Wordpress Theme Development

# WordPress Theme Development Workflow

Overview

Specialized workflow for creating custom WordPress themes from scratch, including modern block editor (Gutenberg) support, template hierarchy, and responsive design.

When to Use This Workflow

Use this workflow when:

- Creating custom WordPress themes

- Converting designs to WordPress themes

- Adding block editor support

- Implementing custom post types

- Building child themes

Workflow Phases

Phase 1: Theme Setup

#### Skills to Invoke

- `app-builder` - Project scaffolding

- `frontend-developer` - Frontend development

#### Actions

1. Create theme directory structure

2. Set up style.css with theme header

3. Create functions.php

4. Configure theme support

5. Set up enqueue scripts/styles

#### Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @app-builder to scaffold a new WordPress theme project

Phase 2: Template Hierarchy

#### Skills to Invoke

- `frontend-developer` - Template development

#### Actions

1. Create index.php (fallback template)

2. Implement header.php and footer.php

3. Create single.php for posts

4. Create page.php for pages

5. Add archive.php for archives

6. Implement search.php and 404.php

#### Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @frontend-developer to create WordPress template files

Phase 3: Theme Functions

#### Skills to Invoke

- `backend-dev-guidelines` - Backend patterns

#### Actions

1. Register navigation menus

2. Add theme support (thumbnails, RSS, etc.)

3. Register widget areas

4. Create custom template tags

5. Implement helper functions

#### Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @backend-dev-guidelines to create theme functions

Phase 4: Custom Post Types

#### Skills to Invoke

- `wordpress-penetration-testing` - WordPress patterns

#### Actions

1. Register custom post types

2. Create custom taxonomies

3. Add custom meta boxes

4. Implement custom fields

5. Create archive templates

#### Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @wordpress-penetration-testing to understand WordPress CPT patterns

Phase 5: Block Editor Support

#### Skills to Invoke

- `frontend-developer` - Block development

#### Actions

1. Enable block editor support

2. Register custom blocks

3. Create block styles

4. Add block patterns

5. Configure block templates

#### Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @frontend-developer to create custom Gutenberg blocks

Phase 6: Styling and Design

#### Skills to Invoke

- `frontend-design` - UI design

- `tailwind-patterns` - Tailwind CSS

#### Actions

1. Implement responsive design

2. Add CSS framework or custom styles

3. Create design system

4. Implement theme customizer

5. Add accessibility features

#### Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @frontend-design to create responsive theme design

Phase 7: Testing

#### Skills to Invoke

- `playwright-skill` - Browser testing

- `webapp-testing` - Web app testing

#### Actions

1. Test across browsers

2. Verify responsive breakpoints

3. Test block editor

4. Check accessibility

5. Performance testing

#### Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @playwright-skill to test WordPress theme

Theme Structure

theme-name/
├── style.css
├── functions.php
├── index.php
├── header.php
├── footer.php
├── sidebar.php
├── single.php
├── page.php
├── archive.php
├── search.php
├── 404.php
├── comments.php
├── template-parts/
├── inc/
├── assets/
│   ├── css/
│   ├── js/
│   └── images/
└── languages/

Quality Gates

- [ ] All templates working

- [ ] Block editor supported

- [ ] Responsive design verified

- [ ] Accessibility checked

- [ ] Performance optimized

- [ ] Cross-browser tested

Related Workflow Bundles

- `wordpress` - WordPress development

- `wordpress-plugin-development` - Plugin development

- `wordpress-woocommerce` - WooCommerce