checklist.md

Theme Development Checklist

During Your Theme Development

Required:

• Use semantic HTML to develop your theme
• Use accessible design techniques
• Design the "Page Not Found" Error page (404.php)
• Test your theme with Theme Unit Test plugin.
• Check required accessibility items
• Check all registered menus are being used
• Internationalize - wrap your string with WordPress' I18N functions
• Develop your theme using the WordPress coding standard
• Check that your theme follows UI Best Practices
• Which Post Formats will you support?
• Ensure you are including your CSS and JS correctly.
• Update your readme.txt
• Update Version in style.css, readme.txt, README.md, and CHANGELOG.md
• Update the admin footer text in temperance_custom_admin_footer() - delete function if unwanted

Optional:

• Use WP-CLI to create post any needed custom post type - see wp scaffold post-type
• Use WP-CLI to create post any needed custom taxonomy - category or tag
• Set $content_width - see the Codex Page

After you theme development is complete

• Theme description - Describe your theme for WordPress.org users
• Check the License in style.css - Is the GPL what you want?
• Create Favicons for Apple and Windows devices
• Create screenshot.png (1200w x 900h)
• Create a theme CHANGELOG.md from docs/CHANGELOG.md
• Create a theme README.md from docs/README.md

Releasing On WordPress.org Theme Repository

• Theme tags - Update your theme tags for the WordPress.org repository
• Create Theme Assets for the WordPress.org
  • Custom Header
  • Custom Logo
• Create a customizer class to manage theme options - see sample in library/classes
• analyze your theme using VIP theme scanner If you're publishing it WordPress VIP theme
• Analyze your site with http://cssstats.com