Book Image

Wordpress Web Application Development - Third Edition

By : Rakhitha Nimesh Ratnayake
Book Image

Wordpress Web Application Development - Third Edition

By: Rakhitha Nimesh Ratnayake

Overview of this book

WordPress is one of the most rapidly expanding markets on the Web. Learning how to build complex and scalable web applications will give you the ability and knowledge to step into the future of WordPress. WordPress 4.7 introduces some exciting new improvements and several bug fixes, which further improve the entire development process.This book is a practical, scenario-based guide to expanding the power of the WordPress core modules to develop modular and maintainable real-world applications from scratch. This book consistently emphasizes adapting WordPress features into web applications. It will walk you through the advanced usages of existing features such as access controlling; database handling; custom post types; pluggable plugins; content restrictions; routing; translation; caching; and many more, while you build the backend of a forum management application. This book begins by explaining how to plan the development of a web application using WordPress' core features. Once the core features are explained, you will learn how to build an application by extending them through custom plugin development. Finally, you will explore advanced non-functional features and application integration. After reading this book, you will have the ability to develop powerful web applications rapidly within limited time frames.

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Table of Contents (14 chapters)
Preface
Preface
What this book covers
What you need for this book
Who this book is for
Conventions
Reader feedback
Customer support
Free Chapter
1
WordPress as a Web Application Framework
WordPress as a Web Application Framework
WordPress as a CMS
WordPress as a web application framework
Simplifying development with built-in features
Identifying the components of WordPress
A development plan for the forum management application
Understanding limitations and sticking to guidelines
Building a question-answer interface
Enhancing features of the questions plugin
Categorizing questions
Summary
2
Implementing Membership Roles, Permissions, and Features
Implementing Membership Roles, Permissions, and Features
Introduction to user management
Getting started with user roles
Understanding user capabilities
Registering application users
Implementing frontend registration
Creating a login form in the frontend
Essential user management features for web applications
Implementing user management features with popular plugins
Time to practice
Summary
3
Planning and Customizing the Core Database
Planning and Customizing the Core Database
Understanding the WordPress database
Exploring the role of existing tables
Adapting existing tables in web applications
Extending the database with custom tables
Planning the forum application tables
Querying the database
Limitations and considerations
Summary
4
Building Blocks of Web Applications
Building Blocks of Web Applications
Introduction to custom content types
Planning custom post types for an application
Implementing custom post types for a forum application
What is a template engine?
Persisting custom field data
Introduction to post type templates
Introducing custom post type relationships
Pods framework for custom content types
Implementing custom post type features with popular plugins
Time to practice
Summary
5
Implementing Application Content Restrictions
Implementing Application Content Restrictions
Introduction to content restrictions
Practical usage of content restrictions
Understanding restriction levels
Implementing content restrictions in posts/pages
Enabling restrictions on WordPress core features
Supplementary content restriction types and techniques
Useful plugins for content restrictions
Time to practice
Summary
6
Developing Pluggable Modules
Developing Pluggable Modules
A brief introduction to WordPress plugins
WordPress plugins for web development
Tips for developing extendable plugins
Time to practice
Summary
7
Customizing the Dashboard for Powerful Backends
Customizing the Dashboard for Powerful Backends
Understanding the admin dashboard
Customizing the admin toolbar
Customizing the main navigation menu
Adding features with custom pages
Building options pages
Using feature-packed admin list tables
An awesome visual presentation for admin screens
The responsive nature of the admin dashboard
Supplementary admin dashboard features
Time for action
Summary
8
Adjusting Theme for Amazing Frontends
Adjusting Theme for Amazing Frontends
An introduction to the WordPress application frontend
Web application layout creation techniques
Building the forum application home page
Generating the application frontend menu
Managing options and widgets with customizer
Creating pluggable templates
Extending the home page template with action hooks
Planning action hooks for layouts
Managing custom CSS with live preview
Responsive previews in theme customizer
Time for action
Summary
9
Enhancing the Power of Open Source Libraries and Plugins
Enhancing the Power of Open Source Libraries and Plugins
Why choose open source libraries?
Open source libraries inside the WordPress core
Open source JavaScript libraries in the WordPress core
Using PHPMailer for custom e-mail sending
Implementing user authentication with OpenAuth
Using third-party libraries and plugins
Using open source plugins for web development
Using plugins for checking security of other plugins
Time for action
Summary
10
Listening to Third-Party Applications
Listening to Third-Party Applications
Introduction to APIs
The WordPress XML-RPC API for web applications
Building the API client
Creating a custom API
Integrating API user authentication
Integrating API access tokens
Providing the API documentation
WordPress REST API for web applications
Time for action
Summary
11
Integrating and Finalizing the Forum Management Application
Integrating and Finalizing the Forum Management Application
Integrating and structuring the forum application
Integrating the template loader into a user manager
Working with the restructured application
Updating a user profile with additional fields
Scheduling subscriber notifications
Time for action
Final thoughts
Summary
12
Supplementary Modules for Web Development
Supplementary Modules for Web Development
Internationalization
Working with media grid and image editor
Introduction to the post editor
Lesser-known WordPress features
Managing application scripts and styles
Version control
E-commerce
Migrating WordPress applications
Importing and exporting application content
Introduction to multisite
Time for action
Summary
13
Configurations, Tools, and Resources
Configurations, Tools, and Resources
Configuring and setting up WordPress
Open source libraries and plugins
Online resources and tutorials

WordPress as a CMS

Way back in 2003, WordPress released its first version as a simple blogging platform and it continued to improve until it became the most popular blogging tool. Later, it continued to improve as a CMS (Content Management System) and now has a reputation for being the most popular CMS for over five years. These days, everyone sees WordPress as a CMS rather than just a blogging tool.

Now the question is, where will it go next?

Recent versions of WordPress have included popular web development libraries such as Backbone.js and Underscore.js and developers are building different types of applications with WordPress. Also, the most recent introduction of the REST API is a major indication that WordPress is moving towards the direction of building web applications. The combination of the REST API and modern JavaScript frameworks will enable developers to build complex web applications with WordPress.

Before we consider the application development aspects of WordPress, it's ideal to figure out the reasons for it being such a popular CMS. The following are some of the reasons behind the success of WordPress as a CMS:

  1. The plugin-based architecture for adding independent features and the existence of over 40,000 open source plugins
  2. The ability to create unlimited free websites at www.wordpress.com and use the basic WordPress features
  3. A super simple and easy-to-access administration interface
  4. A fast learning curve and comprehensive documentation for beginners
  5. A rapid development process involving themes and plugins
  6. An active development community with awesome support
  7. The flexibility in building websites with its themes, plugins, widgets, and hooks
  8. The availability of large premium theme and plugin marketplaces for developers to sell advanced plugin/themes and users to build advanced sites with those premium plugins/themes without needing a developer

These reasons prove why WordPress is the top CMS for website development. However, experienced developers who work with full stack web applications don't believe that WordPress has a future in web application development. While it's up for debate, we'll see what WordPress has to offer for web development.

Once you complete reading this book, you will be able to decide whether WordPress has a future in web applications. I have been working with full stack frameworks for several years, and I certainly believe in the future of WordPress for web development.

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