In the first part of this article, we looked at how to use a starter theme to speed up WordPress theme development, as well as how to use automation tools to help with code checking and other tasks. In this part, we’ll look at some more tips and tricks for streamlining your workflow.
One of the best things about WordPress is that it’s so customizable. This means that you can tailor it to fit your own specific needs and preferences. However, it can also be a bit of a double-edged sword, as it can be tricky to know where to start when you’re setting up a new WordPress site.
One way to make things a bit easier is to use a starter theme. A starter theme is a basic WordPress theme that you can use as a foundation for your own custom theme. This can save you time and hassle, as you won’t have to start from scratch every time you create a new theme.
There are a number of different starter themes to choose from, but my personal favorite is Underscores. It’s a minimalist starter theme that’s designed to be as lightweight as possible. It’s also very easy to customize, so it’s perfect for beginners.
If you’re not sure how to set up a starter theme, there are a number of helpful tutorials online. For example, this one from WPBeginner explains how to use Underscores to create a custom WordPress theme.
Once you’ve set up your starter theme, the next step is to start adding your own custom code. This can be a bit daunting if you’re not familiar with coding, but there are a number of tools and techniques that can make it a bit easier.
One of the best ways to simplify things is to use automation tools. These tools can help you to check your code for errors, as well as to compile and minify your code. This can help to speed up the development process, as well as to ensure that your code is as efficient as possible.
There are a number of different automation tools available, but my personal favorite is CodeKit. It’s a Mac-only tool, but it’s well worth the investment. It’s easy to use, and it can help to streamline your workflow significantly.
Another great tool for WordPress developers is the WP-CLI. This is a command-line interface for WordPress that allows you to manage your WordPress site from the command