Thesis WordPress Theme:
I’ve used a number of blogging tools. My original format, circa 1998, was a single paragraph or two, hand-rolled and updated via FTP each morning or evening, usually once a day. I’m wondering, I think I was still using a modem. I’d have to check the archives.
I’ve graduated through various systems, and I like the open-source nature of the WordPress community. Obviously, I’ve played with a huge number of themes, looking for that “right look,” clean, simple, uncomplicated.
Less than stellar results.
There’s backend consideration, as well. I got to tinkering with WordPress themes, and I even rolled a few of my own.
I didn’t want to pay for a theme because it would lock me into a certain look, and the free themes all had a clause that suggested the advertising had to stay on each page. Gets complicated to fulfill my simple requests. One dead end leads to another dead end, and I finally happened upon the theme called “Thesis.”
After a little research, I discovered I could use it on a number of sites I’m running, like the horoscopes, the Bexar County Line side project, the family’s flat business, and here at home, KramerWetzel.com. Had to buy the developer’s option. Worth it, in the big picture.
What is best about buying the theme, though, is the support. Both from the developer and from the users. Questions and answers, in a hurry.
From simple styling questions to serious hacks, the help is available. That makes it much more worthwhile.
Special to TFG:
I looked, and looked again, and what I liked, first off, the ability to remove (developer option) ANY mention of the theme’s ownership. How many WP themes have the designer’s mark at the bottom of every page? That was the first clue that I liked. The single site license is relatively cheap, but the developer’s option is wholly worth it. Here’s another of my sites running under Thesis (as of this morning), that I didn’t mention.
Thesis WP Theme is the ultimate in customizable. I can make it into anything I want it to.
The backend, though, c’mon, I’m a looker, that’s where it works. I’ve included a few screen shots. Doesn’t really do it justice. As a comparison, I’ve tinkered with several other WP backends, and I’ve been less than thrilled. At least two of the other systems I’ve worked with broke the rules. There was a lack of consistent design across (throughout) the interface. Thesis adheres – I’d guess – to all the WP Rules.
There are several active features not mentioned in the screen shots. One is an additional programming add-on called “Open Hook,” and with a even a smattering of programming skills, the name itself should be self-explanatory. The headers and footers can be adjusted that way, introducing or reducing any level of complexity you desire.
Another feature is WP-Control-Panel access to a “custom functions” and “custom css layout” panel/window that allows code-level text editing for dramatic control, even on the fly.
For example, the drop cap signs used here, are from dropping about sixteen lines of CSS code into that sheet. No messing upload, download, and so forth.
Because I’m of the “tweak until it breaks” variety, the ability to undo commands is excellent. All of the WP Thesis Theme’s files are in the theme’s folder.
However, what’s really best? I had an idea for a design addition. I needed a quick and easy way to accomplish one goal. Hop onto the DIYTheme site, log in, check the support boards, and someone has a solution to the problem – already. Very active developer and end-user support.
The technical reason for Thesis WP Theme? SEO. I can’t say for sure that it works better, well, I can say for sure that it works better, but SEO is a moving target.
“Just lead them and figure the wind…”
—
“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.”
Shakespeare’s Julius Caeser [I.ii.134-5]
Kramer Wetzel: Fishing Guide to the Stars - www.astrofish.net