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.