Yes. It’s actually not that hard.
The way that I normally do it is to start off with oen of the default Twenty* themes (these days it’s TwentySeventeen), and copy the template files that I need into my new theme. From there you set up your functions.php file to do everything that you need, add any other resources (images, CSS, JavaScript, etc) that you need, and just run it.
Much as catacaustic has said. I have yet to actually develop a theme, but have extensively customised child themes and plugins, I would add:
– I develop in localhost, much easier to flip between locally edited files. Use the IP address of the server in site and wordpress address so that you can test from other computers on your LAN
– Of course you have text editors which color code css / php etc.
– Use code verifiers like: https://www.piliapp.com/php-syntax-check/
– enable debugging
– don’t get fixated upon a specific browser, regularly review with firefox / chrome / IE / iOS / android etc. This way capabilities such as responsive get built in rather than added on. Get to know some of the different browser inspectors.
– occasionally deploy to an unknown subdomain and verify your css + html etc http://validator.w3.org/
– when you think you are finished, deploy to the subdomain and use one of the render in every browser / every version services and review the screenshots, extract from your website logs all the different browsers your visitors have used and check that their needs are covered.
Hi there,
I’ve been developing WordPress themes for about 13 years now. I’ve never used any page builder because I hate them. 🙂
If the standard WordPress editor is not enough (what is the case on a majority of websites), you should enhance the backend with great plugins like Meta Box or Advanced Custom Fields and display these fields accordingly in your theme files.
There are so many nice ways (WordPress ways, that is!) to build a great theme with a comfortable backend!
When it comes to starter themes (already existing themes on which you build your own theme) I would rather not choose one of the WordPress standard themes. They are good for inspiration and to get to know the WordPress way of doing things. But it could take some time to fit it to your needs.
The better solution are themes that are created as starter themes, like underscores.
Hi everyone, I’m very much appreciated your help.
What I really need actually is to develop my own WordPress theme from scratch. I want to use bootstrap also.
I am practicing this kind of development process so that I don’t want to rely using paid builder or from the existing theme.
I want to try Meta Box or Advanced Custom Fields as Marcus Kober suggested. but what is best to use between the two?
Thank you again for your help catacaustic, RossMitchell and Marcus Kober.
Hi,
I’m using ACF Pro, because I need certain features from the pro version. I like both, Meta Box and ACF.
Meta Box comes without option page in backend, all meta fields can be registered via funcions.php. That’s nice because so it’s not visible in the backend which is great because of a minimalistic backend. But for me, the controls look not so nice as the controls in ACF do.
ACF is feature rich and comes with a backend tool for generating custom fields.
Because I like both plugins, I don’t want to recommend one, please see what fits your needs! 🙂
By the way, I don’t use any theme as basis for my themes. I’ve written a base theme by myself and use this as a basis for all our themes. So I too like to develop themes from scratch and it’s the best way to learn the whole thing…
Regards,
Marcus
can I ask, How to add multiple columns for images in one field using ACF? I’m just using free ACF.
Thank you
What do you want to achieve?
I don’t understand the multiple columns part…
hello, I just try to install AFC Plugin but when I’m trying to show in the page it doesn’t even if followed the instruction like that.
<?php
/**
* Template Name: Home Page
*/
get_header();
?>
<div id=”primary”>
<div id=”content” role=”main”>
<?php while ( have_posts() ) : the_post(); ?>
<h1><?php the_field(‘custom_title’); ?></h1>
![]()
” />
<p><?php the_content(); ?></p>
<?php endwhile; // end of the loop. ?>
</div><!– #content –>
</div><!– #primary –>
<?php get_footer(); ?>
I also have a problem encountering that I created custom post type like for my portfolio and it works in the admin, I can add categories and list of works. I created page-portfolio.php in my theme to display all the list of works but instead it show in the index.php which is I don’t like.
what possible solution for that. I am developing directly to the live server and not in the localhost.
Thanks to anyone will answer.
Hi there,
your first problem of values of ACF fields isn’t that clear. Du you have filled the corresponding field custom_title on home in backend? Does the field custom_title exist in the ACF option page? It’s all guesswork here, because you don’t provide enough information.
When it comes to your second problem – that’s easy to solve: Post Type Templates (WP Codex).
As you can see, the post type template is single-portfolio.php, not page-portfolio.php.
Please keep in mind that the support forum is not a replacement for reading manuals! 😉
Hi Marcus, thanks It seems getting clearer to me but there are times that I cannot fully understand what’s in the manual.
My portfolio website is almost 90% before it gets done, but I am stuck in displaying each project or works because it has different content. I am just using free ACF. sorry if I can’t explain well the problem I’m encountering.
When you are using ACF pro, do you still need builder, like Elementor pro? If yes any recommendation what is best?
Thanks for your response, I just really need help. Thank you
