Every Theme Sucks and Nobody Cares

A fun presentation I first gave at WordCamp Columbus 2012.

Transcript

1. Howdy, I’m Ryan Imel
2. I make things at WPCandy
4. I record and stream PODCASTS
5. I operate PROS the reverse job board
6. I manage Pressed Ads
7. I publish the WordPress MAGAZINE
8. EVERY THEME SUCKS ANDNO BODY CARES
9. Themes Should Not Break. Duh.
11. I’m sure the code of the themes in the directory is top notch... But I wouldn’t know, because you couldn’t make me click download on 90% of those theme pages. I won’t do it. The designs... are just awful. Ryan Imel, the guy you’re staring at
12. WordPress.org has the WPTRT
13. WordPress.org has the W
14. WordPress.org has the WP
15. WordPress.org has the WPT
16. WordPress.org has the WPTR
17. WordPress.org has the WPTRT
19. Debug Bar http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/debug-bar/ Theme-Check http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/theme-check/ Log Deprecated Notices http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/log-deprecated-notices/ Debogger http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/debogger/
20. The Weekly Theme Show
24. Shortcodes
25. Shortcodes let you write and place elements without code. [button=”Read more!”] They can output just about anything to your page. [tweet-this]
26. Shortcodes let you write and place elements without code. [button=”Read more!”] They can output just about anything to your page. [tweet-this]
27. Shortcodes let you write and place elements without code. They can output just about anything to your page.
28. Shortcodes let you write and place elements without code. [button=”Read more!”] They can output just about anything to your page. [tweet-this]
29. A user’s content is sacred. It’s hallowed ground... Andrew Nacin, WordPress Lead Developer
30. Themes Should Not Break My Expectations
33. Themes Should Not Waste My Time
37. The theme options are really admirable... obviously with Google Analytics and SEO integrated. This must be like the best of the best... Konstantin Kovshenin, Automattic
38. That was all sarcasm. Seriously, I think this is horrible, and there’s not much you can do to make it worse... Konstantin Kovshenin, Automattic
41. http://thethemefoundry.com/blog/from-the- workshop-dont-steal-my-theme-options/
46. Themes Should Let Me Make Children
47. HTML CSS Javascript PHP Templates Theme options panel
48. HTML CSS Javascript PHP Templates Theme options panel CSS Two or three PHP files Child themes
50. HTML CSS Javascript PHP Templates Theme options panel CSS Two or three PHP files
51. CSS Two or three PHP files CSS Grandchildren themes
52. CSS CSS 1 PHP template Great grandchildren themes
56. ryanimel: I have a confession to make. I want to bribe a member of the theme team.
60. 20,264
61. WordPress.org Plugins 20,264
62. THEME DEV should be hard work
64. Okay, but what can we do?
65. Create your own FUNCTIONALITY PLUGINS
66. wpcandy.com/teaches/how-to-create-a-functionality-plugin
67. THINK FIVE YEARS AHEAD
70. THINK FIVE YEARS AHEAD
72. THINK FIVE YEARS AHEAD
74. THINK FIVE YEARS AHEAD
75. ?