Developing Themes For WordPress: Part 1

Since I finished the Drupal series a while ago, I've often receive requests to do similar coverage about WordPress. Only now do I feel in a position to do so because I have a real project (the redesign of my personal website) upon which to base it on. Over the next nine weeks, I'll demonstrate the full process of designing a theme that spans more than eight hours of edited video. During that time, you'll see me writing code, use online resources and troubleshoot through my own mistakes.

In the first part, I set the scene as we create the basic files, talk about reference materials we will use as well as writing some WordPress specific code.

Websites mentioned:
http://www.tom-rogers.com/ - Subject of series (where final theme is live)

http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/ - Details on key functions

http://digwp.com/2010/02/blank-wordpress-theme/ - Basic theme used for reference

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• designing wordpress themes
• create wordpress themes
• wordpress theming guide
• wordpress
• theming
• tutorials

[GallTheAbsurd]

Thanks for the tutorial. I'm a little confused by your implementation of the blog post loop at 52:50. Specifically, why does the while loop need to be encased in the if statement, and what role does the the_post() function play?

[tomrogers123]

@GallTheAbsurd The idea of the loop if statement is to make sure there is content before even trying to run the functions (costly on performance). The the_post function gives us access to the individual parts of the given post (the_title, for example). As a sidenote, if you didn't run if or while statements and just had the_post, you would see the same results because, as I said, that's the bit that gives us access to the data.

[Mastersun88]

NO one not even me will stay this long but good work dude all though I know of an easier and faster way to create a wordpress theme using html inside of he .php files.

[tomrogers123]

@Mastersun88 When you watch later videos, you'll see that I use HTML between the WP functions because otherwise there would be nothing to attach the CSS to.

[jdmiller1992]

Special shout out to Tom Rodgers thank you for your knowledge please continue to make these great video's

[madvk308]

thanks heaps for the video mate!

[JamesNewall79]

Just what I've been looking for! Thanks Tom, great intro into building a WP site.

[chlorophylfactor]

lol@ my silly comment on apple future interests in the Tablet market, boy was I wrong!

[ItsTripWire]

i just wasted 1hr of my time thanks 

[SnoopyReloaded]

@Mastersun88 I've seen the full video, I have so much doubts so I come back all the time, I also love the sound, it's very relaxing

[noobtuber991]

omg and hour

[rockomoron]

you are the best always just keep up bro...