becoming a respected wordpress developer

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A few thoughts on becoming a respected developer for WordPress. This includes the basics of the loop, template hierarchies, custom post types, determining a workflow and helping others among other things.

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Page 1: Becoming a Respected WordPress Developer

BECOMING A RESPECTED WORDPRESS DEVELOPERA Primer for WordPress Development

Page 2: Becoming a Respected WordPress Developer

ABOUT YOUR SPEAKER

David LaiettaWordPress Development and ConsultingCustom Theme DevelopmentTeaching and One-on-One [email protected]@davidlaietta

@davidlaietta

Page 3: Becoming a Respected WordPress Developer

@davidlaietta

WHAT YOU NEED

Power User, DesignerHTML & CSS FundamentalsPHP & JavaScript basics preferred but not

needed to get startedNo specialized hardwareFree versions of all software needs exist

Page 4: Becoming a Respected WordPress Developer

@davidlaietta

MASTER THE LOOP

http://codex.wordpress.org/The_LoopThe instructions in a template file that

pulls contentTells WordPress what information to

retrieve and display from databaseControlled via WP_QueryAllows custom queries of information <?php if ( have_posts() ) : while ( have_posts() ) : the_post(); ?>

Page 5: Becoming a Respected WordPress Developer

@davidlaietta

THINK IN TEMPLATE TERMS

http://codex.wordpress.org/TemplatesControls how the site is displayedSpecific files pulled from template

hierarchy for content typesNaming conventions help structure datahttp://codex.wordpress.org/File:Template

_Hierarchy.png

Page 6: Becoming a Respected WordPress Developer

@davidlaietta

CUSTOM POST TYPES

http://codex.wordpress.org/Post_TypesThings that aren’t standard pages/postsCan be registered by user, theme or pluginUseful for specific content typesCreates new top-level admin menuAllows top-level slug navigation

http://yoursite.com/portfolio/portfolio-item/

Page 7: Becoming a Respected WordPress Developer

@davidlaietta

HOOKS, ACTIONS AND FILTERS

http://codex.wordpress.org/Plugin_API/Action_Reference

Hooks are places to add actions and filtersControls point of code executionActions add code to hooksFilters change existing actions

Page 8: Becoming a Respected WordPress Developer

@davidlaietta

SAMPLE MANY, COMMIT TO FEW

Try out various web technologies and development techniques/programs

Determine your productive workflowSlowly phase out unnecessary

componentsContinually refine your toolbox

Page 9: Becoming a Respected WordPress Developer

@davidlaietta

CHOOSE YOUR NICHE AND ATTACK!

Determine your passion in developmentExtensively study that passion areaDetermine shortcomings in existing

systems and softwareWork toward a more enjoyable

experience for users

Page 10: Becoming a Respected WordPress Developer

@davidlaietta

THINK LIKE A CLIENT

Learn to anticipate client needsFollow up with clients regularlyManage their expectations earlyUnder-promise and over-deliverDemonstrate that they are paying for your

expertise, not your time

Page 11: Becoming a Respected WordPress Developer

@davidlaietta

GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

Repay in kind as you have been taughtRelease GPL licensed codeContribute to WordPressForums, Handbooks, Core, UI, etc.Earn respect of peers and clientsAttract a higher quality clienteleShare the secret with others!