When you’re developing, the solution to your problem might already exist. Many problems in code aren’t new, whether in debugging or creating new features. Ryan Kienstra, WordPress Engineer, shares his insights of borrowing from existing solutions and making your job easier.
Get Familiar with WordPress Posts Database Table
Have you ever opened up your database? Have you poked around in there to understand the layout and different buckets of content and information? In today’s quick tip, you’ll look at the wp_posts database table. You’ll learn about basic database terminology, such as record, row, primary key, and columns. You’ll see how the columns within a record relate to the content you see in the WordPress back-end.
How to Disable Post Title Link in Genesis – in One Line of Code
In today’s quick tip, I’ll show you how you how to disable the default behavior of making the post title linkable (clickable) in Genesis. And you’ll do it in just one line of code. You’ll also see some helper utility functions available to make your job easier…right out of WordPress core.
My 4 Steps to Problem Solving
Bugs are going to happen even to the best developer. That unexpected behavior is just part of this profession. But what sets you apart and defines you is your ability to problem solve. It’s about finding the root cause, that thing or things which are at the center of the problem, and then properly resolving it. In this daily tip, let me share with you my four (4) steps to problem solving. These steps are the same no matter if you are on the hunt for a minor issue to some intermittent, pain in the backside, wonky problem.
How to move from copy/paste to build anything in code
I’m often asked where you should start. How can you move from copy/paste to being able to build anything in code? You want to build your new skills incrementally, step-by-step. Each time you copy and paste a snippet of code, stop and dissect it. Go through the individual instructions. Look them up. Take the opportunity explore the code you are putting into your project.
Designer vs. Front-End Developer – Exploring the Differences
A designer creates a complete visual branding and online presence for a client, including websites, logos, print and online media, advertising, swag, and more. The designs flow through all different types of mediums to create a consistent branding and visual package.
Quality Code Tip: Views are for HTML – Not Your Business Logic
In today’s quality code tip, you will learn about removing the HTML from your business logic and putting it into a view file. In programming, you want to separate out your code by its intent and purpose. Let’s discuss the what, how, and why of view files. (Side note: I’m showing you the actual code on this website which is powered by Genesis.
Smelly Code: the “if/return true/false” Code Pattern
When doing a conditional expression, it’s a smelly code pattern to then return true or false. Why? The conditional expression already returns a true or false state. Therefore, you do not need to be so verbose and hardcode a boolean return. Here is the smelly code pattern: Refactor this code down to one line to make it more readable. It’s less code too (skinny). Strive to reduce your code and make it more simple. If you see this pattern in your code, then refactor it. Remember, you want your code to be as skinny (as few lines) as possible.
Code Building Blocks Empower You to Build Whatever in Code
Here is a master insight from me to you: the code building blocks empower you to build whatever you want in code. All code, no matter how simple or complex and no matter the language or technology, is built with a combination of basic building blocks. These are the foundation of computation and your ability to get that computer to do what you need it to do. Being able to build anything in code means you are proficient with the basic building blocks, i.e. the fundamentals of computation. Once you focus yourself on one language and become proficient with it, […]
Focus. Make Yourself an Invaluable WordPress Software Professional
Here is a master insight from me to you: Focus to make yourself invaluable. You need to marshall all of your energies and time to focus yourself. Proficiency in any business, and especially in software development, comes from focusing on building your craft and skills. Stop chasing the shiny new fads and efficiency tools. These make you more efficient but will not help you to write clean, quality code from scratch. They will not help you to be able to evaluate code, identify the strengths and weaknesses, and know how to integrate it into your project. These are efficiency tools […]
