Comments on: 10 Checks to the Perfect WordPress theme

By: lars

lars — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:36:50 +0000

thx for the checklist ... it's a very usefull list if someone start with a fresh theme. anyway ... i think i will use some of your points for my next theme and try to use less plugins as possible by creating a own flexible sidebar ...

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 20:30:00 +0000

Lots of key suggestions; I agree with what you're saying, except the need for perfect w3c validation (usually content will find a way to break it anyway in practice; your home page at wpengineer.com does not validate right now as it is).

I would maybe add one thing to the check list--
11. support for the new WordPress menu system; especially if your theme currently has one of those lame page lists where a new menu-based link list can be placed now with WordPress 3+.

By: Abu Farhan

Abu Farhan — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:24:49 +0000

Very good tips, Some Theme not put wp_footer so some plugin can’t work because usually they put javascript at the bottom before closing body. And one more thinks some theme add jquery directly at the header it will be conflict if some plugin using different script than jquery.

By: Anoter Flava

Anoter Flava — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:05:59 +0000

To be quite frank the whole wordpress theme design work flow STINKS... the method of page includes is old and tired.... get_header() get_footer() get_sidebar can be better done if approached diffrently.

IMO it is time wordpress changed its theme work flow...

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:35:53 +0000

I agree Brad - when I put together a theme, page.php is almost always a near duplication of single.php. In the vast majority of themes, the two are nearly interchangeable.

By: Brad

Brad — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:57:57 +0000

page.php has in my opinion become an anachronism in themes. A well designed theme doesn't need it. Relying on a quality single.php and additional page templates for distinct custom static pages is a much better way to go.

By: dimido

dimido — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:28:50 +0000

Thanks for the List. I can use it

By: Alex

Alex — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:32:12 +0000

Thanks for your compliments, we are glad you like this article. Short and sweet.

@Twincascos, we might have a more exhaustive list later on.

By: www.krembo99.com

www.krembo99.com — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:20:56 +0000

Very nice article...
bookmarked and sure to use on my next theme !
thanks

By: Twincascos

Twincascos — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:31:47 +0000

I'd like to see an exhaustive list of all possible files in a theme (without considering custom js, etc.). I've seldom seen themes with author.php, or image.php, or attachment.php. or how about sub-page.php, or child-category.php