Looking at using template parts and OOP ideas in WordPress

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Breaking Up (Your Code)
Is Hard To Do
Dan Beil
@add_action_dan

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Alley Interactive
● We are a full-service digital agency
● WordPress.com VIP partner
● Hiring!

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The Problem
Navigating WordPress’ code base is difficult
Code organization is one large pain point that
WordPress has, because it is not regulated

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The Problem: continued
Developers not thinking in an OOP mind set.
If this doesn’t resonate with you…
Developers not thinking ahead to what can be
reused
This leads to too much logic being included in
top level (core hierarchy) template files

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The Problem: continued
Many developers start coding after finding
WordPress and learn from tutorials that, while
technically correct, are actually bad practice

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Benefits of a Standard Structure
● Frontend
developers benefit
● Onboarding /
collaboration
● Better Code, Period

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Theme Structure
● theme-name
○ inc/
■ post-types/
■ helpers.php
○ static/
■ css/
■ js/
○ template-parts/
○ index.php
○ single.php
○ etc...

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Abstracting
Code
Technically works,
could be optimized
look for common
patterns
(source: un-named online tutorial)
What if we use this in 5 places throughout
our site?

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Template
Parts
The reusable
output
You can now change this HTML All in one place.
Template parts should include output functions, not display
logic

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Abstracting WP_Query
1. In functions.php
2. Or better yet in
inc/helpers.php
3. Now able to reuse
the same logic
with one function
call

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Example: continued
Our template file would now look like this

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Consider the following
First step towards OOP is becoming more DRY
with your code
Remember, “If you write it twice” … “you’ve
written too much”
This will make you a better developer

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Resources to learn
● My articles on http://addactiondan.me
○ http://bit.ly/1JulWGr
● Design Patterns in WordPress: The Singleton Pattern
○ by Tom McFarlin
■ http://bit.ly/1G80cA0
● Fieldmanager Code Base
○ by Alley Interactive
■ http://bit.ly/1iALI6r

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Interested in Working at Alley?
● We’re hiring!
● If you’re interested, please send your resume & code
samples to hiring@alleyinteractive.com
● More info here:
○ http://www.alleyinteractive.com/hiring/

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