This slide is particularly made for those WordPress developers who want to learn about WordPress theme guidelines and want to make a theme based on it.

2. GANGA KAFLE
Co-Founder of TemplateSell
WordPress Developer
ThemeReview Team Lead
Manages WPEntire WordPress Blog
Lead Organizer of WordCamp Biratnagar 2018
WordCamp Dhaka 2019

3. Think Before You Submit Themes on WP.Org
Presented By: Ganga Kafle
WordCamp Dhaka 2019
#WCDHAKA

4. SHOULD M Y THEME BE BASED ON
STANDARDS?

5. Setup Theme Development
Environment
define('WP_DEBUG', true); in wp-
config.php
Import DemoData from
Tools > Import
Install Developer, ThemeCheck and
ThemeSniffer Plugin

6. What are the Theme Standards?
What your theme should have?
GPL
COMPATIBLE
Mention Licenseof
Everythird party
resourcesused on
theme. Example:
Image, JS,CSSlibrary
etc.
ERRORFREE
ANDSECURE
It mustbe error free,
warning and notices
are not allowed.
Useunique prefix to
reduce conflicts with
plugins.
TRANSLATION
READY
Everydefault and
static stringsmust be
translation ready.
Example:
<?php _e('Default
Text','text-domain'); ?>
NOT MORALLY
OFFENSIVE
Make your theme
which isperfect for
everyone who want to
useit. Neveruse
offensive images, text
or any resources.

7. IMPORTANT THINGS
TO CARE ABOUT
PREFIXING
Prefix with Theme Slug.
PHPfunction names,PHPclass names,PHPglobal variables,
Action/Filter hooks,Script handles, Style handles, Image size
names.
STYLE.CSS FILE
ThemeURI& Author URI
Text Domain
Tagsand Subject Tags
FUNCTIONS.PHP FILE
Enqueue JS,CSSand Fonts( Hardcoded not allowed )
Donot load popular scripts, WordPressalready loaded that.

8. Validation, Sanitization and Escaping
Validate and/or sanitize
untrusted data before entering
into the database.
Customizer Data must be
sanitze before saving and
escape it before output.
EXAMPLE
sanitize_email, esc_attr,
esc_url, esc_html, absint
etc.
All untrusted data
should be escaped
before output.
EXAMPLE
sanitize_email(),
sanitize_text_field(),
esc_url_raw, absint etc
EXAMPLE
'sanitize_callback'=>
'sanitize_text_field';

9. WHAT ARE NOT ALLOWED?
KEEPIT IN MIND, THE BELOW LISTED THINGS
Custom Post
types and
taxonomies are
not allowed.
CUSTOM POST TYPE
Shortcodes are not
allowed. Youare not
allowed to make
shortcodes on
theme.
SHORTCODES
Not allowed to bundle
plugins in the theme.
Themecan
recommend plugins
and those plugins
mustbe in dot org
repository.
PLUGINS

10. SCREENSHOT SIZE
-Nologo or mockup, actual
layout of yourtheme is
required.
- Required size4:3 aspect
ratio.
- Recommendedsizeis
1200*900

11. - Wand Pof WordPress always inuppercase.
- Remove unnecessary commented code.
- Nocustomization in WordPressadmin.
- Redirection is not allowed aftertheme activated.
- It’s not allowed to remove the default
functionality of core.
- Don’t include developmentfiles.
- Premium Theme Shop should be GPL.
- Don’t include backup files on themefolder.
- Noanalytics or tracking.
- NoSharing APIis allowed. ( Facebook, twitter etc
)
- Save options on single array.
IMPORTANT
THINGSTO
CAREABOUT

12. - Not overriding adminbars.
- NoURLshorteners used in thetheme.
- All code and design should be your own orlegally
yours.
- Use WordPress functionality and features first,if
available.
- Youare not allowed to duplicateexisting
features.
- Custom favicon is not allowed. It’score
functionality.
- Check name collision.
- Submit one theme at atime.
- Check Skip links and Keyboard Navigation
IMPORTANT
THINGSTO
CAREABOUT

13. SomeMoreTips
CheckExistingLiveTickets
Follow ThemeGuidelines
Start Reviewing Other Themes

14. SomeMoreTips
Join#themereviewchannelonSlack
Attend MeetingRegularly
ContactWithModsandReps

15. HOW THEME REVIEW PROCESS
WORKS?
SUBMIT THEME
WAIT QUEUE
REVIEWAND
SOLVE
ISSUES/ CLOSED
WAIT ADMIN
REVIEW
LIVE/ CLOSED

16. This is Where My
Presentation Ends And,
Quality WordPress Theme
Development Begins !

17. GANGAKAFLE
ThemeReveiwTeamLead
Co-Founder of TemplateSell
Follow me: @sandilyakafle
fb.com/kafleg