Comments on: The Problem With "Theme Options" http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/ WordPress Themes, Web Design, and Blogs Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:16:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Team Nirvana http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1097 Team Nirvana Sun, 29 Jun 2008 12:28:48 +0000 http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1097 I am currently using your theme on my blog. Its anyway going to take a while before it gathers momentum. I claim not to be a php expert but I can understand whats going on. So trying to shift the feed and mail icon into a single box. Thanks for sharing these tips and providing us a theme to build something on. You made my day for sure. Thanks. I am currently using your theme on my blog. Its anyway going to take a while before it gathers momentum. I claim not to be a php expert but I can understand whats going on.

So trying to shift the feed and mail icon into a single box.

Thanks for sharing these tips and providing us a theme to build something on.

You made my day for sure.

Thanks.

]]> By: Jon Soroko http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1096 Jon Soroko Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:23:48 +0000 http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1096 The voice of ignorance and no expertise here: my competence stops somewhere halfway through html. I like backend options - say, layout changes - or easily changing headers - as I like widgets. And I'm currently deciding on a premium (paid)theme - I WANT to be able to pay people for their work. But I can't at present pay several thousand dollars - so what I've been looking for is more backend options so if I find something near perfect - I can make the last change myself. That being said - I didn't understand most of the conversation above. And - among my circle - I'm fairly geeky - I know a few UNIX commmands, a lot of DOS commands. But CSS and PHP? Vast ignorance. that said - hats off to all of you who produce these amazing free themes. Jon Soroko The voice of ignorance and no expertise here: my competence stops somewhere halfway through html. I like backend options – say, layout changes – or easily changing headers – as I like widgets.

And I’m currently deciding on a premium (paid)theme – I WANT to be able to pay people for their work. But I can’t at present pay several thousand dollars – so what I’ve been looking for is more backend options so if I find something near perfect – I can make the last change myself. That being said – I didn’t understand most of the conversation above.

And – among my circle – I’m fairly geeky – I know a few UNIX commmands, a lot of DOS commands. But CSS and PHP? Vast ignorance.

that said – hats off to all of you who produce these amazing free themes.

Jon Soroko

]]> By: The Problem With “Theme Options” [ Nathan Rice ] http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1095 The Problem With “Theme Options” [ Nathan Rice ] Sun, 08 Jun 2008 12:15:22 +0000 http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1095 [...] 25th 2008 7:07pm [-] From: nathanrice.net [...] [...] 25th 2008 7:07pm [-] From: nathanrice.net [...]

]]> By: WPModder http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1094 WPModder Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:26:07 +0000 http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1094 Great post, and I would agree with what you and others have said, especially John Whiteside. I think your target theme audience should dictate your use of theme options, and if you're target audience is everyone, then a themer should try and make different versions available for different audiences, the beginners, the theme modders, and even the experienced WP hackers. I have just recently started releasing themes, and one of my goals is to make things as easy as possible for people with no CSS, HTML, or PHP experience to change the look of these themes. I haven't even jumped into using options yet, I'm just relying on commenting my code well at this point. I've got a long way to go, and I'll admit that the themes I've released so far aren't the greatest. I think in a perfect world, there would be two versions of every theme like you said, a "beginner" version and an "advanced" version. We'll see what the WP future brings;) Great post, and I would agree with what you and others have said, especially John Whiteside. I think your target theme audience should dictate your use of theme options, and if you’re target audience is everyone, then a themer should try and make different versions available for different audiences, the beginners, the theme modders, and even the experienced WP hackers.

I have just recently started releasing themes, and one of my goals is to make things as easy as possible for people with no CSS, HTML, or PHP experience to change the look of these themes. I haven’t even jumped into using options yet, I’m just relying on commenting my code well at this point.

I’ve got a long way to go, and I’ll admit that the themes I’ve released so far aren’t the greatest. I think in a perfect world, there would be two versions of every theme like you said, a “beginner” version and an “advanced” version.

We’ll see what the WP future brings;)

]]> By: Nathan Rice http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1093 Nathan Rice Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:07:13 +0000 http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1093 I don't think options, even excessive options, is a bad thing necessarily. But when you put backend options for everything, you're alienating a particular group of modders. I actually think options #3 is a good option. Just give users an option-free version to download. That way users like John still get the convenience of a quick setup, but power users can still mod without fear of screwing up the PHP. Everybody wins! :-) I don’t think options, even excessive options, is a bad thing necessarily. But when you put backend options for everything, you’re alienating a particular group of modders.

I actually think options #3 is a good option. Just give users an option-free version to download. That way users like John still get the convenience of a quick setup, but power users can still mod without fear of screwing up the PHP.

Everybody wins! :-)

]]> By: John Whiteside http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1092 John Whiteside Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:18:01 +0000 http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1092 Remember, not all users are the same. I've used one of your free themes with Feedburner options, and I liked that; it saved me some time. I think you touch on the key in your post: think about who you are designing for, and let people know whether there are options before they download a theme (or find out whether they want them when you're custom designing). Some people want to do it themselves, others don't; having different versions of the same theme is a great idea. Different users, different needs, all valid; there's no right answer, there's what will meet the needs of your users and make them come back for more (hopefully with money in hand). Remember, not all users are the same. I’ve used one of your free themes with Feedburner options, and I liked that; it saved me some time.

I think you touch on the key in your post: think about who you are designing for, and let people know whether there are options before they download a theme (or find out whether they want them when you’re custom designing). Some people want to do it themselves, others don’t; having different versions of the same theme is a great idea.

Different users, different needs, all valid; there’s no right answer, there’s what will meet the needs of your users and make them come back for more (hopefully with money in hand).

]]> By: Jeffro2pt0 http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1091 Jeffro2pt0 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:10:26 +0000 http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1091 Hmm, I've been preaching for theme options for quite some time but when I look at it from your points of view, I think I may have help contribute to this beast. The last thing I would want is a theme with every configurable option under the sun, I'd rather have options for major coding stuff. Things such as modifying my sidebars or rearranging content columns I think would be good options. Options for things like Feedburner and Technorati integration seem like overload. Sigh, like any good thing, if over used it becomes bad. Hmm, I’ve been preaching for theme options for quite some time but when I look at it from your points of view, I think I may have help contribute to this beast. The last thing I would want is a theme with every configurable option under the sun, I’d rather have options for major coding stuff. Things such as modifying my sidebars or rearranging content columns I think would be good options. Options for things like Feedburner and Technorati integration seem like overload.

Sigh, like any good thing, if over used it becomes bad.

]]> By: Small Potato http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1090 Small Potato Wed, 26 Mar 2008 06:20:36 +0000 http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1090 Now I don't have to point out why Wpdesigner themes never went crazy with theme options. An option for feedburner is excessive. Now I don’t have to point out why Wpdesigner themes never went crazy with theme options. An option for feedburner is excessive.

]]> By: Ptah Dunbar http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1089 Ptah Dunbar Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:04:27 +0000 http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1089 good point Nathan, but unfortunately, its a monkey see monkey do game here... A lot of people spend to much time catching up or copying everyone else that they fail to see what their actually doing. good point Nathan, but unfortunately, its a monkey see monkey do game here…

A lot of people spend to much time catching up or copying everyone else that they fail to see what their actually doing.

]]> By: Michael Castilla http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1088 Michael Castilla Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:00:48 +0000 http://www.nathanrice.net/blog/the-problem-with-theme-options/#comment-1088 Interesting points you've made here. I totally agree with them too. I especially like the third tip. Never thought of that! Thanks. Interesting points you’ve made here. I totally agree with them too. I especially like the third tip. Never thought of that!

Thanks.

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