Web Design Forums

shaftb · 06-05-2008, 12:12

A friend of mine just purchased a domain, and got an account with WORDPRESS. He wants the site fully custom, but using Wordpress as the editor. Is the best case to find a theme, and tweak it to fit his likings, and hand it over to him to play with? Or is there a better CMS out there that's free?

Thx.

pgo · 06-05-2008, 12:38

What kind of site?

shaftb · 06-05-2008, 12:39

A site about reviews on wine and cheese, and microbrews.

pgo · 06-05-2008, 12:40

A publishing site - Wordpress would be good, then. Just build him a custom theme.

shaftb · 06-05-2008, 12:57

Is it wise to just start from scratch, or tweak an existing. OR just personal pref.

Dusteh · 06-05-2008, 13:19

Tweak an existing theme, find a minimal one that you can quickly strip down to basics and rebuild.

mocremilo · 06-05-2008, 13:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusteh

Tweak an existing theme, find a minimal one that you can quickly strip down to basics and rebuild.

I second that.

seen.to · 06-05-2008, 13:35

I would disagree. Better to start from scratch as far as the design is concerned. Fine to start with the default PHP and incorporate your design into that though.

bazzle · 06-05-2008, 13:42

This is something I need to get my teeth into.

Can anyone recommend some decent tutorials on how to build a Wordpress site from scratch?

Dusteh · 06-05-2008, 13:44

You learn far more about skinning CMS by deconstructing existing templates than you would by building your own from scratch. I speak from experience. Anyway, there is no default PHP as such for Wordpress, it's just another template to take apart.

seen.to · 06-05-2008, 13:55

When I first used it I just built my site with a header/footer in php then used the PHP from the default template. I guess in that sense it was deconstructing the template though.

Achea Shadow · 08-05-2008, 07:32

I recommend tweaking an existing theme and getting to grips with how widgets work etc

Anxious · 08-05-2008, 08:08

The default wordpress theme is pretty complicated, you would be better starting with a minimalist theme if you want to tweak one.

I do mine from scratch now, but I did deconstruct other themes originally.

There are a few sites which offer free themes:

Theme Viewer

Free Wordpress Themes - Upload WP Themes and Download WP Themes

Do Gooder · 08-05-2008, 08:18

I am going to have to learn all this shit... Where is that Fuck Off thread...

emil · 08-05-2008, 08:49

It's not as easy as it sounds.

Do Gooder · 08-05-2008, 08:53

That is what I have found. I am just not a code monkey.

emil · 08-05-2008, 08:55

Well, necessity is the best teacher one can have.

Do Gooder · 08-05-2008, 08:57

You god dat righ

K.Brown · 10-05-2008, 13:30

I'd definitely go with wordpress. If your client is more html savvy, then try out Expression Engine.

bazzle · 20-05-2008, 22:50

Heres a good article on the subject.

Customize Your Own WordPress Theme | Vandelay Website Design

Certainly answered a few niggling questions I had about how themes work and how content is loaded dynamically with PHP etc.

06-05-2008, 12:12	#1 (permalink)
shaftb Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 337	Wordpress ... CMS? A friend of mine just purchased a domain, and got an account with WORDPRESS. He wants the site fully custom, but using Wordpress as the editor. Is the best case to find a theme, and tweak it to fit his likings, and hand it over to him to play with? Or is there a better CMS out there that's free? Thx. __________________ Daughter of Aphrodite-Hear my words and take Heed-I was born on Olympus-To my father a Son-I was raised by the demons-Trained to reign as the One.

06-05-2008, 12:39	#3 (permalink)
shaftb Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 337	A site about reviews on wine and cheese, and microbrews. __________________ Daughter of Aphrodite-Hear my words and take Heed-I was born on Olympus-To my father a Son-I was raised by the demons-Trained to reign as the One.

06-05-2008, 12:57	#5 (permalink)
shaftb Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 337	Is it wise to just start from scratch, or tweak an existing. OR just personal pref. __________________ Daughter of Aphrodite-Hear my words and take Heed-I was born on Olympus-To my father a Son-I was raised by the demons-Trained to reign as the One.

06-05-2008, 13:19	#6 (permalink)
Dusteh Sir digby chicken caesar Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 4,830	Tweak an existing theme, find a minimal one that you can quickly strip down to basics and rebuild. __________________ unconsolidated isoparms

06-05-2008, 13:35	#8 (permalink)
seen.to unusual suspect ™ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: DE, USA Posts: 2,897	I would disagree. Better to start from scratch as far as the design is concerned. Fine to start with the default PHP and incorporate your design into that though. __________________ [[proverbs and quotes]] [[blog]] [[work]] [[photowebby - some photo's by me]]

06-05-2008, 12:38	#2 (permalink)
pgo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,340	What kind of site?

06-05-2008, 12:40	#4 (permalink)
pgo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,340	A publishing site - Wordpress would be good, then. Just build him a custom theme.

06-05-2008, 13:42	#9 (permalink)
bazzle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Derby uk Posts: 584	This is something I need to get my teeth into. Can anyone recommend some decent tutorials on how to build a Wordpress site from scratch?

06-05-2008, 13:44	#10 (permalink)
Dusteh Sir digby chicken caesar Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 4,830	You learn far more about skinning CMS by deconstructing existing templates than you would by building your own from scratch. I speak from experience. Anyway, there is no default PHP as such for Wordpress, it's just another template to take apart. __________________ unconsolidated isoparms

06-05-2008, 13:55	#11 (permalink)
seen.to unusual suspect ™ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: DE, USA Posts: 2,897	When I first used it I just built my site with a header/footer in php then used the PHP from the default template. I guess in that sense it was deconstructing the template though. __________________ [[proverbs and quotes]] [[blog]] [[work]] [[photowebby - some photo's by me]]

08-05-2008, 07:32	#12 (permalink)
Achea Shadow Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2	I recommend tweaking an existing theme and getting to grips with how widgets work etc

08-05-2008, 08:08	#13 (permalink)
Anxious On the Naughty Step Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Glasgow Posts: 1,750	The default wordpress theme is pretty complicated, you would be better starting with a minimalist theme if you want to tweak one. I do mine from scratch now, but I did deconstruct other themes originally. There are a few sites which offer free themes: Theme Viewer Free Wordpress Themes - Upload WP Themes and Download WP Themes

08-05-2008, 08:18	#14 (permalink)
Do Gooder Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,482	I am going to have to learn all this shit... Where is that Fuck Off thread...

08-05-2008, 08:49	#15 (permalink)
emil dt immigrant Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bucharest - Romania Posts: 6,999	It's not as easy as it sounds. __________________ Tourism Q X R

08-05-2008, 08:53	#16 (permalink)
Do Gooder Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,482	That is what I have found. I am just not a code monkey.

08-05-2008, 08:55	#17 (permalink)
emil dt immigrant Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bucharest - Romania Posts: 6,999	Well, necessity is the best teacher one can have. __________________ Tourism Q X R

08-05-2008, 08:57	#18 (permalink)
Do Gooder Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,482	You god dat righ

10-05-2008, 13:30	#19 (permalink)
K.Brown Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 19	I'd definitely go with wordpress. If your client is more html savvy, then try out Expression Engine.

20-05-2008, 22:50	#20 (permalink)
bazzle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Derby uk Posts: 584	Heres a good article on the subject. Customize Your Own WordPress Theme \| Vandelay Website Design Certainly answered a few niggling questions I had about how themes work and how content is loaded dynamically with PHP etc.

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