Parent/Child Themes vs. Theme Frameworks

parent/child themes vs. theme frameworks @brandondove #wclv

parent/child themes

“parent” themes are... • any theme created by anyone • no speciﬁc coding requirements /* Theme Name: Traction Theme URI: http://thethemefoundry.com/traction/ Description: A super clean magazine theme featuring built-in post thumbnail support, a featured post slider, and a robust theme options menu. Version: 1.02 Author: The Theme Foundry Author URI: http://thethemefoundry.com/ Tags: ﬁxed-width, two-columns, dark, black, blue, red, green, right-sidebar, threaded-comments, theme-options, translation-ready */

“child” themes are... • a subset of modiﬁcations • only requirement is style.css /* Theme Name: Traction PRO Child Theme Theme URI: http://thethemefoundry.com/traction/ Description: PRO child theme for Traction. Version: 1.02 Author: The Theme Foundry Author URI: http://thethemefoundry.com/ Template: traction */

parent/child theme relationships

the importance of child themes... • you don’t have to reinvent the wheel • change only what you need • theoretically protects your modiﬁcations from updates

basic parent/child theme concepts • load parent theme css • override templates to change layouts • functions.php does not get overridden

parent theme folder structure child theme folder structure

theme framework = supercharged parent theme • for developers, not average WordPress users • use actions to allow child themes to execute code • use ﬁlters to allow child themes to modify output • actions/ﬁlters are what make WordPress REALLY awesome

theme framework actions • placeholders for you to insert code without hacking the framework • in the framework: do_action( 'before_thematic', $args ); • in your child theme (functions.php): add_action( 'before_thematic', 'childtheme_function', (int) priority, (int) arguments ); function childtheme_function( $args ) { // execute some code here }

theme framework filters • allow you to alter the output of custom framework functions • in the framework: echo apply_filters( 'parenttheme_filter', $args ); • in your child theme (functions.php): add_filter( 'parenttheme_filter', 'childtheme_filter', (int) priority, (int) arguments ); function childtheme_filter( $args ) { return htmlentities( $args ); }

bonus round • theme options page = mini framework • endless layout possibilities through actions/ﬁlters

why thematic? • Ian Stewart & Chris Goßmann • current version: 0.9.7.7 • awesome seo • 13 default widgetized areas • 85 actions to hook into • 71 ways to ﬁlter content

thematic examples

krochetkids.org

rockharbor.org

360commercialre.com

collegesomethings.rockharbor.org

additional resources • ThemeShaper • op111 themeshaper.com/thematic/guide op111.net/53 • Thematic4you thematic4you.com • Pixel Jar pixeljar.net • Google Code code.google.com/p/thematic • Cheatsheet bluemandala.com/thematic/thematic-structure.html

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Brandon Dove @brandondove brandon@pixeljar.net (714) 932-5787 http://pixeljar.net

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Parent/Child Themes vs. Theme Frameworks

by Brandon Dove on Oct 24, 2010

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Parent/Child Themes vs. Theme Frameworks — Presentation Transcript