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, responsive design, and WordPress 7.0 enhancements.

WordPress 7.0 Theme Features

1. Admin Refresh

   • New default color scheme
   • View transitions between admin screens
   • Modern typography and spacing

2. Pattern Editing

   • ContentOnly mode defaults for unsynced patterns
   • disableContentOnlyForUnsyncedPatterns setting
   • Per-block instance custom CSS

3. Navigation Overlays

   • Customizable navigation overlays
   • Improved mobile navigation

4. New Blocks

   • Icon block
   • Breadcrumbs block with filters
   • Responsive grid block

5. Theme.json Enhancements

   • Pseudo-element support
   • Block-defined feature selectors honored
   • Enhanced custom CSS

6. Iframed Editor

   • Block API v3+ enables iframed post editor
   • Full enforcement in 7.1, opt-in in 7.0

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
• Implementing WordPress 7.0 design features

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

WordPress 7.0 Theme Header

/*
Theme Name: My Custom Theme
Theme URI: https://example.com
Author: Developer Name
Author URI: https://example.com
Description: A WordPress 7.0 compatible theme with modern design
Version: 1.0.0
Requires at least: 6.0
Requires PHP: 7.4
License: GNU General Public License v2
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
Text Domain: my-custom-theme
Tags: block-patterns, block-styles, editor-style, wide-blocks
*/

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

WordPress 7.0 Template Considerations

• Test with iframed editor
• Verify view transitions work
• Check new admin color scheme compatibility

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

WordPress 7.0 theme.json Configuration

{
  "$schema": "https://schemas.wp.org/trunk/theme.json",
  "version": 3,
  "settings": {
    "appearanceTools": true,
    "layout": {
      "contentSize": "1200px",
      "wideSize": "1400px"
    },
    "background": {
      "backgroundImage": true
    },
    "typography": {
      "fontFamilies": true,
      "fontSizes": true
    },
    "spacing": {
      "margin": true,
      "padding": true
    },
    "blocks": {
      "core/heading": {
        "typography": {
          "fontSizes": ["24px", "32px", "48px"]
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "styles": {
    "color": {
      "background": "#ffffff",
      "text": "#1a1a1a"
    },
    "elements": {
      "link": {
        "color": {
          "text": "#0066cc"
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "customTemplates": [
    {
      "name": "page-home",
      "title": "Homepage",
      "postTypes": ["page"]
    }
  ],
  "templateParts": [
    {
      "name": "header",
      "title": "Header",
      "area": "header"
    }
  ]
}

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

RTC-Compatible CPT Registration

register_post_type('portfolio', [
    'labels' => [
        'name' => __('Portfolio', 'my-theme'),
        'singular_name' => __('Portfolio Item', 'my-theme')
    ],
    'public' => true,
    'has_archive' => true,
    'show_in_rest' => true,  // Enable for RTC
    'supports' => ['title', 'editor', 'thumbnail', 'excerpt', 'custom-fields'],
    'menu_icon' => 'dashicons-portfolio',
]);

// Register meta for collaboration
register_post_meta('portfolio', 'client_name', [
    'type' => 'string',
    'single' => true,
    'show_in_rest' => true,
    'sanitize_callback' => 'sanitize_text_field',
]);

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

WordPress 7.0 Block Features

• Block API v3 is reference model
• PHP-only block registration
• Per-instance custom CSS
• Block visibility controls (viewport-based)

Block Pattern with ContentOnly (WP 7.0)

{
    "name": "my-theme/hero-section",
    "title": "Hero Section",
    "contentOnly": true,
    "content": [
        {
            "name": "core/cover",
            "attributes": {
                "url": "{{hero_image}}",
                "overlay": "black",
                "dimRatio": 50
            },
            "innerBlocks": [
                {
                    "name": "core/heading",
                    "attributes": {
                        "level": 1,
                        "textAlign": "center",
                        "content": "{{hero_title}}"
                    }
                },
                {
                    "name": "core/paragraph",
                    "attributes": {
                        "align": "center",
                        "content": "{{hero_description}}"
                    }
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}

Navigation Overlay Template Part

// template-parts/header-overlay.php
?>
<nav class="header-navigation-overlay" aria-label="<?php esc_attr_e('Overlay Menu', 'my-theme'); ?>">
    <button class="overlay-close" aria-label="<?php esc_attr_e('Close menu', 'my-theme'); ?>">
        <span class="close-icon" aria-hidden="true">
            <svg width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2">
                <line x1="18" y1="6" x2="6" y2="18"></line>
                <line x1="6" y1="6" x2="18" y2="18"></line>
            </svg>
        </span>
    </button>
    <?php
    wp_nav_menu([
        'theme_location' => 'primary',
        'container' => false,
        'menu_class' => 'overlay-menu',
        'fallback_cb' => false,
    ]);
    ?>
</nav>

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

WordPress 7.0 Admin Refresh Considerations

/* Support new admin color scheme */
@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
    :root {
        --admin-color: modern;
    }
}

/* View transitions */
.wp-admin {
    view-transition-name: none;
}

body {
    view-transition-name: page;
}

CSS Custom Properties (WP 7.0)

:root {
    /* New DataViews colors */
    --wp-dataviews-color-background: #ffffff;
    --wp-dataviews-color-border: #e0e0e0;
    
    /* Navigation overlay */
    --wp-overlay-menu-background: #1a1a1a;
    --wp-overlay-menu-text: #ffffff;
}

Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @frontend-design to create responsive theme design

Phase 7: WordPress 7.0 Features Integration

Breadcrumbs Block Support

// Add breadcrumb filters for custom post types
add_filter('wp_breadcrumb_args', function($args) {
    $args['separator'] = '<span class="breadcrumb-separator"> / </span>';
    $args['before'] = '<nav class="breadcrumb" aria-label="Breadcrumb">';
    $args['after'] = '</nav>';
    return $args;
});

// Add custom breadcrumb trail for CPT
add_action('breadcrumb_items', function($trail, $crumbs) {
    if (is_singular('portfolio')) {
        $portfolio_page = get_page_by_path('portfolio');
        if ($portfolio_page) {
            array_splice($trail->crumbs, 1, 0, [
                [
                    'title' => get_the_title($portfolio_page),
                    'url' => get_permalink($portfolio_page)
                ]
            ]);
        }
    }
}, 10, 2);

Icon Block Support

// Add custom icons for Icon block via pattern category
add_action('init', function() {
    register_block_pattern_category('my-theme/icons', [
        'label' => __('Theme Icons', 'my-theme'),
        'description' => __('Custom icons for use in the Icon block', 'my-theme'),
    ]);
});

// For actual SVG icons in the Icon block, use block.json or PHP registration
add_action('init', function() {
    register_block_pattern('my-theme/custom-icons', [
        'title' => __('Custom Icon Set', 'my-theme'),
        'categories' => ['my-theme/icons'],
        'content' => '<!-- Pattern content with Icon blocks -->'
    ]);
});

Phase 8: 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

WordPress 7.0 Testing Checklist

• Test with iframed editor
• Verify view transitions
• Check admin color scheme
• Test navigation overlays
• Verify contentOnly patterns
• Test breadcrumbs on CPT archives

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/
│   ├── header/
│   ├── footer/
│   ├── navigation/
│   └── content/
├── patterns/           # Block patterns (WP 7.0)
├── templates/          # Site editor templates
├── inc/
│   ├── class-theme.php
│   └── supports.php
├── assets/
│   ├── css/
│   ├── js/
│   └── images/
└── languages/

WordPress 7.0 Theme Checklist

• PHP 7.4+ requirement documented
• theme.json v3 schema used
• Block patterns tested
• ContentOnly editing supported
• Navigation overlays implemented
• Breadcrumb filters added for CPT
• View transitions working
• Admin refresh compatible
• CPT meta shows_in_rest
• Iframe editor tested

Quality Gates

• All templates working
• Block editor supported
• Responsive design verified
• Accessibility checked
• Performance optimized
• Cross-browser tested
• WordPress 7.0 compatibility verified

Related Workflow Bundles

• wordpress - WordPress development
• wordpress-plugin-development - Plugin development
• wordpress-woocommerce - WooCommerce