Child themes, theme frameworks, starter themes … there are so many choices when beginning to build a custom theme. How do you decide where to begin? We’ll talk about how to find a good place to start depending on your skills, comfort level, and the project budget.
4. • “...a drop-in code library
used to facilitate
development of a theme”
“A front-end web development
framework is simply a
collection of production
ready HTML/CSS/JavaScript
components that we can use
in our designs.”
F R A M E W O R K
5. • Requires a parent theme
Hint - many WordPress
“frameworks” are parent
themes
C H I L D T H E M E
6. • Scares the crap out of
you
Little to no CSS
S T A R T E R
T H E M E
7. – E V E R Y O N E I N T H I S R O O M
“So how do you choose?”
8. – E V E R Y D E V E L O P E R E V E R Y W H E R E
“It depends.”
9. FRAMEWORKS
PROS
• Base CSS
• Grid system
• Responsive
• Classes defined
• Typography
• Defines stuff you’d forget
about
• Broader than WordPress
10. FRAMEWORKS
CONS
• Not a stand-alone theme
• Usually included in a
theme’s functions.php file
or folders
• http://www.punkchip.com/w
hy-dont-you-use-bootstrap/
12. BOOTSTRAP
• HTML, CSS, & JS
• 12-col grid
• XS, S, M, L screen sizes
• “Mobile-first” (mostly min-width)
• Media queries based on pixels
• LESS (ported to Sass)
17. CHILD THEME
PROS
• Quickest and easiest choice
• DO THIS rather than hack the
theme
• Parent theme can carry the
weight
• Bork the child and the parent
is OK
• Works immediately
• 80% of the work is done for
you
• Lowest cost
18. CHILD THEME
CONS
• At the mercy of the parent
theme’s code
• Quality
• Security
• Upgrades
• Compatibility
• Not the leanest strategy
25. STARTER THEME
PROS
• You control (and are
responsible for) updates
• One and done
• It’s your code
• Lean and mean code
26. STARTER THEME
CONS
• You control (and are
responsible for) updates
• You have to build the
theme
• 20% of the work is done for
you
• Most time intensive
35. QUESTIONS TO ASK
• How will it (the site /
framework / parent theme)
change?
• Upgrades?
• Redesigns?
• Improvements?
• Budget?
• Timeframe?
• What will you be asking
the site to do?
• Heavy traffic?
• Heavy database use?
• Who’s going to support
it?
• What are you comfortable
with?
36. – A N Y O N E W H O ’ S S T I L L W I T H M E
“So what do you recommend?”
37. MY ADVICE
• Research the differences
between frameworks
• Choose one parent theme
and build several child
themes on it
• When you’re ready, find a
starter theme that you like
and use it for everything
38. RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE
I N T H E E N D , Y O U H A V E T O