Building Custom WordPress Theme. This is the Chapter II of the Complete WordPress Theme Guide series.
This chapter will show you how to build a custom WordPress theme. Although the Codex site provides very good documentations on how to create a theme, but I find it too complicated for a beginner. In this tutorial, I will explain the basics of how WordPress theme works and show you how to convert a static HTML template into a theme. No PHP skill is required, but you need Photoshop and CSS skills to create your own design. 1. Before you start, let's take a look at the WordPress default theme and see how it is structured. Default Frontpage (index.php) Default Single (single.php) 2. Based on the information gathered from the default theme, design a Photoshop mockup of your blog.
After the PSD design is done, create a static HTML+CSS template of each page. Why Create a Static HTML File First? Mainly because it will make the development process a lot easier. How to Code a WordPress 3.0 Theme from Scratch. With the release of WordPress 3.0 came the implementation of many new features to the popular content management system.
In this tutorial we are going to show you exactly how to code a WordPress 3.0 theme from the ground up to take advantage of all of these new features, as well as create a blogging-ready, minimal theme. Setting Up the Work Station To get started with this tutorial we should set up a server on our computer using either XAMPP or WAMP (usually if working on a PC), or MAMP if you are working on a Mac. All of these tools allow for a local testing environment for WordPress and can make it so that you don’t have to constantly transfer files through FTP while working on a project. In terms of code editing I would highly suggest Notepad++.
Getting the Necessary Folders and Files Ready In the folder containing your WordPress installation, go to wp-content/themes/ and create a folder named “New 3.0 Theme”. Step 1 – Style.css Step 2 – Header.php Step 3 – Adding Custom Navigation. Creating your first WordPress child theme. Whether you just want to create a slightly customized theme or something completely unique, creating a WordPress child theme can greatly speed up the development process.
Child themes let you start with the basics of an existing theme, so you’re not having to reinvent the wheel. You can pick a theme that has the functionality and basic layout you need, but then customize everything about it as you would designing a theme from scratch. For this tutorial, we’ll be creating a child theme based on the newest WordPress default theme, Twenty Eleven. We’ll also be using some handy plugins and other tricks to make it even easier to create a child theme. You’ll need some very basic HTML and CSS knowledge, but the good news is that for a basic child theme, you don’t need to know any PHP! The theme we’ll be creating Here’s a brief look at the final theme we’ll be creating: How To Become A Top WordPress Developer In An Ocean Of "Experts" Advertisement Today, too many websites are still inaccessible.
In our new book Inclusive Design Patterns, we explore how to craft flexible front-end design patterns and make future-proof and accessible interfaces without extra effort. Hardcover, 312 pages. Get the book now! First, let’s set a few things straight: becoming a top WordPress developer is hard work — very hard work. By the way, installing WordPress, reading a few tutorials and customizing a few themes does not make someone a top developer.
Further Reading on SmashingMag: Link So I want you to be more than an “expert”, I want you to be one of the best. Why Be A Top Developer Link Why not? One Hour of Reading a Day Link If you’re going to make it to the top, then you need to spend at least one hour each workday focused on reading and learning more about WordPress — outside of any development work. Start with one dedicated, distraction-free hour of reading for each workday. Enrolling in WordPress University Link Do the Homework Link.