
Mike
Heather
Wednesday, January 11, 12
What is a framework?Just another WordPress theme
Let’s ask the Codex
Usually a “blank” theme with some nice packaged functionality
SEO, feed redirection, text areas to enter tracking code, drag/drop modifications, etc.
Twentyeleven (YES!), Woo Framework, Genesis, Pagelines, Headway, etc.
Wednesday, January 11, 12
What is a parent theme?
A parent theme is the theme being used as the framework
Not an “activated” theme, but must be present in the themes folder for the child theme to work
Modifications to CSS, page templates, and functions should NOT be made to the parent theme
Wednesday, January 11, 12
What is a child theme?
A child theme is the theme that modifies, in a future-proof way, the parent theme
The child theme IS activated in the WordPress dashboard
Check out the Codex on child themes. You’ll be glad you did.
Wednesday, January 11, 12
What is a starter theme?Starter themes are extremely stripped down versions of a WordPress theme
Typically no special functionality, and only minimal CSS
Just contains the backbone of what a WordPress theme needs to work
Toolbox is a starter theme by Automattic, BLANK by Digging Into WP guys
Wednesday, January 11, 12
WordPress Themes
Out of the box themes- WordPress free theme repository
- Theme Forest- No modifications to CSS or functions
Frameworks- Twentyeleven, Woo, Genesis,
Pagelines, Headway- Parent / child structure
Starter Themes-Toolbox
- Close to theming from scratch
Wednesday, January 11, 12
Why use a framework?
For users, it’s a quick way to get a nice looking and highly functional website up and running quickly without knowing how to code
For developers, it’s a low budget option for clients looking for a simple design that is not unique to their site
Wednesday, January 11, 12
Why NOT use a framework?
Frameworks sometimes come with more functionality than is needed
Some frameworks change WordPress functions, so the process for creating page templates may be different than what you’ll find in the Codex
Some frameworks have a very complex theme structure, making learning how a theme works difficult and possibly slowing down your site
Wednesday, January 11, 12
Genesis Demo
Wednesday, January 11, 12
Genesis FeaturesLots of nice child themes to choose from
Base Genesis framework comes with some nice features
Featured images
Many layouts for 1-3 columns
Custom widgets for newsletter, featured posts, etc.
Author boxes
SEO (but don’t use theirs - use WordPress SEO by Yoast!)
Wednesday, January 11, 12
Genesis Cons
Changes WordPress core functions, so Codex instructions don’t always apply. Custom post type page templates can be a *bear*.
Includes many features you’ll never use, but can unregister
Very complex theme structure. Don’t start learning about theme building by looking at Genesis.
Wednesday, January 11, 12
Overall Genesis Reco
Use it when a child theme gets you most of the way to a design you or a client needs
If you need to get really custom (from provided PSD, for example), just build a theme from scratch or from a starter theme
Wednesday, January 11, 12
Toolbox Demo
Wednesday, January 11, 12