Building solid reference links when first starting with new technology is always difficult. I recently had a discussion with an experienced developer who was just starting with WordPress and looking for some reference help. This was someone who understood what a CMS (content management system) was and was not. What they were looking for were links that would bypass the “Hello World” aspects of WordPress introductions and get them to the meat.
While I have collected my favorite resources into often used bookmarks in my browser, it was not easy to share them with this person. That led me to this post. This is a list of suggested starting points if you are an experienced developer who is just dipping their toe into the WordPress world.
WordPress Developer Reference Links
- WordPress.org – If for no other reason than introducing you to the “get involved” community. They are a great source of detail and have never made me feel like the newbie my questions often suggested.
- WordPress Developer
- Theme Handbook – While it lacks a bit in the “why would you create a theme”, it is a great resource if you’ve answered that question and are ready to dig in.
- Plugin Handbook – It also lacks in the “why would you create a plugin”. But, it too is a great resource on the how to’s of creating one.
- Code Reference – A great reference if you have questions about a specific function or property within the WP environment.
- WordPress Codex – The original repository of code detail, being replaced by the code reference. But, still valuable.
Other Reference Links I’ve found invaluable in my research:
- WP Beginner – Don’t let the name fool you. There is advanced detail here as well.
- envatotuts+ – A knowledgeable community with straight forward solutions.
- w3schools – While not WordPress specific, it is my go to place for code specific syntax questions
And finally, get a Twitter account if you don’t have one. Then start following some of the WordPress groups and see who’s saying things you like and follow them. Chances are pretty good if they are vocal in those venues, they are hosting their own blog. And those blogs can be good resources.