Theme Developer Handbook released

After around close to 2 years of development, through a total of 3 different teams, we have released the Theme Developer handbook, thereby completing the Developer Hub’s goal of having proper developer docs for the main aspects of WordPress.

This could not have happened without a few of the initial leads and project pushers – @siobhan, @samuelsidler @sewmyheadon @lizkaraffa @thoronas @jcastaneda @grapplerulrich @anthonynotes @topher1kenobe.

The list of people involved (not yet complete) is documented here and last count puts us at close to 100 people involved in the handbook in one way or another.

The handbook has been released in it’s version 1 form and is updated all the way to 4.7.

There’s always more to do and the team continues to manage and improve the handbook on Trello.

Please do give us feedback using the methods detailed here.

We hope this helps everyone make better themes!

Get cracking at https://developer.wordpress.org/themes/

Props to the editors who came in after the handbook progress stalled for awhile @kenyasullivan @xfrontend @burlesonbrad @nao @jacobmc @hardeepasrani @sheebaabraham @boogawooga @rahulsprajapati @viniciuslourenco @kafleg @atachibana @sarahovenall @sushil-adhikari @celloexpressions @juhise

+make.wordpress.org/themes

Theme Developer Handbook Status Report

A lot of activity has been happening in the THB lately. We’re migrating away from the spreadsheet which is pretty unapproachable and overwhelming to contributors and utilized Trello to help us finish the THB. We’ve got about 70% of the spreadsheet migrated.

In the navigation above under “Handbooks” you’ll notice that the spreadsheet has been deprecated and there is a new menu item called “Contribute to the Theme Developer Handbook.” This item will take you to the trelloTrello Project management system using the concepts of boards and cards to organize tasks in a sane way. This is what the make.wordpress.com/marketing team uses for example: https://trello.com/b/8UGHVBu8/wp-marketing. board.

Now that we have our new system in place, we’re in need of contributors! If you know of anyone that is interested in helping out please point them to the trello board. There are instructions on how to gain access to the appropriate sites and a step by step guide on how to contribute.

We are putting the tutorial side of the THB on hold until v 1.0 ships. All tutorial sections are housed on this page until we can reintegrate it with the THB. This setup will allow us to create a consistent and full step by step guide. Additionally, any usable material that is getting cut out of the THB is going onto this page in case we need it in the future.

We also are doing weekly google hangout meetings on Wednesdays from 12-2pm PDT to offer any training on trello, questions on contributing, and setting aside a time to actually work on the THB. Feel free to join us!

There is also a meetup in the Seattle area and one in South Sound which you can checkout.

In a nutshell:

Please please contribute! 🙂 Also, we welcome any feedback on the contributing process. Please reach out to @lizkaraffa or @sewmyheadon over slackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform https://slack.com/. The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at https://make.wordpress.org/chat/. with your comments/suggestions/pain points/etc. Thanks!

#meetup, #thb, #theme-developer-handbook, #trello, #wordpress

@kpdesign has been working day and night to…

@kpdesign has been working day and night to get the 4.1 version article filled up leading up to this week’s release. She could really use some help getting it into shape.

In particular, the Under the Hood section could use a bit of work by folks who have more intimate knowledge of coreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress.. These would be people like @ipstenu, @sewmyheadon, @dh-shredder, @boonebgorges and others who have helped out in the past.

If you think you know someone from the core team who could lend a hand, please please point them this way.

Some items may also need to simply be reorganized from section to section. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

We’re primarily working off of two checklists:

Anything checked off has already been added to the version page in some form, or skipped for brevity.

#codex, #core, #release, #sprint

Handbooks Update: November 18, 2014

Present today were: @aj_mallory, @blobaugh, @grappleulrich, @naomicbush, @samuelsidler, @sewmyheadon, and @topher1kenobe.

Most importantly, the chat is moving to Thursdays at the same time. The next chat will be Thursday, December 4, 2014 at 21:00 UTC. We will not have a chat next week due to Thanksgiving in the US. Of course, we all idle in #docs in SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform https://slack.com/. The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at https://make.wordpress.org/chat/. if there are questions outside of our weekly chat.

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:

  • Launched version 1 at WCSF
  • Not much traction since
  • Focus going forward is getting minor issues (on the spreadsheet) taken care of, then onto reviewing the top Codex pages and bringing over any good information so we can redirect them.

Theme developer handbook:

  • Completely migrated since prior to WCSF.
  • Minor movement just after WCSF but mostly stagnant.
  • We need volunteers to own pages so we can get moving.

If you want to help with either handbook, 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.” any of us in #docs on Slack (especially @blobaugh@sam, @sewmyheadon, and @topher1kenobe).

Coming up on December 6 is the Docs Sprint in Seattle and in #docs on Slack.

#handbooks

Handbooks Update: September 23, 2014

Present today were @blobaugh, @sewmyheadon, and @topher1kenobe, with a few devhub peeps following along as we overlapped slightly. Logs are 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: Topher worked on section 8 (metadata) and section 9 (CPTs and taxonomies) and both are now at 100%. Ben will be out of town for the next two chats.
  • Theme handbook: No updates this week. Hopefully some more next week.
  • MigrationMigration Moving the code, database and media files for a website site from one server to another. Most typically done when changing hosting companies. update: A bunch of the plugin handbook has been migrated with more being migrated this week.

If you want to get involved in either handbook, please email any of us.

Again, we meet on Tuesdays at 20:00 UTC. Hope to see more people there!

#handbooks

This weekend @sewmyheadon is hosting a Documentation Sprint…

This weekend @sewmyheadon is hosting a Documentation Sprint in Seattle. If you are in the area and would like to join in person join us at Uptown Espresso on Westlake. If you are remote please join us in #wordpress-sfd on Freenode.

For full details see the Meetup post at http://www.meetup.com/SeattleWordPressMeetup/events/196326602/

#handbooks, #plugin, #sprint, #theme

Weekly Handbook updates I ran the handbook chat…

Weekly Handbook updates

I ran the handbook chat for @samuelsidler yesterday while he was out. Present were @blobaugh @jerrysarcastic @topher1kenobe @sewmyheadon

The theme handbook is coming along. This weekend is another of the monthly doc sprints and @sewmyheadon is hoping to knock out a good chunk of the handbook.

A couple more sections 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 handbook have been marked 100% or are ready for review. Thanks again to @topher1kenobe for doing much of the heavy lifting!

MigrationMigration Moving the code, database and media files for a website site from one server to another. Most typically done when changing hosting companies. to the new devhub has been going slowly but has had some progress.

In addition to the monthly doc sprint in Seattle hosted by @sewmyheadon there will also be a general contributor dayContributor Day Contributor Days are standalone days, frequently held before or after WordCamps but they can also happen at any time. They are events where people get together to work on various areas of https://make.wordpress.org/ There are many teams that people can participate in, each with a different focus. https://2017.us.wordcamp.org/contributor-day/ https://make.wordpress.org/support/handbook/getting-started/getting-started-at-a-contributor-day/. in Tacoma starting soon. Also led by @sewmyheadon. What a great guy!

The handbooks are still a work in progress and we are always happy to have more contributor, either writing content, editing, proofing, testing, or other! If you would like to help out please contact @samuelsidler @blobaugh or @sewmyheadon

#handbooks

Handbooks Update: August 20, 2014

We had our weekly chat today with @blobaugh, @jerrysarcastic, @sewmyheadon, @topher1kenobe, and myself in attendance (log here).

Both handbooks received quite a bit of attention during the WordCampWordCamp WordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering everything related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the year and share the joy. Learn more. Grand Rapids and WordCamp Maine contributor days.

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 progress made over the last week.
  • A lot of things at 90%+ that need final edits.
  • Focus is on getting sections completed one-by-one.
  • Each section will need an “introduction” added. Some of them already exist.

Theme Developer Handbook:

  • A second docs meetupMeetup All local/regional gatherings that are officially a part of the WordPress world but are not WordCamps are organized through https://www.meetup.com/. A meetup is typically a chance for local WordPress users to get together and share new ideas and seek help from one another. Searching for ‘WordPress’ on meetup.com will help you find options in your area. in the Seattle area is going to be setup starting in October or so.
  • Eric would like a second person to help lead the handbook, specifically someone who can work with other volunteers.
  • Like the plugin handbook, we’ll need introductions for each section.

For both handbooks, our focus is on getting things done faster and not making them “perfect.” We’ll edit as needed on the live site, but it’s important to get what we have in a usable state and get it live soon. Migrated pages will be blanked out on the staging site (make/docs) so we don’t modify them further.

Finally, I updated the “Handbooks” page on the docs contributor handbook. That page and its subpages (including the style guide) need review and editing so we can help onboard new contributors.

Would it help to have contributors join our weekly chats? Or perhaps to have a weekly, online handbook sprint? What does the docs team think?

#handbook-chat, #handbooks

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

Docs Chat: July 31, 2014

The following is a summary of the topics discussed:

1. DevHub: @samuelsidler said more progress was made. @coffee2code is in the process of committing new stuff, including the mods to selectively enable the handbooks (with necessary tweaks and fixes), along with fixes for #437 (Make watch/unwatch a post action link rather than a 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.), #439 (add handbook name to the top of handbook pages), and #436 (remove “Flag Unresolved” from handbook pages). He’s also done some initial work on example voting. @siobhan and @samuelsidler are discussing the best way to get general (non-typo) feedback, such as how the site functions, new features, etc. (7/29/2014 chat log)

2. Handbooks: The WordCampWordCamp WordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering everything related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the year and share the joy. Learn more. Vancouver Contributor DayContributor Day Contributor Days are standalone days, frequently held before or after WordCamps but they can also happen at any time. They are events where people get together to work on various areas of https://make.wordpress.org/ There are many teams that people can participate in, each with a different focus. https://2017.us.wordcamp.org/contributor-day/ https://make.wordpress.org/support/handbook/getting-started/getting-started-at-a-contributor-day/. had 6 people focusing on the handbooks. Most of them worked on the Theme Developer Handbook, but a couple worked 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. @blobaugh and @sewmyheadon send a huge thank you to the WordCamp Vancouver contributors! We also discussed the internal links in both handbooks. Currently there are a lot of links to existing Codex pages that will need to be changed to internal links in the handbooks, and the Codex pages redirected. A full review of all links will take place once the handbooks are migrated to DevHub, and necessary changes made at that time. (7/30/2014 chat log)

3. Seattle Docs Sprint: @sewmyheadon said the next WordPress Docs Sprint is Saturday, August 2, 2014 (today!) at 10am PDT in Seattle. The focus will continue to be on both developer handbooks. Contributors can also participate virtually in the #wordpress-sfd IRC channel.

For anyone unable to attend, you can read the chat logs here.

#chat-recap