Kathryn Presner gave a beginner's guide to WordPress at Podcamp Toronto 2012. She covered intro topics like the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org, common WordPress uses like blogs and CMS, and basic WordPress structures. She demonstrated themes, plugins, widgets and the admin panel. Presner recommended WordPress resources like the Codex and forums. She closed by taking questions and providing her contact details for further assistance with WordPress.
12. Some WordPress Basics
Structure Presentation
Markup
Language ➜
Database vs. files
PHP vs. HTML Dynamic Functions
Scripting
Do I need to know
Language ➜
PHP?
Data
Database ➜
16. Introduction to Themes
A WP Theme is a collection of Template files -
(X)HTML + PHP + CSS
The CSS (aka stylesheet) usually controls the
layout and design
Only two template files are required: index.php,
style.css
Some are optional: sidebar.php, comments.php,
etc.
http://codex.wordpress.org/Stepping_Into_Templates
http://codex.wordpress.org/Template_Hierarchy
28. Cheat Sheets
WP Candy Cheat Sheet - Basic and Advanced
http://wpcandy.com/teaches/the-advanced-wordpress-help-sheet
WordPress Template Tags Reference Guide
http://www.dbswebsite.com/design/wordpress-reference/V3/
Optimization Cheat Sheet for WordPress
http://codex.wordpress.org/WordPress_Optimization/Cheat_Sheet
Various 3.0-Ready Cheat Sheets
http://www.webanddesigners.com/11-extremely-helpful-wordpress-cheatsheets/
Remember: Cheat sheets need to be current
29. Theme Development Tools
Theme Test Drive Plugin
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/theme-test-drive/
Official Theme Development Checklist & Sample Data
http://codex.wordpress.org/Theme_Development_Checklist
Book: Digging Into WordPress
http://digwp.com/
Online and In-Person Classes
http://zoonini.wordpress.com/wordpress-resources-wcto/
30. WordPress Inspiration
We Love WP
http://welovewp.com/
WPInspiration
http://wpinspiration.com/
WP Float
http://wpfloat.com/
WP Showcase
http://wordpress.org/showcase/
31. Recommended Plugins
All in One SEO Pack or DirtySuds - Embed
WordPress SEO by YouTube
Yoast
Bad Behavior
FeedBurner
WordPress Database
FeedSmith Extend
Backup
Subscribe to
Secure WordPress
Comments Reloaded
WordPress File
Obfuscate Email
Monitor Plus
Contact Form 7
WP-DB-Backup
33. What Next? Questions?
Get the presentation at Slideshare
http://www.slideshare.net/zoonini
Company links
http://www.zoonini.com
Twitter @zoonini
http://www.facebook.com/zoonini