Speaker: 
Tom McFarlin
Twitter: @tommcfarlin

• The wordpress codex – “The Bible for WordPress”
  • the wordpress manual written for… bloggers, designers and developers
  • go here first not Google!
  • how to use it
    • search for what you’re looking for
    • reading how to do it “the WordPress way”
    • implement your solution
• the WordPress API – application programers interface…still just as meaningless.
  • APIs are a way to make something happen
  • They allow us to make WordPress do stuff
  • Functions that make development easier
  • how to find them
    • bookmark the codex
    • identify what you’re trying to do
    • find the associated apis
    • read, practice, implement
  • how to use them
    • the function’s description
    • the arguments it accepts
    • what the function returns
  • many types
    • WordPress hooks, plugin API, widgets API, settings API, and lots more!!!
    • WordPress hooks
      • actions – something has happened in WordPress
      • filters – function that hands you content that’s about to be rendered
    • Plugin API
      • uses WordPress hooks
    • Widget API
      • has a boilerplate that will be used every time you write a widget
    • Settings API
      • If you want to add a new user settings element in the admin panel.
  • coding standards
    • how code should be written for wordpress in core, plugins, themes, etc.
    • all code is GPL – let’s make it look good
    • expectations for us and others – your code effects others
    • Create a cohesive experience
  • Finding your niche
    • know your market – the intersection of what you love doing and what you’re best at doing
    • Themes
      • If you’re into design and front-end development (and maybe backend)
      • If you’re more into presentation than development
    • Plugins
      • server-side development
      • application-like functionality
      • extending WordPress
    • Blogging
      • education
      • writing
      • documentation
      • sharing knowledge, information or seeding discussion
  • educating yourself – you’re never done
    • several releases per year
    • new blogs, technologies & practices emerge
    • someone is more capable than you
  • practical tips
    • follow those aligned with your niche
      • plugins
      • poststatus
      • envato
      • smashing magazine – wordpress channel
      • wordpress codex
      • make.wordpress.org
  • read the comprehensive blogs
  • design, code, or blog frquently… share what you’re learning!
  • don’t stop!
• just because someone already has a plugin that doesn’t do that, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t write a similar plugin. The world doesn’t work like that!