Let me like your theme

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As a web developer, I enjoy benefits of open source and creative common products that are made available online. And that includes WordPress themes.

Downloading a free WordPress theme from another website not only means that I do not have need to worry about designs, but also not having to take care of HTML/CSS aspect of it too – it should be simple as plug’n play.

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Artwork by http://avabobaloo.deviantart.com/art/The-Mask-I-Wear-120902338

Recent I found a site provide HTML themes for blog – 2 or 3 columns for you to choose, clean, eligant design and appearently the structure of the design is tailored for WordPress. So I said to myself “I love this design, sure it won’t hurt to spent half an hour converting HTML to WordPress theme… right?”. Right?

HTML to any CMS theme realisation was what I do for living, doing it for WordPress isn’t an exception: make a style.css file so WordPress is aware of this theme, then I split the codes into header.php, index.php and so on. Very quickly of protential problem I may have to face in long run: HTML code for Widget wrapper were using <div> elements instead of nested <ul>; Naming convension for helper classes in CSS are different to default wordpress class names (eg. right instead of alignright). Sure I can easily fix widgetization in WordPress and get used to the naming convension of this theme… but that breaks my initial purpose of using a free design.

I’m sure web theme designers out there are worked very hard to come up with fantastic designs and following web standards, but isn’t that unfortunate if people repel your work because you making it harder for them? People want to use your theme! let us like your theme!

Different rule of thumb applied for different CMS, as for WordPress, my tips would be to follow the Theme Development Checklist for submitting your work to WordPress Theme Directory. Avoid reword HTML code from WordPress default theme, WordPress friendly theme should means you only need to modify style.css file and javascript or flash additional shall remain as optional and are not recommended to be included as part of your theme.

Make your WordPress themes as easy as putting on a T-shirt, your fans will appreciate your hard work and you shall be rewarded from higher exposal from people referencing your work.