{"id":5147,"date":"2023-04-03T12:07:07","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T18:07:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/?p=5147"},"modified":"2023-07-21T09:42:19","modified_gmt":"2023-07-21T14:42:19","slug":"base-wordpress-theme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/base-wordpress-theme\/","title":{"rendered":"How (and Why) to Build a Base WordPress Theme"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Navigating the evolving WordPress landscape and its theme infrastructure can be daunting, particularly when developing a custom theme from scratch. However, the open-source nature of WordPress provides agencies with the valuable option of forking an existing theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Building a base WordPress theme offers many benefits that can substantially enhance an agency\u2019s offerings. This article will detail these advantages and demonstrate the process of effectively forking a theme to achieve the desired outcomes for both agencies and clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We will also present a comprehensive tutorial on how to successfully fork <a href=\"http:\/\/navigating%20the%20ever-evolving%20landscape%20of%20wordpress%20and%20its%20theme%20infrastructure%20can%20be%20a%20daunting%20task%2C%20particularly%20when%20developing%20a%20custom%20theme%20from%20scratch.%20however%2C%20the%20open-source%20nature%20of%20wordpress%20provides%20agencies%20with%20the%20valuable%20option%20of%20forking%20an%20existing%20theme.%20%20forking%20a%20wordpress%20theme%20offers%20a%20multitude%20of%20benefits%20that%20can%20substantially%20enhance%20an%20agency%27s%20offerings.%20in%20this%20article%2C%20we%20will%20delve%20into%20these%20advantages%20in%20detail%2C%20and%20provide%20guidance%20on%20how%20to%20effectively%20fork%20a%20theme%20to%20achieve%20the%20desired%20outcomes%20for%20both%20agencies%20and%20clients.%20%20additionally%2C%20we%20will%20present%20a%20comprehensive%20tutorial%20on%20successfully%20forking%20a%20theme%20using%20frost%2C%20a%20powerful%20and%20adaptable%20wp%20engine%20theme%2C%20to%20ensure%20a%20seamless%20and%20efficient%20process.\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Frost<\/a>, a powerful and adaptable Full-Site Editing theme by WP Engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Feel free to watch the video version of this article or continue reading.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How (and Why) to Build a Base WordPress Theme\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OUmx3IPyLOw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-polar-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2a9f3359 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0\"><strong>Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#open-source\">Open Source and the GPL<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#forking\">Forking a WordPress Theme<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#anecdote\">An Anecdote: Avalanche Studio<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#frost\">Build a base WordPress Theme Using Frost<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"open-source\" style=\"margin-top:40px\">Open Source and the GPL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The GPL (<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gnu.org\/licenses\/gpl-2.0.html\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">General Public License<\/a>) is a free, open-source software license used by WordPress and many other software applications. WordPress is released under the GPL, meaning anyone can use, modify, and distribute the code if their modifications are available under the same license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/about\/license\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The GPL license for WordPress<\/a>&nbsp;is crucial because it allows anyone to contribute to the software and ensures it will always remain free and open to the public. The license has been a fundamental part of WordPress\u2019s success. It has allowed developers worldwide to work together to create a powerful, flexible, and highly customizable content management system&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/trends.builtwith.com\/cms\/WordPress\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">used by millions of websites<\/a>&nbsp;worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, the GPL license permits developers to \u201cfork\u201d WordPress derivatives such as plugins and themes. The forking process enables users to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fork_(software_development)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">modify the existing codebase<\/a>\u2014creating a new version with specific customizations and enhancements. It\u2019s a great course of action for builders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"forking\" style=\"margin-top:40px\">Forking a WordPress Theme<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Forking is an essential and dynamic aspect of the WordPress ecosystem, crucial in its growth and evolution. It encourages collaboration and fosters a culture of sharing and knowledge transfer. It allows developers to learn from one another\u2019s work, improve on existing solutions, and build upon the collective expertise of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/make.wordpress.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WordPress community<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full has-custom-border\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1400\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/wp-content\/uploads\/wordpress-growth.jpg\" alt=\"WordPress Usage Growth\" class=\"has-border-color has-mirage-border-color wp-image-5152\" style=\"border-width:1px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/wp-content\/uploads\/wordpress-growth.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/wp-content\/uploads\/wordpress-growth-300x263.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/wp-content\/uploads\/wordpress-growth-1024x896.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/wp-content\/uploads\/wordpress-growth-768x672.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/wp-content\/uploads\/wordpress-growth-1536x1344.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">WordPress Usage Statistics<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It also offers developers and designers the flexibility and creative freedom to experiment with WordPress source code, modifying it to create new and innovative solutions that enhance its capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/themes\/\">Themes are an integral part<\/a> of the WordPress ecosystem. They offer developers and designers a platform to experiment with various visual design styles, layout options, and functionality enhancements\u2014resulting in diverse outcomes, including innovative product ideas and opportunities for agencies to leverage and optimize their workflow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-1e5642acd0c4764eac9bf4f34d78460d has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9b866ece wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:12px;background-color:#267048;margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-75880670 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-outermost-icon-block\"><div class=\"icon-container\" style=\"width:140px\"><svg fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 140 54\" aria-label=\"Local logo\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M102.778 36.922c2.222 0 4.291-.852 6.026-2.465.091-.061.183-.183.274-.275.244-.273.213-.578.031-.882 0 0-.579-.944-.731-1.157-.152-.213-.274-.304-.456-.334-.213-.03-.427.09-.67.304-1.4 1.187-2.861 1.796-4.352 1.796-4.018 0-5.844-3.805-5.844-7.335 0-3.5 1.796-7.03 5.844-7.03 1.369 0 2.8.517 4.139 1.521.335.244.7.213.883-.091l.76-1.278c.244-.427.183-.7-.091-.974-.061-.061-.152-.152-.243-.213a8.77 8.77 0 0 0-5.57-1.948c-2.283 0-4.291.822-5.874 2.404-1.887 1.887-2.891 4.626-2.891 7.7 0 2.952.852 5.478 2.343 7.274 1.522 1.857 3.774 2.983 6.422 2.983ZM83.026 16.287c-5.083 0-8.887 4.352-8.887 10.135 0 5.934 3.804 10.408 8.887 10.408 5.052 0 8.856-4.474 8.856-10.408 0-5.753-3.804-10.135-8.856-10.135Zm0 17.47c-3.257 0-5.6-3.105-5.6-7.335 0-4.14 2.313-7.061 5.6-7.061 3.287 0 5.6 2.921 5.6 7.06 0 4.353-2.313 7.336-5.6 7.336ZM72.86 33.604h-7.212V17.23a.61.61 0 0 0-.609-.608h-1.978a.61.61 0 0 0-.609.608v18.718a.61.61 0 0 0 .609.608h9.8a.61.61 0 0 0 .608-.608v-1.735a.61.61 0 0 0-.608-.609ZM139.148 33.604h-7.213V17.23a.61.61 0 0 0-.609-.608h-1.978a.61.61 0 0 0-.609.608v18.718a.61.61 0 0 0 .609.608h9.8a.61.61 0 0 0 .608-.608v-1.735a.61.61 0 0 0-.608-.609ZM126.243 35.765l-6.087-18.687c-.091-.243-.304-.426-.578-.426h-2.039c-.244 0-.426.152-.517.365l-6.179 18.748a.6.6 0 0 0 .579.791h1.978c.274 0 .487-.182.578-.426l1.644-5.143h5.904l1.674 5.143c.091.244.304.426.578.426h1.857c.456 0 .73-.395.608-.79Zm-9.891-7.608 1.826-5.722c.152-.457.304-1.066.426-1.583.122.548.274 1.126.426 1.583l1.826 5.722h-4.504ZM25.326 11.052V2.247c0-.605-.394-1.15-.939-1.392-.544-.242-1.21-.09-1.633.333L3.147 20.795C1.059 22.883.06 24.91.03 27.028c0 2.118.969 4.115 3.026 6.172l19.698 19.698a1.42 1.42 0 0 0 1.059.454c.181 0 .393-.03.575-.182.574-.242.938-.786.938-1.391v-8.896c0-.393-.182-.787-.454-1.06L10.015 26.969 24.872 12.11a1.42 1.42 0 0 0 .454-1.059ZM22.3 43.55v4.629L7.958 33.836c-.06-.09-.121-.182-.212-.272-.454-.454-1.816-1.816.212-4.357L22.3 43.549Zm0-33.072L6.596 26.181c-1.21 1.21-2.027 2.48-2.45 3.721-.757-.998-1.12-1.936-1.12-2.844.03-1.27.756-2.632 2.239-4.115L22.3 5.908v4.57Z\"><\/path><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M14.221 26.998v.12c0 .636.514 1.15 1.15 1.15h22.481a1.15 1.15 0 0 0 1.15-1.15v-.12a1.15 1.15 0 0 0-1.15-1.15H15.371a1.15 1.15 0 0 0-1.15 1.15ZM18.548 22.61v.122c0 .635.514 1.15 1.15 1.15h13.797a1.15 1.15 0 0 0 1.15-1.15v-.122a1.15 1.15 0 0 0-1.15-1.15H19.698a1.15 1.15 0 0 0-1.15 1.15ZM29.229 19.464a1.15 1.15 0 0 0 1.15-1.15v-.121a1.15 1.15 0 0 0-1.15-1.15h-5.477a1.15 1.15 0 0 0-1.15 1.15v.12c0 .636.515 1.15 1.15 1.15h5.477ZM23.752 37.164h5.477a1.15 1.15 0 0 0 1.15-1.15v-.12a1.15 1.15 0 0 0-1.15-1.15h-5.477a1.15 1.15 0 0 0-1.15 1.15v.12c0 .636.515 1.15 1.15 1.15ZM19.698 32.716h13.797a1.15 1.15 0 0 0 1.15-1.15v-.12a1.15 1.15 0 0 0-1.15-1.15H19.698a1.15 1.15 0 0 0-1.15 1.15v.12c0 .636.514 1.15 1.15 1.15Z\"><\/path><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M50.379 20.916 30.68 1.218a1.486 1.486 0 0 0-1.634-.332 1.509 1.509 0 0 0-.938 1.391v8.926c0 .394.182.787.454 1.06l14.856 14.856-14.856 14.856a1.42 1.42 0 0 0-.454 1.06v8.804c0 .605.363 1.15.938 1.392.182.09.393.121.575.121.393 0 .756-.151 1.059-.424l19.607-19.606c2.088-2.088 3.086-4.115 3.116-6.234 0-2.117-.968-4.114-3.025-6.172ZM31.135 10.538v-4.63L45.477 20.25c.06.091.12.182.212.273.453.454 1.815 1.815-.212 4.357L31.135 10.538Zm17.004 20.605L31.105 48.178v-4.539l15.703-15.734c1.21-1.21 2.028-2.48 2.451-3.721.757.998 1.12 1.936 1.12 2.844-.03 1.27-.757 2.632-2.24 4.115Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-container-content-9cfa9a5a\" style=\"line-height:1.5\">The #1 local WordPress <br>development tool<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-b35f32a3 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline-base\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/wpeng.in\/local-builders\/\" style=\"border-radius:99px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:24px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:24px\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Download Free \u2192<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"anecdote\" style=\"margin-top:40px\">An Anecdote: Avalanche Studio<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are numerous persuasive arguments for agencies to consider forking a WordPress theme to create a tailored version that caters to client needs. Here\u2019s an example of how building a boilerplate can help an agency thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>. . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the highly competitive world of web development, Avalanche Studio, a notable WordPress agency, sought to differentiate itself. Composed of a skilled team of developers and designers, they took a strategic approach by forking the Frost theme as their foundation for client sites to achieve this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Three key reasons drove this decision to build a base theme:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Unparalleled Customization:<\/strong>&nbsp;Avalanche Studio aimed to provide each client with a unique digital presence that would distinguish them from competitors. By forking Frost, the agency could make extensive modifications and tailor the design to each client\u2019s needs\u2014ensuring that every website build was distinct and tailored to the client\u2019s brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Enhanced Efficiency:<\/strong>&nbsp;Utilizing a customized base theme allows the team to optimize the development process by including only the features and functionalities required for clients. This streamlined approach empowers Avalanche Studio to deliver websites more quickly and cost-effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Future-Proof Flexibility:<\/strong>&nbsp;By forking Frost, Avalanche Studio kept its codebase current and could quickly update it, better serving clients. This adaptability lets them stay on top of web design trends, providing clients with tailored, cutting-edge solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By building a base WordPress theme, Avalanche Studio thrived in an ever-changing industry, demonstrating the power of strategic customization, streamlined processes, and adaptability. By forking Frost, they differentiated themselves from the competition and set a new benchmark for excellence in web design and client satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"frost\" style=\"margin-top:40px\">Build a Base WordPress Theme Using Frost<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned above, our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WPEBuilders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Developer Relations team<\/a>&nbsp;at WP Engine has created Frost to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/blog\/wp-engine-adds-frost-to-open-source-wordpress-project\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">facilitate the community\u2019s transition<\/a>&nbsp;into the modern era of WordPress block themes. In addition, this sleek, minimalist theme fully embraces the capabilities of Full Site Editing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2400\" height=\"2400\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/wp-content\/uploads\/frost-wordpress-theme-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frost WordPress Theme\" class=\"wp-image-5161\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/wp-content\/uploads\/frost-wordpress-theme-1.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/wp-content\/uploads\/frost-wordpress-theme-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/wp-content\/uploads\/frost-wordpress-theme-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/wp-content\/uploads\/frost-wordpress-theme-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/wp-content\/uploads\/frost-wordpress-theme-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/wp-content\/uploads\/frost-wordpress-theme-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/wp-content\/uploads\/frost-wordpress-theme-1-2048x2048.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Frost is the ultimate WordPress theme for website builders.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Frost theme provides an enchanting user experience for production-grade WordPress websites while also serving as a robust foundation for development by agencies and product creators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To properly fork the <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/frost-wordpress-theme\/\">Frost WordPress theme<\/a>, follow the steps below. In this example, we\u2019ll replace all instances of <code>frost<\/code> with <code>mytheme<\/code>.  Note that you can call it whatever you want, but you must visit Appearance &gt; Themes to reactivate the new theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Step #1 &#8211; Update the theme folder name.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Change the theme\u2019s folder name from <code>\/frost\/<\/code> to <code>\/mytheme\/<\/code>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Step #2 &#8211; Update the style.css file header.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Open the <code>style.css<\/code> file in Frost to see this code:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-1\" data-shcb-language-name=\"JSON \/ JSON with Comments\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"json\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-json shcb-code-table shcb-line-numbers\"><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">\/*<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Theme Name: Frost<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Theme URI: https:\/\/frostwp.com\/<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Author: WP Engine<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Author URI: https:\/\/wpengine.com\/<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Description: With its clean, minimal design and powerful feature set, Frost enables agencies to build stylish and sophisticated WordPress websites.<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Tags: accessibility-ready, block-patterns, block-styles, custom-colors, custom-logo, custom-menu, editor-style, full-site-editing, one-column, template-editing, threaded-comments, translation-ready, wide-blocks<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Requires at least: 6.2<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Tested up to: 6.2<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Requires PHP: 5.6<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Version: 1.0.0<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">License: GNU General Public License v2 or later<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">License URI: https:\/\/www.gnu.org\/licenses\/gpl-2.0.html<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Text Domain: frost<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\"><\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Frost WordPress Theme, (C) 2022-2023 WP Engine.<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Frost is distributed under the terms of the GNU GPL.<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">*\/<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-1\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">JSON \/ JSON with Comments<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">json<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>There are several mentions of Frost, so be sure to replace each one. An example of what this would look like using <code>mytheme<\/code> name would be:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-2\" data-shcb-language-name=\"CSS\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"css\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-css shcb-code-table shcb-line-numbers\"><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">\/*<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Theme Name: My Theme<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Theme URI: https:\/\/mytheme.com\/<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Author: Your Name<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Author URI: https:\/\/yourdomain.com\/<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Description: My theme that I created after forking Frost.<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Tags: accessibility-ready, block-patterns, block-styles, custom-colors, custom-logo, custom-menu, editor-style, full-site-editing, one-column, template-editing, threaded-comments, translation-ready, wide-blocks<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Requires at least: 6.2<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Tested up to: 6.2<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Requires PHP: 5.6<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Version: 0.1<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">License: GNU General Public License v2 or later<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">License URI: https:\/\/www.gnu.org\/licenses\/gpl-2.0.html<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">Text Domain: mytheme<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\"><\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">My Theme WordPress Theme, (C) 2023 Your Name.<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">My Theme is distributed under the terms of the GNU GPL.<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">*\/<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-2\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">CSS<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">css<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p><strong>Step #3 &#8211; Update the function names in functions.php.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Open the <code>functions.php<\/code> file in Frost to see code like this:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-3\" data-shcb-language-name=\"PHP\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"php\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-php shcb-code-table shcb-line-numbers\"><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">\/\/ Enqueue style sheet.<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span>add_action( <span class=\"hljs-string\">'wp_enqueue_scripts'<\/span>, <span class=\"hljs-string\">'frost_enqueue_style_sheet'<\/span> );\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-function\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">function<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-title\">frost_enqueue_style_sheet<\/span><span class=\"hljs-params\">()<\/span> <\/span>{\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span>\twp_enqueue_style( <span class=\"hljs-string\">'frost'<\/span>, get_template_directory_uri() . <span class=\"hljs-string\">'\/style.css'<\/span>, <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">array<\/span>(), wp_get_theme()-&gt;get( <span class=\"hljs-string\">'Version'<\/span> ) );\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span>}\n<\/span><\/span><\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-3\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">PHP<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">php<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>There are several mentions of Frost, so be sure to replace each one. An example of what this would look like using <code>mytheme<\/code> name would be:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-4\" data-shcb-language-name=\"PHP\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"php\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-php shcb-code-table shcb-line-numbers\"><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-comment\">\/\/ Enqueue style sheet.<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span>add_action( <span class=\"hljs-string\">'wp_enqueue_scripts'<\/span>, <span class=\"hljs-string\">'mytheme_enqueue_style_sheet'<\/span> );\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"hljs-function\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">function<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-title\">mytheme_enqueue_style_sheet<\/span><span class=\"hljs-params\">()<\/span> <\/span>{\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span>\twp_enqueue_style( <span class=\"hljs-string\">'mytheme'<\/span>, get_template_directory_uri() . <span class=\"hljs-string\">'\/style.css'<\/span>, <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">array<\/span>(), wp_get_theme()-&gt;get( <span class=\"hljs-string\">'Version'<\/span> ) );\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span>}\n<\/span><\/span><\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-4\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">PHP<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">php<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p><strong>Step #4 &#8211; Update the file header in pattern files.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Open the&nbsp;<code>\/patterns\/<\/code> directory in Frost to see the theme patterns. Each one has a header file with a <code>Slug:<\/code> definition that should be updated.<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-5\" data-shcb-language-name=\"HTML, XML\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"xml\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-xml shcb-code-table shcb-line-numbers\"><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"php\"><span class=\"hljs-meta\">&lt;?php<\/span><\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"php\"><span class=\"hljs-comment\">\/**<\/span><\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"php\"><span class=\"hljs-comment\"> * Title: Header with site title, navigation.<\/span><\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"php\"><span class=\"hljs-comment\"> * Slug: frost\/header-default<\/span><\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"php\"><span class=\"hljs-comment\"> * Categories: header<\/span><\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"php\"><span class=\"hljs-comment\"> * Block Types: core\/template-part\/header<\/span><\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"php\"><span class=\"hljs-comment\"> *\/<\/span><\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"php\"><span class=\"hljs-meta\">?&gt;<\/span><\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-5\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">HTML, XML<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">xml<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>An example of how this should look like using <code>mytheme<\/code> name would be:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-6\" data-shcb-language-name=\"HTML, XML\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"xml\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-xml shcb-code-table shcb-line-numbers\"><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"php\"><span class=\"hljs-meta\">&lt;?php<\/span><\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"php\"><span class=\"hljs-comment\">\/**<\/span><\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"php\"><span class=\"hljs-comment\"> * Title: Header with site title, navigation.<\/span><\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"php\"><span class=\"hljs-comment\"> * Slug: mytheme\/header-default<\/span><\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"php\"><span class=\"hljs-comment\"> * Categories: header<\/span><\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"php\"><span class=\"hljs-comment\"> * Block Types: core\/template-part\/header<\/span><\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"php\"><span class=\"hljs-comment\"> *\/<\/span><\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><span class='shcb-loc'><span><span class=\"php\"><span class=\"hljs-meta\">?&gt;<\/span><\/span>\n<\/span><\/span><\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-6\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">HTML, XML<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">xml<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p><strong>Step #5 &#8211; Update the theme screenshot.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Open the root directory in Frost and replace the screenshot.png file (1200px \u00d7 900px) that is used as the theme screenshot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"conclusion\" style=\"margin-top:40px\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In conclusion, the ever-changing WordPress landscape and theme infrastructure can be challenging, especially when creating a custom theme from the ground up. However, the open-source nature of WordPress presents agencies with the invaluable opportunity to fork existing themes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A base theme can significantly elevate an agency\u2019s offerings. This article has explored these benefits in-depth and illustrated the process of effectively forking a theme to achieve the best possible results for agencies and clients.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn benefits and how to effectively fork the Frost WordPress theme.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":5149,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wordpress"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How (and Why) to Build a Base WordPress Theme - Builders<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Forking a WordPress theme offers an array of advantages, including personalization, future-proofing, and fostering a sense of community through active contributions.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/base-wordpress-theme\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How (and Why) to Build a Base WordPress Theme - Builders\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Forking a WordPress theme offers an array of advantages, including personalization, future-proofing, and fostering a sense of community through active contributions.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/base-wordpress-theme\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Builders\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-04-03T18:07:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-07-21T14:42:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/wp-content\/uploads\/og-base-wordpress-theme.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Brian Gardner\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/builders\/wp-content\/uploads\/og-base-wordpress-theme.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@wpebuilders\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@wpebuilders\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Brian Gardner\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wpengine.com\\\/builders\\\/base-wordpress-theme\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wpengine.com\\\/builders\\\/base-wordpress-theme\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Brian Gardner\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wpengine.com\\\/builders\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/f582a2535c88e2c0b518703a29e82f7e\"},\"headline\":\"How (and Why) to Build a Base WordPress Theme\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-04-03T18:07:07+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-07-21T14:42:19+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wpengine.com\\\/builders\\\/base-wordpress-theme\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1099,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wpengine.com\\\/builders\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wpengine.com\\\/builders\\\/base-wordpress-theme\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wpengine.com\\\/builders\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/fork-wordpress-theme.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"WordPress\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/wpengine.com\\\/builders\\\/base-wordpress-theme\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wpengine.com\\\/builders\\\/base-wordpress-theme\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wpengine.com\\\/builders\\\/base-wordpress-theme\\\/\",\"name\":\"How (and Why) to Build a Base WordPress Theme - 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