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Camila N
10,677 PointsDo you think it's better to start a wordpress theme from scratch or use a a theme as template?
I have to create a wordpress with woocommerce site and I've been at it for almost two days with little progress. The process we're using at my office is all wrong, since I didn't have any html/css template done and had to start trying to change the default styles in the storefront theme I'm using. At this point, do you think it would be less time consuming and easy to start a theme from scratch or for a wordpress begginer it's easier to just modify the styles for the classes of a existing theme?
3 Answers
Michael Makali'i Fernandez
8,090 PointsDepends on how close the template is to what you actually want the end product to look like. Also, it depends on how comfortable you are with coding from scratch.
Starting from scratch will take longer but you get more freedom with your design.
Templates lays down all the ground work for you, but has its own structural limitations.
Sue Dough
35,800 PointsIt will of course be easier to use a theme that has already been made. You stated your a beginner and have made little progress. You have answered your own question from what I can tell. You can find a theme you like and start customizing it to your needs. Building a good theme takes time, patience, and experience.
Camila N
10,677 PointsThanks to everyone! Actually, I had a talk with my boss and he told me he expected me to do a theme from scratch, so I started one today. I made some of the mark up first (the header that will actually be a sidebar, and the footer) , and once I got everything linked I installed WooCommerce and created the category pages, etc. Everything is kind of working now so I'm planning to finish the mark up first (I'm the only front end dev and our designer only does the design, not the code) and then keep creating the structure. I won't need much as it is a simple e commerce site that only lets you enter in each category or product page. I hope I make it on time :) Thanks a lot!
Nijad Kifayeh
6,092 PointsI was facing a similar situation.
Modifying a theme for WP beginners is very confusing! Hell, I had trouble even finding the template that would populate the front-page (none of the front-page hierarchy files were there and they were using custom post types) let alone modifying it!
As a beginner, find a theme that most closely matches your ideal styling, then wing it from there, but at the same time do what you are doing and take this course and start building a theme from scratch so in the future you can always fall-back on pre-made themes but you will then have all the tools you need to make as many changes to it as you need, or you could just go ahead and build a proper one from scratch....point is, I think it's critical to know how to build a theme in order to know how to customize a theme.
Camila N
10,677 PointsYes, the WooCommerce templates are the only thing I'm having trouble with! I progressing slowly but It's not THAT bad. The PHP part is giving me headaches because I don't know much about PHP. Anyways, I'm not creating a commercial theme, I'm just doing an ecommerce website so it's easier.