Author: Tom (Page 372 of 427)

A Presentation on The WordPress Settings API

October 24, 2012 / Tom / 0 Comments

In the past, I’ve written extensively about the WordPress Settings API, how to introduce unit testing into projects using the WordPress Settings API, as well as my thoughts on frameworks in contrast to the Settings API.

Clearly, I’m an advocate for using this particular part of the API.

How To Setup Custom Queries For WP_Query Pagination

October 23, 2012 / Tom / 0 Comments

One of the nicest things about using WP_Query is that it allows you to completely customize the data that you’re bringing back to the front end.

For those of you who are completely unfamiliar with this API, it’s a powerful class that allows you to custom tailor a query against the WordPress database for retrieving information about posts, pages, custom post types, and so on.

If you’re using one of the more common features of WordPress, such as those mentioned above, then it’s relatively easy to get started; however, if you’re doing more complicated work, such as including multiple custom queries in a single view, then there are some challenges that you may discover.

Personally, I’ve been working on a project where I have two custom queries running in a template and I needed to paginate the results. The problem is that using the usual functions for doing this, that is:

Were not working as expected.

Ultimately, it required me passing a little bit more information to the query’s arguments array and to the pagination link functions. Here’s how you can setup WP_Query Pagination to work properly in custom queries.

Three Thoughts on Improving Code Quality in Existing Projects

October 22, 2012 / Tom / 0 Comments

I’m currently working on a project that I inherited from a previous team in which I’m working on improving the code quality. The details aren’t terribly important, but here’s what you need to know to have enough context for this post:

I didn’t design the application, but the client wants to keep the existing design and feature set
The budget only allows for improvements agreed upon during the planning phase – nothing more
The initial codebase was developed by someone else that opted to do things in a less elegant way

As far as the last point is concerned, “less elegant” could be chalked up to laziness, or it could be chalked up to ignorance.

When possible, I try to believe the best rather than assume the worst, so I’ve opted to go with the fact that the team was under a deadline to ship rather than to build an elegant solution.

That said, I think that all developers have found themselves in this position: We’ve inherited – or contributed – to some codebase, looked around, and said:

I wouldn’t have done it that way.

Often times, the implication is that our way is a better way than the way it’s currently done. In some cases, that’s right, but if developers often think this and another developer wrote said code, where does that lead?

Anyway, this is not the first time I’ve found myself in this position, and it certainly won’t be the last, but it seemed like something worth discussing if for no other reason to share my thoughts on it.

Another WordPress Podcast?

October 19, 2012 / Tom / 0 Comments

One of my favorite things to do when going on a run or a long drive is to queue up a few podcasts and listen to them. Generally speaking, most of the podcasts that I listen to are directly related to things I’m interested in and/or interested in learning more about.

Then again, isn’t that what everyone listens to?

With that said, I can honestly say that I’m not familiar with a significant number of high quality WordPress podcasts. In fact, the one’s I’m most aware of are published by WPCandy, and Jeff at WPTavern (on which I had to pleasure speaking last year).

I have an idea for another type of WordPress podcast, but I’m wondering if there’s room for it, or if the reason there are so few is because there’s so little interest.

Using jQuery Confirm To Enhance Your User Interface

October 18, 2012 / Tom / 0 Comments

When it comes to building themes, plugins, and other projects on top of WordPress, I think there is room for improvement when it comes to introducing basic user interface principles.

For example, I’ll be the first to admit that there are certain things I know – such as make users confirm before completing a destructive action – that I’ve not always done regularly.

I’m significantly better at putting these things in place now than I once was, but it’s little details like this that can really set your work apart from others and that can enhance the user experience. Not to mention, a lot of this stuff is backed by research in psychology.

Anyway, I’m all for sharing various tools and utilities that help make our lives as developers a bit easier especially when it comes to improving our user interfaces.

jQuery Confirm is one such plugin.