github.com
-Ben
Could use a better directory structure, too. Assets should be in a different folder, things like the walker should be in a lib/includes folder.
Being a starter theme, it doesn't make sense to just reference the Bootstrap CSS from a CDN. Shouldn't you have the LESS files so people can easily make changes without having to do overrides in their CSS?
ps. It's "WordPress", not "Wordpress" (http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/capital_P_dang...)
Disclaimer: I made Roots (http://roots.io), a Bootstrap starter theme that's been around for a while
Ok, all snarky responses aside, you're absolutely right on your points. The way I look at it is, I have six hours into it, realized it might be useful for others, and have alot of the tough parts out of the way. I am not selling it, so if it rubs you the wrong way, say your piece, and move along. This is not for you, right now.
I hadn't heard of Roots before, and obviously didn't find it in my searching. Looking at the site, you might want to make it clear what versions of both WordPress and Bootstrap you are using... I believe I was searching on something like "Wordpress bootstrap 3 theme", and it didn't show up.
Take care man, and keep doing what you're doing... it looks solid!
-Ben
It's pretty clear on the Roots site that it's a starter template. Not sure it's necessary to put what version of WordPress it works on seeing that it's pretty obvious that it works on the latest.
Just a Roots user that has been following its development and using it for clients.
http://ma.tt/2010/07/theme-are-gpl-too/ http://markjaquith.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/why-wordpress-th...
The theme is here: http://shoelace-theme.helloerik.com/ the repo: https://github.com/erikflowers/shoelace-theme
It's built on the hybrid-base pre starter theme: http://themehybrid.com/themes/hybrid-base
It's not a theme you use as is, its just a starter that is meant to be hacked apart as needed, but it has the bootstrap Less and your own less already started, and the html/php stuff is stubbed out for a lot easier manipulation.
I made it with the intent that you should have to do as little "undoing" of a theme as possible, which is why there are almost no custom layouts or designs.
It's 0.0.0, as I am just getting started. Definitely not worth a HN submission, but I would be really interested in seeing what people think of this approach in comparison to the OP's, which is great and I commend and admire the efforts.
You have great points about the (horrible lack of) code structure. Sue me. Fix it yourself! :) Kidding aside, literally I have about six hours into this, and thought it might be helpful to others.
I really stuck it on github more so that my buddies could use it, than for general consumption... it was just a whim to stick in on here.
I'll pop up a demo site in the next day or two... client work takes a priority. If I had expected to get as much traffic as I am, I would have put it up already... sorry about that!
As for the licensing... I'm not up on it, and shame on me for that... I guess I'll have to do some reading about GPL vs MIT... I just know that I tend to use MIT in the past. Thank you for pointing that out... stay tuned.
it's a medley between bootstrap 2.3.* and automattic's _s theme. Haven't got round to updating it to bootstrap 3 yet. I guess that's what the Christmas break will be for.
The front page template is hard coded.
FYI, I built a similar (paid) product for Shopify Themes (http://bootstrapforshopify.com) and I have gotten quite a few queries from folks asking about a similar thing for Wordpress - there are people willing to pay for something like this, for sure, if you're interested in offering a supported version or something of that ilk.
In any case, now I have somewhere to direct folks that ask about a WP Bootstrap framework :).
Can anyone offer some guidance? Does a framework like Genesis help or hurt in the long-run? Are tools like http://roots.io getting traction?
What are the essential things to require when hiring someone to build a theme for you?
Abstracts away what is terrible about querying posts, pages, authors, comments, etc and gives you nice objects with what you'd expect. Uses Twig templates.
Because if you do want to customize it further, there are an increasing number of people who find it most efficient and powerful to do that on top of Bootstrap, and a lot of code samples/templates for doing so.
I know that the official line is (or was?) that Bootstrap is 'a starter place, for wireframe prototypes, not for mature projects' -- but that is not in fact how it's been used. I believe the reason it's been so popular is because of it's excellent typography, as well as fairly well-structured easy to work with code.