Content Aware WordPress theming

My talk from WordCamp Providence 2014

Transcript

1. Content Aware WordPress Theming Ryan Kanner @CodeProKid
2. + + Who am I?
3. Content Aware What?
4. Templates that can automatically make adjustments based on the content being displayed. { }
5. We aren’t launching this service until next year, can we remove it? Can we add a newsletter signup here? We don’t have anything to put here...
7. The Problem • Rigid grid systems • WordPress gives non technical people total control of their content. • Content changes, as it should. • Clients needs change over time.
8. Current Solutions...
14. Issue with this solution • Limitless layout possibilities to account for • Fragmented User Experience • Overwhelming amount of options • Too much control for clients • Good luck moving that content ever.
15. My Solution • Decisions, not options. • Identify layout modules that can be broken by content. • Fallbacks for empty content. • A little bit of math + grid system = a whole lot of awesome.
16. What to look out for Changing Content • More • Less • Longer • Shorter • NULL Trouble Spots • Filtered Content • Sidebars • Widgets • Content Buckets • Inline lists
17. Examples woo, code.
18. What happens when this is empty?
19. “No Posts Found...”
21. Empty Queries Yes No Is this content the main focus of this page? Display Similar content, or another way to find what they are looking for Display an alternate set of content instead Don’t display anything
25. Establish what you were looking for in the first place State there was nothing found Offer a way to find something else
26. Empty Sidebars
27. Content Conditional Sidebar Conditional
28. Let’s Count
32. Flexible Widgets
35. Widgets • Horizontal widgets are a nightmare • Fixed classes on widgets goes against the entire concept of widgets • My solution https://github. com/CodeProKid/Flexible-Widget-Widths
37. But why? • Saves you time in the end • Eliminates jobs you don’t want • Establishes trust between you and your clients • Provides a better user experience
38. Thanks!