The document provides an overview of WordPress themes and customization, covering essential topics such as finding the right theme, installation, and customization techniques. It includes practical advice on theme selection based on website needs, potential challenges, and tools for enhancing theme functionality. The document also offers resources for further exploration of WordPress development.

1. WordPress
Themes Demystified
Melbourne WordPress User Meetup
12 November 2014
Chris
Burgess
-­‐
h,p://chrisburgess.com.au
-­‐
@chrisburgess

3. Making Your Site Truly Unique - Themes
& Customisation
We will begin with a brief overview of what themes are
and what they can do for your site. Then we will move
on to cover:
• Where to find a theme
• How to determine the right theme for you (for now)
• Some gotchas to watch out for
• How to install your theme
• How to make your theme look like the demo
• Taking customisation to the next level
Topics
as
per
the
Meetup.com
agenda…

4. Dashboard > Themes

5. Where to find a theme
• WordPress Theme Directory
• Theme Developers/Vendors
• Marketplaces
• Developing Your Own

6. How to install your theme

7. Theme Details

8. How to determine the right theme for
you (for now)
• What type of website you have or need
• Themes are often tailored to a specific type of site,
keep this in mind
• Reviews and feedback
• Documentation
• Support
• Is it actively developed?

9. Some gotchas to watch out for
• Functionality
• Poorly Supported
• Widgets (if switching themes)
• Custom Post Types

10. Note on Custom Post Types

12. How to make your theme look like the
demo
• Documentation
• XML Demo Data

13. Anatomy of the WordPress Theme

14. h,p://codex.wordpress.org/images/9/96/wp-­‐template-­‐hierarchy.jpg

15. Anatomy of the WordPress Theme
• https://yoast.com/wordpress-theme-anatomy/

16. Theme Frameworks

17. WooFramework

18. Genesis

19. Gantry

20. Thesis

21. Thematic

22. Note: Some of these aren’t technically
‘frameworks’ – however they’re
popular page builder style products

23. iThemes

24. Elegant Themes/Divi

25. Headway

26. Themify

27. PageLines

28. Starter Themes

29. _s (underscores)

30. Roots

31. Quark

32. Bones

33. Marketplaces

34. ThemeForest

35. MOJO Themes

36. Taking customisation to the next level
• PHP
• HTML/CSS
• JavaScript
• WordPress
– codex.wordpress.org
– make.wordpress.org

37. Customiser Example 1

38. Customiser Example 1

39. Handy Tools

40. wptest.io

43. Theme Test Drive

44. Theme Check (plugin)

45. Theme Authenticity Checker

46. ThemeCheck.org

47. Check for TimThumb
• https://wordpress.org/plugins/timthumb-vulnerability-scanner/

48. WP-Compatibility

49. Where to next?
• WordPress Codex
– http://codex.wordpress.org/Theme_Development
– https://make.wordpress.org/core/handbook/coding-standards/
– https://make.wordpress.org/core/handbook/coding-standards/
css/
• The #wpmelb Developer Meetup
– http://www.meetup.com/WordPress-Melbourne/

50. Thanks/Questions?
Chris Burgess
Twitter: @chrisburgess
Web: http://chrisburgess.com.au
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisburgesscomau