hacking wordpress: making wp work for you
TRANSCRIPT
HackingWordPress:Making WPWork for You
WordCamp Atlanta 2015
Erick Arbé
@erickarbe
What isHacking?
Not what you think.
Hacking Is…. the gaining of access (wanted orunwanted) to a computer and viewing,copying, or creating data (leaving atrace) without the intention ofdestroying data or maliciously harmingthe computer.
A Hacker is…
an expert at programming and solving problems with a computer
The Misconception is…
Hacking and hackers are commonly mistaken to be the bad guysmost of the time. Crackers are the ones who screw things over asfar as creating a virus, cracks, spyware, and destroying data.
Sooo….
To hack something, you need to have
a solid understanding of how it works.
Then, you get creative.
WordPressMade ThisPresentation
WordPress Was Used to Build ThisPresentation
Each slide is a post
I built a custom theme
I used the Front-End Editor Plugin
It started on my iPhone with the WordPress app.
So What isThis TalkAbout?
We’re going to cover a few simple concepts and practical examplesthat will help you solve a problem with WordPress.
We will not touch any code today!
Maybe You…
1. Need a Minimum Viable Product for a pitch to an investor
2. Need a creative solution for a client’s website
3. Have an incredible idea that you just want to get off the ground
4. Need the solution to a nagging problem
WhyWordPress?
It’s Awesome. Oh and it’s OpenSource.
It’s flexible and extendableenough to make it do almostanything.
Plugins making hacking WPthat much easier.
The community aroundWordPress is incredible.
Because you can (hence,open source).
UnderstandingWordPress
This helps, but it’s not totally necessary.
TheDatabase
Database
Posts, Pages, or Custom Post Types
These can be categorized, tagged, or sorted by othertaxonomies
Basically pieces of information that can be manipulatedthrough WP
Users
Users
User creation, deletion, and ROLES
Roles give certain privileges
Password protection – opens up all kinds of doors
The API
Feeds
XML, JSON, RSS
WordPress can push or pull
Start WithPlugins
There is a plugin for almost everything – this is a great place to startwhen customizing WordPress.
Out of the Box:
WooCommerce
WP Project Manager
AppPresser
MemberPress, WishlistMember
Simple Intranet
Gravity Forms, Contact Form7, Ninja Forms
WP RSS Aggregator
BuddyPress
BBPress
Event Espresso
WP Product Review
Code Required:
Advanced Custom Fields
Types
PODS
Case Study:Builda DirectoryCombinedwith a CRM
The Requirements:
1. We needed a tool to help perform research on customers.
2. It needed to be easy enough for an intern to follow.
3. It had to act like a CRM to track if we contacted that course ornot, plus hold notes on that course.
4. Excel could have done the trick, but would have beencumbersome, hard to share, ugly, and had limited capabilities.
Case Study:The Solution
Advanced Custom Fields was used to build a custom directory sitethat aided in web-based research.
Golf Course = Post
Post Information = Completely modified with ACF Plugin
Categories = States
Mandrill was used to send emails
Comments used for notes
WP_Query was used on page templates
BasecampClone
We all love Basecamp, right?
Using a plugin, you can turn WP into a fully functioning clone.
Frito-Lay Custom ProjectManagement
A SocialNetwork
AMembershipWebsite
Protected content can be used in many ways. These plugins help…
Backend Foran App
WordPress can simply be used to hold data – what you do with thatdata is up to you.
UserSubmission
User interaction is what drives dynamic applications.
FinalThoughts
One thing WordPress can’t do?
Get smaller.
Things to Remember:
Learn the system before you manipulate it.
You don’t know what you don’t know, so always learn more.