Handbooks Update: August 6, 2014

We had our weekly chat this afternoon (logs), with @blobaugh, @topher1kenobe, @sewmyheadon in attendance. Could have been others lurking too.

PluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party Developer Handbook

@blobaugh had some family issues that interfered with following up with contributors last week, but @topher1kenobe completed the Metadata section and it is awaiting review so we still have good forward momentum.

Also, there we some contributions over the weekend at the Docs Sprint in Seattle by @awoods & @pjackson1972.

@blobaugh will try to get Section 2 finished this week while traveling, but no promises.

Theme Developer Handbook

We also had contributions to the Theme Dev Handbook at our Docs Sprint in Seattle on Saturday, and inducted a few new Docs contributors and got them up to speed so they can help too.

We made some good progress and Part One of the Theme Dev Handbook is nearly ready for prime time. We have three remaining articles in that section that need serious work, and they all need a bit more editing, but we should be able to move on within the next few weeks.

#handbook-chat, #handbooks

Handbooks Update May 28 2014 Our weekly chat…

Handbooks Update: May 28, 2014

Our weekly chat in #wordpress-sfd on IRC at 2:00 PM PST happened today with @blobaugh @sewmyheadon @topher1kenobe in attendance.

@blobaugh ran the meeting while @samuelsidler was out.

IRC log available https://irclogs.wordpress.org/chanlog.php?channel=wordpress-sfd&day=2014-05-28&sort=asc#m114132

Theme Handbook
Due to the U.S. holiday this week not much got done
Instead of a scattergun approach an intentional section by section approach is being taken that has helped progress
New contributors have contacted @sewmyheadon (Eric) about helping with the theme HB!
Interested in helping? Email eric@ivycat.com or comment here.

PluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party Handbook
Due to the U.S. holiday this week not much got done
Following @sewmyheadon sectional approach, @topher1kenobe and @blobaugh have a Google Hangout triage meeting setup for Thursday May 29, 2014 at 7:30 AM PST. If you would like to join watch the #wordpress-sfd room for the link.
New contributors have contacted @blobaugh about the plugin HB
Interested in helping? Email ben@lobaugh.net or comment here.

@sewmyheadon is hosting an in-person/virtual Doc Sprint on June 7, 2014. http://www.meetup.com/SeattleWordPressMeetup/events/175531242/ Everyone is welcome to join. If you want to participate virtually join the #wordpress-sfd IRC channel.

#chat-recap, #handbooks, #plugin, #theme

Handbooks Update, May 21 Edition

Handbooks! Handbooks! Handbooks!

We had our weekly chat yesterday (logs), with @blobaugh, @designsimply, @jerrysarcastic, @mattpritchett, @sewmyheadon, and myself in attendance.

  • PluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party Developer Handbook:
    • Some new interest after last week’s update!
    • The spreadsheet is being kept up-to-date, with work being done on various sections.
    • A special thank you to @topher1kenobe who’s doing a bunch of great work and tearing through pages.
    • Interested in helping? Email ben@lobaugh.net or comment here.
  • Theme Developer Handbook:
    • The first section (Part Zero) is done! It’s set at 95% and @jerrysarcastic will give it a final pass to take it to 100%.
    • Part One is pretty far along. @designsimply volunteered to take on a page in the section (the least far along page too!) and @sewmyheadon has committed to completing the section just after the next Docs Sprint on June 7.
    • New contributors will be given pages in Part Two and beyond, as we try to complete the handbook section-by-section.
    • A new section for security should get added to Part One, giving a basic overview of security and linking on to Part Three’s more in-depth security section.
    • We also talked a bit about the “opinionated voice” of the handbook. Some of the claims will get toned down slightly, but in general the tone is fine for getting users on the right path.
    • Interested in helping? Email eric@ivycat.com or comment here.

As I mentioned above, the monthly Docs Sprint is June 7, online and in-person in Seattle. All are welcome to join in #WordPress-sfd!

We also hope to have the handbook plugin and theme ready for devhub in the next couple of weeks. In that case, we’d start migrating content over, section-by-section and throw up an “in-development” notice for the other sections.

And of course… we need your help! If you’re interested in helping, email either Ben or Eric, with their email addresses above, or leave a comment on this post and we’ll get right back to you.

#handbook-chat, #handbooks

Handbooks Weekly Chat update @samuelsidler was out today…

Handbooks Weekly Chat update

@samuelsidler was out today so I lead the discussion. @sewmyheadon was also unable to attend so chat centered around the pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party handbook.

  • Shortcodes section is almost complete (Thanks @topher1kenobe!)
  • We need someone who knows how TinyMCE renders shortcodes in the editor to round out the section
  • The plugin spreadsheet is being updated on an on going basis
  • Some relevant content from the Codex is being moved into the handbook (E.G. CPTs)
  • Instead of randomly attacking the list we are more purposefully moving section by section.

We still need more volunteer writers! If you want to get involved drop me a line at ben@lobaugh.net or pingPing The act of sending a very small amount of data to an end point. Ping is used in computer science to illicit a response from a target server to test it’s connection. Ping is also a term used by Slack users to @ someone or send them a direct message (DM). Users might say something along the lines of “Ping me when the meeting starts.” me on IRC.

Honorable mention was @jerrysarcastic sarcasm 😉

#handbook-chat, #handbooks

Hello everyone here’s a quick handbook update from…

Hello everyone, here’s a quick handbook update from our chat yesterday:

  • Work continues on the pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party developer handbook. Over the next week we’re going to focus on getting the spreadsheet in order.
  • Next steps for the plugin developer handbook is to go through section-by-section, completing them, that way we’ll have something to launch when the devhub handbook theme is ready.
  • Because of some miscommunication, @sewmyheadon didn’t make the chat, but will be by for the docs chat today.
  • I’m traveling during the chat next week, but @blobaugh will host office hours in IRC.
  • I’ve updated the plugin developer handbook link in the headerHeader The header of your site is typically the first thing people will experience. The masthead or header art located across the top of your page is part of the look and feel of your website. It can influence a visitor’s opinion about your content and you/ your organization’s brand. It may also look different on different screen sizes. to the new one. (This is the old one, for reference.)

Let me know if you have questions and let’s keep plowing forward!

#handbook-chat, #handbooks

We’re moving the handbooks check in up a…

We’re moving the handbooks check-in up a bit to accommodate Europeans. The new time will be at 21:00 UTC and we’ll meet in #wordpress-sfd. I’ve updated the time in the sidebarSidebar A sidebar in WordPress is referred to a widget-ready area used by WordPress themes to display information that is not a part of the main content. It is not always a vertical column on the side. It can be a horizontal rectangle below or above the content area, footer, header, or any where in the theme.. See you tomorrow!

#handbook-chat, #handbooks

Redesigned Contributor Handbooks

Hello Docs Team!

I just landed a new design for the contributor handbooks, courtesy @sonjanyc (mockup is here). You can see them on the core, mobile, docs, and polyglot handbooks, among others. The design is still a little rough around the edges, but the bulk of it is there. Namely, here’s some issues I’ve noticed:

  • There’s a hover for headings in chapters box
  • Content doesn’t properly wrap around the “topics” box
  • We need to add a handbook name to each handbook, along with a design (#439)
  • The “Watch this page” widgetWidget A WordPress Widget is a small block that performs a specific function. You can add these widgets in sidebars also known as widget-ready areas on your web page. WordPress widgets were originally created to provide a simple and easy-to-use way of giving design and structure control of the WordPress theme to the user. needs to move to be in the actions bar (#437)
  • In the polyglots handbook, for admins, “Flag Unresolved” is shown (#436)

Last but not least, I need a decision from y’all.

Currently, we list all hierarchal subpages on the page they’re from. For example, in the coreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. handbook, on the Coding Standards page, we show the subpages as a (undesigned) list. The decision we need made is whether to keep that list and design it or to remove the list entirely. Keep in mind the Chapters sidebarSidebar A sidebar in WordPress is referred to a widget-ready area used by WordPress themes to display information that is not a part of the main content. It is not always a vertical column on the side. It can be a horizontal rectangle below or above the content area, footer, header, or any where in the theme. can be organized however you’d like; it doesn’t need to be hierarchal. If we remove the Pages list, we’ll need to make sure the content is properly linked within the page.

What say you?


 

Other things I should mention are that we should document these things somewhere:

  • The starting headerHeader The header of your site is typically the first thing people will experience. The masthead or header art located across the top of your page is part of the look and feel of your website. It can influence a visitor’s opinion about your content and you/ your organization’s brand. It may also look different on different screen sizes. tag in any page should be an <h2> to keep the topics box designed. (I went through and fixed this on the core and mobile handbooks.)
  • The Chapters sidebar is a custom menu and can be organized however you like.
  • Currently, the headings in the Chapters sidebar are merely re-styled <a> tags with # as the href. We’ll probably be changing this, however.

Finally, please note that this design is only for the contributor handbooks. The developer handbooks will have a style that matches devhub.

#handbooks

Handbooks Chat: 27th Feb

Present: @blobaugh, @caseydriscoll, @hanni, @NikV @philiparthurmoore,and @sams.

1.PluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party Developer Handbook

The revised outline proposal was finalised last week by @blobaugh and @hanni, who are this week working on getting the content copied over from the “old” to new structure. If you take a look at the handbook you’ll see this is well underway, and we’re hoping to complete the merge in-time for the sprint.

A backup was taken of all content prior to starting this, so as to be able to “revert” in case of disaster, and also to allow the restoration the proper metadata for each and every contributors to each section when appropriate.

The structure can be seen here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ak0ISjkNpXRIdHRVSDlFOWlBakYwRnNJZV9rbDIyOHc&usp=sharing#gid=0

The first section is very much in draft form, and is intended to be written by a couple of folks going through the process of writing their own plugin (including @hanni), so no-one should be alarmed by the apparently bizarre state at present.

Note: until we’ve ported the numbers etc. we’ll not replace the link in either the spiffy new nav or the sidebarSidebar A sidebar in WordPress is referred to a widget-ready area used by WordPress themes to display information that is not a part of the main content. It is not always a vertical column on the side. It can be a horizontal rectangle below or above the content area, footer, header, or any where in the theme., so as not to confuse. This also motivates us to get it finished in time for this weekend’s Docs Sprint. Whilst the sprint is based in Seattle, everyone is welcome to participate, wherever they are.

Admin-wise, @blobaugh is leaving for a trip to Uganda on the 5th March, and will return on the 21st. As such, Ben is eager to get things in tip-top shape prior to his departure.

During @blobaugh‘s trip, @hanni will be the point of contact for the Plugin Developer Handbook.

2. Theme Developer Handbook

Due to travel, Theme Developer Handbook Editor @sewmyheadon was unable to make this week’s meeting, so @hanni attempted to fill his shoes for the day.

@philiparthurmoore kindly joined to help kick-off the effort to integrate some of the fantastic themeshaper.net content. As per previous recent handbook discussions, focus for the Theme Developer Handbook is very much on stage (i).

To this end, over the next couple of weeks @philiparthurmore will be working on an initial one page summary distilling the themeshaper content down to the basics of getting from zero to your first theme, upon which we can then expand as necessary.

He’ll have an outline ready for the Docs Sprint on March 1st, such that any folks present can see where things are going and lend a hand if they so desire.

If anyone else is interested in helping with this, please do leave a comment here or pingPing The act of sending a very small amount of data to an end point. Ping is used in computer science to illicit a response from a target server to test it’s connection. Ping is also a term used by Slack users to @ someone or send them a direct message (DM). Users might say something along the lines of “Ping me when the meeting starts.” Philip, Eric, or myself.

Thanks again everyone!

#handbook-chat, #handbooks

Where are we with the Plugin and Theme Developer Handbooks?

Hanni! You just posted something about a handbook status meeting but what’s actually happening with these mythical creatures?

PluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party Developer Handbook Stasis

We’ve now a proper (as opposed to acting) editor for the Plugin Developer Handbook, in the very capable form of Ben Lobaugh (@blobaugh).

. Ben and I are in the process of re-jigging the structure and existing to fit with the two-tiered goals of the handbooks. Watch this space! The new outline will be ready for the Docs Chat this week, Feb 20th.

Goal Parity

With little policing of contributions over these past months, we’re in danger of creating two unwieldy information dumps as opposed to digestible handbooks.

A rough goal could be stated as providing an overview for each handbook such that:

i) The reader gets into the book and to show them how to build a simple theme, or plugin, so they can see how easy it is and get introduced to the necessary and basic building blocks.

ii) Then, once that overview is complete for each handbook we’ll proceed with more in-depth dives into each section as and when is necessary.

With the current state of the handbooks, we’ll be focusing on finessing (and constructing!) i) for the foreseeable future.

New Contributors

i. Plugin Developer Handbook
We have some great news about increased interest in contributing to the project! (Thanks to all those who graciously caved in to my pestering are champing at the bit to give back and get involved.)

I’m so excited to announce that Woo are eager to give of their time to help the Plugin Developer Handbook effort, in particular: @scottbasgaard, @hlashbrooke, @mikejolley, and @corsonr. Thanks, Woo!

The guys at fooplugins, @bradvin and @awarner20, are also on board.

Thrilled to add that @trepmal, @shaunandrews, @johnny5 (tech reviewing), @westonruter, and @pcrumm have also kindly offered to give of their time, as and when they can.

Existing contributor @jackreichert is also eager to help with the renewed push.

With such a great bunch we should be able to get things moving at a good pace. I’ll be in touch will all of the above over the next few of days to make sure everyone has the correct access and is able to hit the ground running.

ii .Theme Developer Handbook

@philiparthurmoore is eager to work on the Theme Developer Handbook, as is @nudge – good news for the project! Thanks, you two.

Looking to get involved?

If you’re looking to help out with one of the handbooks, feel free to come to any of the weekly check-in meetings, pingPing The act of sending a very small amount of data to an end point. Ping is used in computer science to illicit a response from a target server to test it’s connection. Ping is also a term used by Slack users to @ someone or send them a direct message (DM). Users might say something along the lines of “Ping me when the meeting starts.” myself or the editor for the handbook in question, leave a comment on this post, or join the regular weekly Docs Team chat.

Again, as noted in @kpdesign’s notes from last week’s chat, I take full responsibility for the stalling of the Handbooks. Onwards and upwards, folks!

Lastly, thank you to everyone who has given, and continues to give so much of their valuable time to what is truly a community effort.

#handbooks

Weekly Handbooks Check-in

It’s time to get back on the handbook bandwagon, folks!

We’re starting a weekly check-in meeting between those responsible for the progress of a number of the handbooks, @hanni (general helper), @sewmyheadon (editor of the Theme Developer Handbook), and @blobaugh (editor of the PluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party Developer Handbook), and anyone else who is both interested in the progress of the above, and wishes to find out more about getting involved.

The goal of this status meeting is to ensure that we’re keeping an eye on content coming in, making the requisite progress (here’s to getting back the momentum we lost!), doing all we can to support both current, and potential contributors. Most importantly, we want to keep the outlines of the handbooks on track to meet the common goals of outlining the process to build both a theme and plugin for those newer to the process, whilst also providing an appropriate level of reference for those familiar more familiar with theme and plugin development. More to come on this subject.

Please feel free to join, it’ll be in #wordpress-sfd at 5PM Pacific, every Wednesday. Open to all!

#handbooks