Why You Shouldn’t Use the WordPress Theme Take a look at Plugin

A fellow WordPress website online builder not too long ago steered that I come with the WordPress.org Theme Take a look at plugin in my repertoire of theme analysis and choice gear. To start with, it gave the look of an ideal concept, however the longer I thought of it, the extra my opinion modified.

Comparing and selecting a WordPress theme isn’t for the faint of center. Each WordPress website online builder has their very own theme evaluation and selection process, which is able to develop reasonably sophisticated. We will all be forgiven for short of to fall again on gear like Theme Check that, in the beginning look, turns out to paintings as an easy-to-use filter out to simplify the theme variety procedure.

Sadly, issues aren’t so cut-and-dried. Theme Take a look at was once by no means designed to be a general-purpose theme variety software and working out the messages generated by way of the plugin calls for a slightly complex wisdom of PHP, the WordPress core, and WordPress.org theme requirements.

After toying with the plugin and studying about its aim I’ve made up our minds in opposition to the use of the Theme Take a look at plugin so to assessment topics. Listed here are 4 the explanation why you must do the similar.

Proceed studying, or leap forward the use of those hyperlinks:

• 4 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Use the Theme Checker Plugin
  • Explanation why 1: You Need to Personal a Theme Earlier than You Can Use It
  • Explanation why 2: WordPress.org Topics Have Already Handed
  • Explanation why 3: Top rate Topics Received’t Cross
  • Explanation why 4: That Isn’t What It’s For
• When Will have to You Use the Theme Take a look at Plugin?

4 Causes Why You Shouldn’t Use the Theme Checker Plugin

Explanation why 1: You Need to Personal a Theme Earlier than You Can Use It

Listed here are the stairs you want to move thru to make use of the Theme Take a look at plugin:

1. Set up the theme you need to judge.
2. Set up and turn on the Theme Take a look at plugin.
3. Navigate to Look > Theme Take a look at.
4. From the drop-down field, make a selection the theme you need to test and click on Take a look at it!.
5. Evaluation and interpret the ensuing warnings, suggestions, and informational notices.

Do you notice an issue with this procedure because it pertains to theme variety? I certain do.

When you’re taking into consideration buying a top class theme, this may imply buying the theme you’re excited about purchasing ahead of working it in the course of the Theme Take a look at gauntlet. Doesn’t make sense, proper? When you’re the rest like me, by the point you drop cash on a top class theme you’ve principally dedicated to the use of it. You aren’t even within the theme analysis level any further. You’ve moved directly to theme implementation.

Neatly, OK. Theme Take a look at isn’t any excellent for comparing topics it’s important to pay for, however a minimum of you’ll take a look at unfastened WordPress.org topics with it, proper?

Certain, you’ll, however why hassle?

Explanation why 2: WordPress.org Topics Have Already Handed

Earlier than a theme makes it into the WordPress.org theme listing it has to fulfill all the WordPress.org theme requirements. In different phrases, any theme you choose from WordPress.org is assured to cross all the exams. It’s possible you’ll see a couple of suggestions display up however no outright warnings since the theme needed to cross all the exams ahead of being added to the listing.

What about topics that aren’t within the WordPress.org theme listing? Assuming you’ll get your arms on a replica of the non-WordPress.org theme free of charge you’re nonetheless more than likely skipping Theme Take a look at. Why? On account of explanation why quantity 3.

Explanation why 3: Top rate Topics Received’t Cross

Since Theme Take a look at is designed to mildew topics into conformance with the WordPress.org Theme Tips, it follows that top class theme builders in most cases don’t make any effort to make sure their topics will cross Theme Take a look at. No less than, that’s my idea. To check this idea, I ran 3 top class topics thru Theme Take a look at: Creativo, Aegaeus, and Vantage Top rate.

Of the 3, best Vantage Top rate handed, but it surely must have handed as a result of Vantage Top rate is simply an unlocked model of the free version of Vantage, which is to be had from the WordPress.org theme listing.

The opposite top class topics I checked out all threw up an avalanche of flags.

What does this imply? Does it imply that those topics are problematic and must be have shyed away from? In fact now not. It signifies that the builders of those topics – Rocky Topics, and HB-Topics – by no means supposed for his or her merchandise to be added to the WordPress.org theme listing or to be evaluated with Theme Take a look at. Because of this, they didn’t attempt to conform to the WordPress.org theme necessities.

Operating a top class theme thru Theme Take a look at is like checking the Kelly Blue Guide price of a 1969 Camaro. You’re the use of a device to make an analysis it wasn’t designed to make, which is some extent that brings us to the actual crux of the subject.

Explanation why 4: That Isn’t What It’s For

The most productive explanation why to not use Theme Take a look at as a theme variety software is as a result of that isn’t what it’s for.

What’s the aim of the Theme Take a look at plugin? To test topics, clearly, however take a look at them for what precisely? Listed here are a couple of highlights:

• Bad PHP code, such because the eval() serve as;
• Hidden embedded Adsense code;
• Declaration of vital file metadata corresponding to DOCTYPE, charset, and language;
• Inclusion of WordPress purposes like wp_footer and wp_head;
• Duties that are supposed to be treated by way of plugins fairly than by way of the theme;
• A heck of much more.

There are a few things Theme Take a look at evaluates that each WordPress theme truly must conform to – corresponding to avoidance of the use of eval() (holy yikes!) or burying Adsense code within the theme code. Alternatively, lots of the exams the plugin plays are truly about ensuring that topics within the WordPress Theme Directory will paintings with nearly all WordPress installations and nearly all plugins within the WordPress Plugin Directory.

And don’t take my phrase for it. I’ll simply let the Theme Check Plugin FAQ discuss for itself:

The theme take a look at is designed to be a non-perfect approach to check for compliance with the Theme Review guidelines. Now not all topics should adhere to those pointers (emphasis mine). The aim of the checking software is to make sure that topics uploaded to the central WordPress.org theme repository meet the newest requirements of WordPress topics and can paintings on all kinds of websites.

If that isn’t transparent sufficient, this quote from plugin author Samuel Wood (Otto) according to a plugin beef up request makes issues crystal transparent:

Theme Take a look at is for pre-flight exams ahead of submission (to WordPress.org). It’s now not a approach to fee a theme’s high quality (emphasis mine).

In different phrases, Theme Take a look at is a device to temporarily establish issues that might save you a theme from being added to the WordPress.org theme listing, and that’s it.

When Will have to You Use the Theme Take a look at Plugin?

Don’t get me mistaken. I’ve were given not anything however love for the Theme Take a look at plugin and recognize for the parents who give in their time to deal with it. Theme Take a look at truly lowers the bar for turning into a theme reviewer for WordPress.org, which is glorious. It’s an excessively great tool when used accurately, however that’s the important thing: It must be used accurately.

So when must you employ Theme Take a look at?

Situation 1: You’re a theme developer and you need to have your theme added to the WordPress.org Theme Listing

If so, this plugin is truly going that will help you out. Use it to test your paintings and establish problems that can want to be addressed ahead of the WordPress theme evaluation group will have the ability to approve your theme and upload it to the listing.

Situation 2: You’re at the WordPress.org theme review team comparing topics for imaginable addition to the WordPress.org Theme Listing

If so, use of the plugin is obligatory. It’s one of the vital first steps you’ll take when comparing a candidate theme.

The ones are truly the one eventualities I will be able to call to mind wherein Theme Take a look at must be used. The result of the Theme Take a look at plugin should be understood throughout the context of the WordPress.org theme necessities.

Wrapping Up

Theme Take a look at is a smart plugin when used for it’s supposed aim: Ensuring topics meet the necessities for addition to the WordPress.org Theme Listing. Alternatively, the use of the plugin as a theme analysis software for topics that from resources rather then WordPress.org is a well-intentioned misuse of the software.

For sure, selecting a WordPress theme is hard industry. Alternatively, the temptation to fall again on Theme Take a look at as an analysis software is faulty. Take the good distance round by way of growing a considerate theme selection process and steer clear of needlessly ruling out helpful topics whilst concurrently including an needless additional step in your theme variety procedure.

WordPress Developers

[ continue ]