Theme Development

1 min read

  • Use a starter theme or create a custom parent theme for agency projects.
  • Implement child themes for client-specific customizations.
  • Minimize the use of page builders unless specifically required by the client.
  • Pay attention to how your database queries are structured, since they can significantly affect performance. Read what 10up has to say on the matter.
  • File structure unity across themes and plugins improves engineering efficiency and maintainability.

Standardize and Modularize Development:

  • Component Libraries: Build a library of reusable components for WordPress that can be implemented across multiple projects. This will save time on development and ensure consistency.
  • Design Tokens: Use design tokens in Figma and your CSS framework to standardize design elements (colors, spacing, typography). This ensures smooth transitions between design and development.

Pick a CSS/JS Framework of choice, and stick with it

  • CSS Framework: Tailwind is highly customizable and promotes clean, minimal CSS. It’s also lightweight compared to frameworks like Bootstrap, and works well when paired with a design library. However, if you’re working with clients that need a more “standardized” look, Bootstrap or Foundation could speed up prototyping.
  • JavaScript Framework: Consider using something like Alpine.js for simpler interactivity in WordPress projects without the overhead of full React/Angular setups.