[theme-reviewers] "Plugin Territory"

[Bruce Wampler]

I'd be happy to participate in that discussion.  Maybe via
make.wordpress.com themes thread?

Note - I just spoke up now because it seemed themes that meet your
"Intentional part of the Theme design aesthetic? Good." comment are
meeting
a bit of resistance lately in the name of "Plugin Territory".

Bruce Wampler


On Fri, Jun 14, 2013 at 9:39 AM, Chip Bennett <chip at chipbennett.net> wrote:

> > So, yeah, if you just want Like buttons at the end of a post, or in a
> widget, a plugin is just fine. Want it somewhere clever or interestingly
> laid out to match a theme, I think we are in theme territory. I know that
> makes the line a bit fuzzy for writing a set of standards, but please don't
> go so far to limit theme design, or even user convenience.
>
> This is pretty much the point. And barring the inclusion of standard
> template hooks (I'm still fighting for those), such things will remain
> "fuzzy", because they will continue to cross the functional/presentational
> line. But the Guidelines need to be as clear and explicit as possible,
> without getting lost in the minutia. At the end of the day, for something
> like a content-sharing link/button: make an argument that it is an
> intentional part of the Theme's design aesthetic, and there should be no
> issue with getting a pass. Think of it as:
>
> - Intentional part of the Theme design aesthetic? Good.
> - Essentially packaging the "Share This" Plugin? Not good.
>
> And if you want better ways to differentiate between Theme and Plugin
> territory, help me push for standard template hooks, so that Plugin
> developers have a standard way to hook things like social content-sharing
> links/buttons at the end of posts. :)
>
>
> On Fri, Jun 14, 2013 at 11:30 AM, Bruce Wampler <weavertheme at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> I've been watching the "Plugin Territory" discussion for some time,
>> including the recent posts about displaying ads and social media links of
>> various kinds.
>>
>> I think the "That's plugin territory" answer is starting to go a bit too
>> far for things that I think are layout and design elements. Placement of
>> ads, social links, and many other small things like that are really an
>> important part of the visual design, and it is simply impossible for any
>> plugin to match all elements of a theme's layout design and CSS styling.
>>
>> I just don't see how things like social links and ads are really part of
>> the content - they do have to be specified, of course - but they aren't
>> part of posts or pages. An end user might want these elements in various
>> places - header, menu bar, end of content, sidebars, even post meta
>> information lines.
>>
>> I can imaging a user really wanting a line like "Posted on June 15, 2013
>> by author. Like". Very reasonable, useful, and nice layout. As far as I
>> know, there are no filters available for whole meta info lines, let alone a
>> standard for just what goes in those lines or foolproof ways to match a
>> given theme's style. So how would a plugin even be able to approach that
>> issue? It is a design issue, and design issues are theme territory.
>>
>> And why not social links, including LIke in the menu bar or header area?
>> Or ads? Where in the menu bar or header? Once again, design issues with no
>> reasonable solution via actions or filters to totally control placement and
>> layout. It just seems theme territory to me.
>>
>> So, yeah, if you just want Like buttons at the end of a post, or in a
>> widget, a plugin is just fine. Want it somewhere clever or interestingly
>> laid out to match a theme, I think we are in theme territory. I know that
>> makes the line a bit fuzzy for writing a set of standards, but please don't
>> go so far to limit theme design, or even user convenience.
>>
>> Bruce Wampler
>>
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>>
>>
>
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