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WordPress How to Make a Website with WordPress Customizing WordPress Themes Customizing WordPress Theme Files

Rhonda Bradley
Rhonda Bradley
2,010 Points
Posted by Rhonda Bradley
Rhonda Bradley
2,010 Points

Please clarify prerequisites for this course?

Hi,

Were there prerequisites listed for this course? I took a very basic word press introduction course, which my tutorials prompted me to take, before starting this track.

But he's just mentioned that I might want to go back and take the html/css design courses before continuing.

Although I'm a bit familiar with html/css, I've spent years "hacking" my way through it instead of formally learning how to do it right. This casual approach has been my downfall in many ways. I'm taking this course so that I can master Wordpress development - for my own sites, and hopefully for other people's sites down the road.

When I finish this WP track, I'd also like to take both the web design and development tracks, so that I can learn to develop outside of Wordpress.

That said, I am wondering if there are any other courses or tracks that I should take first? I don't mind changing my path, but I just don't want to have to change direction again and again later on.

So I'm wondering if someone can please recommend the best order of curriculum, and let me know if there are any more prereqs that I need? Thanks much.

2 Answers

Cena Mayo
Cena Mayo
55,236 Points

For the 'Learn WordPress' track, you shouldn't need much, it's a pretty straightforward dive through the workings of WP on the admin side.

For 'Developing WordPress', yes, you will want to take the HTML/CSS tracks. This track contains an 'intro to jQuery' section which implicitly assumes some familiarity with javascript, and then gets into plugin creation, for which you'll need some PHP, so you'll benefit by taking at least the Javascript Basics and intro to PHP as well.

So, tracks in the order I'd take them (and I agree that it's kind of confusing):

  • Learn WordPress
  • HTML
  • CSS3
  • Javascript Basics
  • PHP Basics
  • [maybe: Using PHP with MySQL]
  • Developing WordPress
  • ...
  • further exploration of PHP, database, and intermediate/advanced JS/jQuery topics.
Rhonda Bradley
Rhonda Bradley
2,010 Points
Rhonda Bradley
Rhonda Bradley
2,010 Points

Cena,

This is so helpful - I'm going to print it out and save it. Finding your way, when you're new to development and programming, can be very confusing. This really is a great guide for someone like me who can become lost in all of the possibilities. I will definitely get started on that html right away.

Thank you again!

Farid Lavizadeh
Farid Lavizadeh
12,006 Points
Farid Lavizadeh
Farid Lavizadeh
12,006 Points

Cena,

I am a little bit confused. You refer to HTML and CSS3 as separate tracks. Are they?

jaredcowan
jaredcowan
11,808 Points
jaredcowan
jaredcowan
11,808 Points

Hi Rhonda,

Since all people are so different and learn differently. I feel when it comes to programming that isn't a bootstrap curriculum that works for everyone. Only a suggested way based on the "norm". Furthermore, It is whatever you feel works the best for you.

So if now knowing CSS on the level a course might need, but still taking the course and getting thrown in to the deep-end works for you. Do that. (Personally, this works for me.)

Otherwise, pause the track and go practice some CSS (and some Sass/Scss :-] Super powerful) then come back to the course you paused.

With that being said. I would definitely make sure you have at the least a good stater base of HTML and CSS before moving further.

When comes to "changing you path" outside the scope of Treehouse terms. I have found from personal experience and hearsay that when starting your journey to become a Jr. Web Developer, it's a fact that you can be a "master" at any one thing and really have a "path". It's good to have a foundation and be familiar with many things. Don't let that scare you though. Mastery like all things, comes with time.

Again for personal note. I love learning about all things programming. One day I will be doing Shell scripting and making terminal apps, the next I'll be programming in Ruby on Rails, the next I will be doing C#, the next Sass. You get the point. Just do whatever you feel is helping you grow.

I hope this was helpful for you. Let me know if you have any questions.

Rhonda Bradley
Rhonda Bradley
2,010 Points
Rhonda Bradley
Rhonda Bradley
2,010 Points

Hi Jared,

Thank you for such a helpful answer. It's a good reminder that mastery isn't going to come from a class, but that actually working with the programs is when the real learning begins. Thank you again, and I will definitely check out those html/css courses.