I'm in a bit of a bind here. I've agreed to build a simple static website for a client using WordPress, but I've never actually used it before. The client insists on having certain plugins and wants some flexibility with the site. I usually prefer not to use frameworks for such simple projects, but here we are. I don't want to spend hours learning about page builders or watching tutorial videos. Is there a way to directly implement HTML, CSS, and JavaScript into WordPress without too much hassle?
5 Answers
Definitely check out the Getting Started documentation. There’s guidance for both users and developers. But if the learning curve feels too steep, you might want to reconsider taking on this project. Your client may just need basic setup and configuration with the right theme and plugins. You'll want to understand WordPress from an admin's perspective before jumping into development. Customizing HTML and CSS isn’t done in the page builder—those tools are meant for the end-user.
Look into using Advanced Custom Fields for managing content within your custom theme. WordPress themes can handle CSS and JavaScript as well. Their documentation is pretty solid, especially regarding setting up themes and understanding the loop for fetching content. You might find ‘headless’ WordPress as an option, but it can complicate things and reduce the plugin options available for your client.
Honestly, setting up and customizing WordPress can be pretty challenging. If you think it’s going to be more trouble than it’s worth, maybe it’s time to pass on this job altogether.
It sounds like you’ll want to create a theme for your WordPress site. If it’s a straightforward, article-like site, using the Pages feature in WordPress should let you manage content easily. For more complex designs, you might need to dive a bit deeper, but without examples, it’s tricky to give specific advice. If you have further questions, I recommend checking out WordPress-specific forums or resources.
This all sounds like a tough spot. If you feel 'forced' into this project without a solid plan, you might be better off stepping back. Building on WordPress can be a real headache, especially if you’re unfamiliar with it.
ACF is great if you’re creating custom content blocks for your client. It’s worth the investment. However, going headless might not be the best choice; it limits the user-friendly plugins that WordPress is known for, which could turn out to be a hassle for your client.