Testing a Free WordPress Theme "Framework" - Who Wants to Help?

[Dan Schulz]

Yes, that's right. I'm testing a "framework" for building WordPress themes. It's not 100% done yet (since my PC decided to go on strike again), but I do have a mostly (95%) working copy of it online (I don't quite recall if it's the dev copy or the site copy I uploaded). The site isn't also done yet (see above), but it is "on the way there", but I need to get this into testing if I want to make my January 28th pre-launch date (yes, that's the same day WordPress 2.4 is supposed to be released).

If you want to help me test it, please reply here (and only here). PMs will not be accepted. Basically it works like this. You don't PM me (with the offer to help); I'll PM you (with the link). Understand that eventually I will be placing some advertising on the site, which will help pay for the server I'll probably have to get for it should this take off and become popular, so if you're not comfortable with that, please don't ask me to help.

If you have any experience with WordPress, usability, accessibility and/or intermediate to advanced CSS knowledge (such as using margins, floats, and negative margins to create advanced layouts) and can TRUTHFULLY separate your structure from your presentation, then you are especially encouraged to apply, though if you don't have those skills, then please feel feel free to apply anyway - I want to make this as easy to use as possible.

[BigMooch]

Sounds like fun to me.

[Dan Schulz]

Anybody else?

[deronsizemore]

Sorry Dan, if I used WordPress I'd be right there to help

[Dan Schulz]

So what's stopping you? ;)

[deronsizemore]

So what's stopping you? ;)

A better piece of software called ExpressionEngine. :'"

I honestly couldn't tell you the first thing about WordPress. :bigsmile:

[Dan Schulz]

Touché.

[adalante]

giddy up

[BPartch]

A better piece of software called ExpressionEngine. :'" Opinions, opinions :p

[deronsizemore]

Touché.


Everytime I see/hear that word it makes me think of Ben Stiller in the movie Dodge Ball.

[SarahG]

Not sure if it's an issue but apparently 2.4 isn't coming now and 2.5 will be out in March (Source: Weblog Tools Collection 2.4 Skipped 2.5 Is Next (http://weblogtoolscollection.com/archives/2008/01/04/24-skipped-25-is-next/))

If your framework testing can be done within the next 2 weeks then I'm happy to test. I'm away from the 22nd though.

[Dan Schulz]

It can, Sarah. While I wasn't expecting a skip from 2.4 to 2.5 (and the delay that comes with it), I can definately appreciate them wanting to "get everything right".

Besides, it gives me extra time to get the forum skinned (not to mention the site itself finished) as well. :)

[ses5909]

sure i'll help. My availability over the next few weeks is spotty, but i'm happy to help when I can.

[freediver]

I am pretty experienced with Wordpress themes, will give it a try.

[torkil]

I noted from another site's comments section that you are also working on something similar for Joomla 1.5, so I'd be really interested in checking out both the WP and J! versions of your "framework".

Anything reducing development time is interesting in my eyes :)

[Dan Schulz]

Nothing for Joomla yet, but I'm waiting for 1.5 to come out of Release Candidate Status before I give that CMS a try.

As for everyone who replied to my invitation, I'll be sending out PMs tomorrow, assuming the thunderstorms here in the Chicago area (yes, you read that right, severe thunderstorms - tornados and all) don't muck things up.

I'm also getting my phone provider changed over to AT&T tomorrow as well, so I have some pretty good incentives right there (not to mention you'd all hunt me down and do worse things than kill me if I didn't) to follow through.

Please bear in mind the site (and forum) I'll be hosting the download on isn't finished being skinned yet, since client work always has to take precedence, so please bear with the "men in hats" (ok, it's just me at this point in time).

[Dan Schulz]

Oh, one more thing (since I'm not in the mood to edit the previous post). This "framework" is just like K2 in that regard (but without the code and "feature" bloat). Download and edit the stylesheet (and appropriate template files). It's nothing hosted online that will generate a custom theme. This is a theme in and of itself for the express purpose of creating other themes. I will be including custom stylesheets that people can use as templates (or to learn how I code with CSS), but I won't be able to until either this weekend or next week at the earliest.

[ernan]

i'm having a nightmare with wordpress themes..

[Dan Schulz]

Such as?

[Dan Schulz]

Not that I mean to bump the thread (ok, that's exactly what I'm doing and I'm doing it on purpose), but I'm still looking for people to help test this out. I'll be pushing Beta 2 out this week once I get the PHP code to echo the HTML (yes, I'm going to echo' '; the HTML code), and I'd love it if you all would help me test this out by creating your own themes with it.

For those who have already signed up, I'd love to see some signs of life from you (except Sara, who's got other obligations to tend to at the moment).

(I'd also like to thank Michael Martin of Pro Blog Design for giving me permission to incorporate his separate comments from trackbacks code into the project. Thanks Mike!)

[Michael Martin]

Not that I mean to bump the thread (ok, that's exactly what I'm doing and I'm doing it on purpose), but I'm still looking for people to help test this out. I'll be pushing Beta 2 out this week once I get the PHP code to echo the HTML (yes, I'm going to echo' '; the HTML code), and I'd love it if you all would help me test this out by creating your own themes with it.

For those who have already signed up, I'd love to see some signs of life from you (except Sara, who's got other obligations to tend to at the moment).

(I'd also like to thank Michael Martin of Pro Blog Design for giving me permission to incorporate his separate comments from trackbacks code into the project. Thanks Mike!)

No problem Dan. :)

I would be interested in testing it out for you as well. I can't make any promises (A lot to get done this week :( ), but if I did happen to get some free time, this sounds a lot of fun to play with. :D

[Dan Schulz]

Well don't worry about this week. I'm not even at home right now - family emergency and all. :(

I won't be back until sometime next week. Then I'll hook you up with my latest dev files.

[samwoodfin]

Sorry about the family emergency, Dan. :(

Are late sign-ups OK? I've gotten WAMP installed, and I'm pretty sure I can break the framework for you. ;)

[Dan Schulz]

Yeah, that's fine.