What Is Easier? Modify A Wordpress Blog Or creating php pages from stratch?

Byron_Wells · 11-16-2009, 07:49 PM

Alright guys

I have a very strange one for you...

I am with a membership site at the moment and I very much like the way they have design their layout, you can see an image here http://www.digitalresellersvault.com...eenMember2.gif

The way they have done it sort of reminds me of a blog.... But they have actually just created in php pages...

I was wondering what would be easier? For me to modify a wordpress theme or just start created php pages?

How easier is it to code a php page? For example like you would do in a blog post.. Add new blog post, new date, month, categories, etc.. And it displays them in the sidebars...

Could I do the same in a normal php page??

mywebwork · 11-16-2009, 08:09 PM

Hi Byron

I think modifying the WordPress theme would be much easier, especially if this is a site you were planing to update frequently.

Coding in PHP is not really that difficult once you become familiar with it, but to create a page that can be updated regularly and easily you'd probably need to keep the content in a database and use PHP to retrieve and display it. You'd also need to build an administrators utility to manage your site. WordPress has already done all that for you.

Just my 2 cents! Best of luck with your project.

Bill

vipdistinct · 11-17-2009, 12:47 AM

I agree that if you're not familiar with PHP features of what you could provide on your site might suffer a little as you could take longer to update the new content. You're best bet is to get the WordPress theme modified. Then I'd experiment on some free time with PHP and see if you can actually create what you want.

gordi555 · 11-17-2009, 03:03 AM

I'm a PHP coder and have done this before. You're best sticking to WP. Unless you need it to perform in a exact way I would use WP.

I could do it but would sooner use WordPress because it's less time consuming and does a great job.

Luke Graham · 11-17-2009, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byron_Wells

The way they have done it sort of reminds me of a blog.... But they have actually just created in php pages...

I was wondering what would be easier? For me to modify a wordpress theme or just start created php pages?

Either way would work and have benefits over the other, but the fact you are asking the question would suggest you are far better off sticking to wordpress.

It is somewhat bloated, but does a very good job at doing exactly what you are looking for; without sufficient knowledge it would take you an age to build something comparable. Why reinvent the wheel?

The plugins/themes available for WP is what makes it so versatile, you can do anything you want with it. If there isnt a plugin you need, it'd be quicker to learn how to, and write your own to do the job rather than build an entire CMS.

trumpetblast · 11-17-2009, 09:01 AM

If you don't know PHP already, definitely stick with Wordpress. There's a reason so many people use it. Actually, even if you know PHP, I'd still say stick with Wordpress unless there's some really good reason not to. Sounds like it would work for you.

llamafier · 11-18-2009, 04:41 AM

I would only consider this if you know some PHP (or other server side coding) already. Couldn't really tell from your post if this was true.

Personally I find it is much easier to make my own stuff. I don't have to learn all about a CMS and then try to make it like I want. If I make everything, I know what is going on in all the code.

But if you don't know PHP or anything, it would be way quicker just to use an existing CMS.

11-16-2009, 07:49 PM	#1
Byron_Wells Advanced Warrior Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 609 Thanks: 31 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	What Is Easier? Modify A Wordpress Blog Or creating php pages from stratch? Alright guys I have a very strange one for you... I am with a membership site at the moment and I very much like the way they have design their layout, you can see an image here http://www.digitalresellersvault.com...eenMember2.gif The way they have done it sort of reminds me of a blog.... But they have actually just created in php pages... I was wondering what would be easier? For me to modify a wordpress theme or just start created php pages? How easier is it to code a php page? For example like you would do in a blog post.. Add new blog post, new date, month, categories, etc.. And it displays them in the sidebars... Could I do the same in a normal php page??

11-16-2009, 08:09 PM	#2
mywebwork Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA & Montreal Canada Posts: 2,218 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 759 Thanked 725 Times in 506 Posts	Re: What Is Easier? Modify A Wordpress Blog Or creating php pages from stratch? Hi Byron I think modifying the WordPress theme would be much easier, especially if this is a site you were planing to update frequently. Coding in PHP is not really that difficult once you become familiar with it, but to create a page that can be updated regularly and easily you'd probably need to keep the content in a database and use PHP to retrieve and display it. You'd also need to build an administrators utility to manage your site. WordPress has already done all that for you. Just my 2 cents! Best of luck with your project. Bill

11-17-2009, 12:47 AM	#3
vipdistinct Warrior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 16 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: What Is Easier? Modify A Wordpress Blog Or creating php pages from stratch? I agree that if you're not familiar with PHP features of what you could provide on your site might suffer a little as you could take longer to update the new content. You're best bet is to get the WordPress theme modified. Then I'd experiment on some free time with PHP and see if you can actually create what you want.
	Travel Agent Atlanta

11-17-2009, 03:03 AM	#4
gordi555 HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 168 Thanks: 7 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: What Is Easier? Modify A Wordpress Blog Or creating php pages from stratch? I'm a PHP coder and have done this before. You're best sticking to WP. Unless you need it to perform in a exact way I would use WP. I could do it but would sooner use WordPress because it's less time consuming and does a great job.

11-17-2009, 09:01 AM	#6
trumpetblast Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 26 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Contact Info	Re: What Is Easier? Modify A Wordpress Blog Or creating php pages from stratch? If you don't know PHP already, definitely stick with Wordpress. There's a reason so many people use it. Actually, even if you know PHP, I'd still say stick with Wordpress unless there's some really good reason not to. Sounds like it would work for you.

11-18-2009, 04:41 AM	#7
llamafier Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 35 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What Is Easier? Modify A Wordpress Blog Or creating php pages from stratch? I would only consider this if you know some PHP (or other server side coding) already. Couldn't really tell from your post if this was true. Personally I find it is much easier to make my own stuff. I don't have to learn all about a CMS and then try to make it like I want. If I make everything, I know what is going on in all the code. But if you don't know PHP or anything, it would be way quicker just to use an existing CMS.