The document provides recommendations for what to include in a boilerplate WordPress theme to streamline development. It suggests including core WordPress loops, integrating a responsive framework like Bootstrap or Foundation, incorporating a navwalker for menus, using the customizer for basic branding customizations, setting up widget areas and hero images, and including a simple content carousel. Some things like advanced custom fields or extensive color options are not recommended as they do not necessarily speed up development.

1. WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A
BOILERPLATE THEME
For Faster WordPress Development
@timbdesignmpls on Twitter
timbdesign.com/themer

2. WHY?
WordPress themes are unwieldy when
you’re trying to make a custom site.
You find that you’re doing some of the
same things over and over again at
the beginning of custom builds.

3. Simplify and homogenize your process so you
don’t have to (and your team doesn’t have to
learn a new theme or process every time.)
BEING HANDED A LEGACY CODEBASE
YOU HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT

4. We start with the loops. Make it easy on your
self and get them all in one clean package
from the creators of WordPress at:
UNDERSCORES.ME

6. Bootstrap
Foundation
Semantic UI
You’re own grid (Home cookin!)
COMBINE THIS STRUCTURE
WITH PREFERRED RESPONSIVE
FRAMEWORK

8. INCORPORATE A
NAVWALKER
The WordPress menu working
with your responsive framework
is super useful.
bit.ly/bootstrap-navwalker
bit.ly/jasny-menu

9. USE THE CUSTOMIZER TO
ADD A FEW KEY THINGS
Logo
Colors
Main background or
universal fallback hero image
bit.ly/wp-customizer

10. SET UP YOUR WIDGET
AREAS IN FUNCTIONS.PHP
Sidebars
Footer Widgets
bit.ly/wordpress-widgets

11. SET UP YOUR HERO IMAGE
ON POSTS AND PAGES
If this is a convention you use often

12. INCORPATE A SIMPLER
DEVELOPER’S CAROUSEL
Bootstrap’s
Owl Slider
Unslider

13. TAKING IT TOO FAR
Things I’ve added that haven’t sped up
development
Advanced Custom Fields
Deep Color options in the theme customizer
Switching out light and dark color schemes

15. WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A
BOILERPLATE THEME
For Faster WordPress Development
@timbdesignmpls on Twitter
timbdesign.com/themer