Lynda.COM WordPress: Creating Custom Widgets and Plugins with PHP

Author:
Drew Falkman

Duration:
03h 51m

Released on:
11/4/2010

Exercise files:
Yes

Software works on:
Windows only


In WordPress: Creating Custom Widgets and Plugins with PHP, Drew Falkman teaches PHP developers how to create custom functionality for WordPress 2.0 through 3.0 using widgets and plugins. This course starts by installing and setting up WordPress 3.0 on both Mac and Windows, then provides an in-depth look at tasks related to these WordPress add-ons: installing and administering, building and customizing, creating editable options and database tables, working with posts and pages, and utilizing jQuery and AJAX. There are also tutorials dedicated to promoting a widget or plugin, adding security, and localizing the interface. Exercise files are included with the course.
Topics include:

    Installing WPI and MAMP server solutions
    Administering WordPress plugins
    Introducing hooks
    Writing the PHP for a plugin
    Using template tags and shortcode
    Building a new widget
    Creating an admin interface
    Accessing the WordPress database
    Using jQuery and AJAX for posts and pages
    Registering and promoting plugins




Introduction
Welcome           01m 16s
Using the exercise files           00m 33s

1. Getting Started
WordPress overview           02m 32s
Installing WPI for Windows           03m 42s
Installing MAMP for the Mac           03m 25s
Installing and configuring WordPress           05m 51s
Comparing WordPress 3.0 with previous versions           02m 57s
Setting up a PHP/WordPress development environment           05m 02s

2. Understanding WordPress Plugin Basics
Exploring WordPress plugins           03m 42s
Administering plugins from the WordPress admin           05m 23s
Exploring where plugins reside           02m 51s
Introduction to hooks           02m 51s

3. Building a WordPress Plugin
Creating the plugin PHP file(s)           03m 12s
More on hooks: Actions and filters           03m 15s
Installation and activation           04m 06s
Writing activation code           03m 45s
Writing an action           05m 12s
Writing a filter           04m 15s
About pluggable functions           02m 01s
Writing a pluggable function           05m 30s
Using template tags           02m 46s
Introducing shortcode           05m 26s

4. Using and Creating WordPress Widgets
Widgets and the WordPress Widgets SubPanel           02m 54s
Comparing widgets and plugins           01m 08s
Using and customizing built-in widgets           03m 18s
Creating a new widget           07m 21s
Writing the constructor and registering widgets           05m 20s
Enabling configuration of widgets           06m 01s

5. Plugin Options and Administration
Creating an admin interface           05m 25s
Saving data to the database           05m 39s
Securing form submission with nonces           02m 25s
Options editing post-WordPress 2.7           04m 08s
Integrating with the WordPress admin menus           03m 34s
WordPress admin dashboard API           04m 05s
Using existing options and option editing pages in WordPress           05m 19s
Using jQuery and AJAX for administration           14m 24s

6. Using the WordPress Database
Accessing the WordPress database           05m 45s
Using the built-in schema           02m 21s
Accessing data using $wpdb           05m 15s
Creating new tables           07m 18s
Inserting data           06m 34s

7. The Loop, Posts, and Pages
Introducing the Loop           06m 22s
Using WP_Query()           03m 11s
Custom filtering and sticky posts           04m 58s
Using jQuery and AJAX for posts and pages           11m 56s

8. The WordPress Plugin Lifecycle
Registering and promoting plugins           02m 28s
Creating an uninstall function           05m 53s
Backward compatibility issues           03m 48s

9. Security and Extensibility
Understanding security issues           11m 20s
Internationalizing your plugin           03m 43s

Conclusion
Goodbye           00m 18s