What You Don't Know You Can Do — WordPress Development for Absolutely EveryoneTracy Levesque • • @LilJimmi [email protected]
What You Don't Know You Can Do
WordPress Development forAbsolutely Everyone
With Tracy Levesque / @liljimmi
Hi, I'm Tracy.
I am a Power User
I know HTML
I know CSS
I don't know PHP
There are many folks with skill setssimilar to mine.
And we can develop for WordPress, too!
WordPress Development
Demystified!I'm going to go through some terms being thrown aroundon that other track and explain what they are, what they
can do, and how to use them.
The WordPressTemplateHierarchy
The WordPress Template Hierarchycodex.wordpress.org says:
WordPress uses the Query String — informationcontained within each link on your web site — todecide which template or set of templates will be
used to display the page.
The WordPress Template HierarchyTranslation
Templates are cool because if you name a template file acertain way, it will automatically apply to a certain page.
There's a that shows how the
naming conventions work.
chart on WordPress.org
OMG
The WordPress Template HierarchyWhat it is
The chart looks confusing, but it's really pretty simple.
The WordPress Template HierarchyWhat it is
Templates are the files in a theme that tell WordPresshow to display your pages. They live in the theme's folder.
The WordPress Template HierarchyThey're like different frames for your content
The WordPress Template HierarchyWhat it is
Templates handle the display of different pages on yourWordPress site such as...
The main list of posts (the blog page)A regular pageAn archive page (Category, Tag, Author, Date pages)A single post pageThe search results pageEtc...
The WordPress Template HierarchyWhat it can do
If you name template files a certain way they will affectthe display of those pages.
The WordPress Template HierarchyTwentytwelve example
The WordPress Template HierarchyHow you can use it
Power users - Look for a theme or theme framework thatallows you to add/modify templates.
Designers - Make them yourself! Just follow the chart.
The Loop
The Loopcodex.wordpress.org says:
The Loop is PHP code used by WordPress todisplay posts.
The LoopTranslation
The Loop is a set of instructions in a template that grabscontent and displays it on a page.
It's called a "loop" because the set of instructions can berepeated multiple times on a page.
The LoopThe Loop is like making sandwiches.
The LoopTo make a sandwich you collect a set of ingredients
and assemble it
The LoopYou repeat the steps of collecting and assembling as
many times as needed
The LoopWhat it is
Within The Loop are the main parts of a page or post.These are like the slices of bread in our sandwich.
TitleContent
The LoopWhat it is
You can also grab additional content, aka Metadata,attached to pages or posts. These are like the ingredients
in our sandwich.
AuthorDateFeatured ImageCategories (posts only)Tags (posts only)Etc.
The LoopWhat it is
In The Loop you can provide instructions that determinewhich posts are shown.
For example we could have the following instructions:
Only show posts from the "Pets" categoryIf a post is tagged "kittens" add a special style to itIf a post is tagged "dogs" don't show it
The LoopWhat it can do
Custom loop example on the site.moviefanfare.com
The LoopHow you can use it
Power users - Look for a theme, theme framework orplugin that allows you to modify the display of the posts
page.
Designers - Dig into the loop in your theme or childtheme and start modifying! Check out
in the WordPress Codex.The Loop in Action
Custom PostTypes
Custom Post Typescodex.wordpress.org says:
A Custom Type is a Post Type you define.
Custom Post TypesTranslation
Normally you only have 2 types of content to choosefrom: Pages and Posts. Guess what — you can make
more!
Custom Post TypesWhat they are
Pages and Posts are both Post Types. They...
Are types of content with their own sets of fieldsHave their own admin area in the WordPress adminLet you add content in a repeating and consistentmannerHave a consistent layout (by default) on the front-end ofyour site.
Custom Post TypesWhat they are
So instead of just
You could have
Custom Post TypesReally, the possibilities are endless
Custom Post TypesWhat they can do
Custom Post Types can also have their own customtaxonomies. That just means they can have their own
ways to group posts together.
Categories and Tags are taxonomies for Posts andPages.
Custom Post TypesWhat they can do
If we created a custom post type called "Movies" somecustom taxonomies we could use are
Genre, Year, Director and Rating
With these custom taxonomies you would have archivepages to see all movies by genre, year, etc.
Custom Post TypesStatic Guard example
For we created 3 custom post types:
Products, Stylists and Tips
mystaticguard.com
Custom Post TypesStatic Guard example
With Custom taxonomies, The Loop and the WordPressTemplate Hierarchy, the site is easy-to-manage.
Custom Post TypesHow you can use them
Power users - that allows you to create
Custom Post Types.
Use a plugin
Designers - Code your own. Really! I have that shows you how.a how-to video on WordPress.tv
Hooks, Actionsand Filters
Hooks, Actions and Filterscodex.wordpress.org says:
Hooks are provided by WordPress to allow yourplugin to 'hook into' the rest of WordPress...There
are two kinds of hooks:Actions: A custom PHP function defined in yourplugin (or theme) and hooked, i.e. set torespond, to specific events that take place inWordPress.Filters: Functions that WordPress passes datathrough, at certain points in execution, justbefore taking some action with the data
Hooks, Actions and FiltersTranslation
Hooks, Actions and Filters allow you to change WordPressfunctionality without breaking it.
Custom Post TypesWhat they are
Hooks - Points at which WordPress allows you to tap intoa function and safely modify it.
Some examples are:
Changing the length of the excerptChanging the order of menu items in the adminAdding content to the beginning or end of every postAdding Custom Post TypesAdding Sidebars
Hooks, Actions and FiltersWhat they are
Actions - A hook that makes something new happenwhen a WordPress function is triggered.
Hooks, Actions and FiltersWhat they are
Filters - A hook that modifies a WordPress function whenit is triggered.
Hooks, Actions and FiltersWhat they are
Now is when I do my awesome, visual illustration ofHooks, Actions and Filters using a volunteer from the
audience.
Hooks, Actions and FiltersWhat they can do
Hooks, Actions and Filters are what makes WordPressgreat software for building an amazing site.
Hooks, Actions and FiltersHow you can use them
Power users - If you've ever installed a plugin you areusing them already.
Designers - Dig into the and
start adding functionality to your themes.
WordPress Codex article on Theme Development
Resources - The #1 place to find the best
WordPress development information. - From the
Codex - A handy
site that creates CPT code for you. - A list of
theme frameworks that allow power users to createextended functionality for WordPress.
The WordPress Codex
WordPress Terminology Related to Design
WordPress Custom Post Type Generator
Guide to WordPress Theme Frameworks
THE ENDQuestions?
Slides available on Slideshare: slideshare.net/TheTracyL