Level-Up Your WordPress Development Skills

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!

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