<Slushman />
Slushman is Chris Wilcoxson, a software engineer and web developer in the St Louis area helping beginners learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, and web development.
Ten Common HTML Mistakes
Avoid these common mistakes to write cleaner, more accessible, and future-proof HTML.
Refactoring Code for Better Understandability
Learn the mind-blowingly simple yet most effective techniques to transform your confusing code into a a masterpiece of clarity and make it a breeze to maintain and understand.
Should You Comment Code Or Not?
Examine both sides of the age-old developer debate about whether code should be commented or not.
How to Write Comments in JavaScript, TypeScript, and React
Learn the multiple ways to write comments in JavaScript, TypeScript, and React.
Write Comments in CSS
Learn how to write comments in CSS to notate your styles.
Write Comments in HTML
Learn the different ways to write comments in HTML , where you can and cannot put them, and how it can help you write code.
Headless Theme for WordPress
How to create a theme for a headless WordPress install. Even when the front-end of your site isn't displayed by WordPress, you still need a theme.
Editor Links for Headless WordPress Themes
While creating a headless front-end for my WordPress site, the links in the editor needed to customized to work correctly. Here's how I solved it.
Headless WordPress and Create React App
Learn how to use your existing WordPress site with Create React App using the WordPress REST API to build a front-end for your website with React.
Deploying a React App to Netlify
After you've built your headless WordPress front-end, you'll want to publish it. This is process for how I published mine to Netlify.
Troubleshooting WordPress AJAX
Troubleshooting AJAX issues in WordPress is tricky. Use these two ways (and a tip) to debug AJAX issues while building your plugin or theme.
Code Sample Styling
While redesigning my site, I wanted to customize the way code samples are displayed. Let's look at the options I explored.
PHPUnit tests and WP-CLI
Do you know 100% if that 'simple' code change in your plugin broke something? Setup PHPUnit to add tests and get more confidence in your code changes.
Editing the README
The WordPress Plugin Boilerplate include a typically README file needed for any plugin. Explore the eight parts and what to do with them.
Using the Plugin Generator
Learn how to start your next plugin simpler and faster using the WordPress Plugin Generator, including all the options and what they mean.
Understanding the Loader Class
Understand the central file for the WordPress Plugin Boilerplate, how it works, how to register hooks and filters, and additional parameters available.
The Structure of the WordPress Plugin Boilerplate
Understanding the structure of the boilerplate makes building your plugin much easier. Learn how the boilerplate structures your plugin.
A Guide to Using the WordPress Plugin Boilerplate
In this 6-part series, learn about the WordPress Plugin Boilerplate and how it's the last tool you'll need to build amazing WordPress plugins.
Why Use the Boilerplate?
Here are seven reasons why you should use the WordPress Plugin Boilerplate to make WordPress plugins in the second post in the series.
Parker and WordPress Menus
Using the CSS tool Parker can help you fix your theme's menu styling. Learn the filters you'll need to make your WordPress menu styling simpler.
How to Pass Variables with get_template_part
Have you ever needed to pass a variable to a template part in WordPress? Since the proper was difficult to find, here's the right way.
Results for the Underscores Stylesheet
Let's examine the results of our theme stylesheet optimizations using the CSS tool, Parker, and what they mean.
Simplifying WordPress Menu Styling
Using results from the CSS Tool Parker, you can simplify the WordPress menu styling with a combination of custom classes and a menu walker.
Improving Underscores Stylesheet Using Parker
Underscores is a great starting point for building your custom WordPress theme. Here are four ways to improve the stylsheet using the CSS tool Parker.
Creating a Baseline for Parker
In order to optimize the Underscores stylesheet using the CSS tool Parker, we need to start by creating a baseline, so we can compare the changes.
Installing Parker
If you want to use the CSS analysis tool, Parker, you first have to install it and set it up. Here's the six step process.
Parker and WordPress Theme Development
Using Parker can make you a better WordPress theme developer. Check out the posts in this series to find out how.
ArtistDataPress Expiration
In case you haven't heard, ArtistData is shutting down, so the ArtistDataPress plugin will also be shutting down as of October 14.
How to Add a Select Menu of Formidable Forms in Customizer
Formidable is a great WordPress forms plugin, but it doesn't include a Customizer control for listing your forms. Here's I made one.
How to Link to the Customizer
You won't believe the simple solution for linking to the Customizer in WordPress. You can also link to panels, section, and controls too!
How to Change the Featured Image Labels
Did you know you can customize the terminology around featured images in WordPress? Check out how to use filters to change the terms.
Avoiding get_theme_mod Errors
If you're getting an error related to the get_theme_mod function, the solution is simpler than you think. Check out this solution.
Using WordPress Plugin Boilerplate
Watch the video of my presentation about using the WordPress Plugin Boilerplate, get the slides, and follow along with the code samples.
WordCamp Dayton 2015
I'm doing another WordCamp presentation! This time, I'll be speaking about the WordPress Plugin Boilerplate at WordCamp Dayton 2015. Join me there!
SimpleMap Shortcode Reference
The WordPress plugin SimpleMap doesn't have great documentation. This post stands as the unofficial shortcode documentation.
Inline SVG the Sane Way
Using SVGs in WordPress is awesome, but junking up your code is not. Keep your sanity. Use SVGs in your code like this.
Child themes for WooThemes
Instead of altering an existing theme, the best practice is to create a child theme. This is the hidden secret to styling child themes for WooThemes.
Building Your First Widget
Watch the video of my presentation about building your first widget from WordCamp Nashville 2013. You can also follow along with the code samples.
WordCamp Nashville 2013
I'm speaking at my first WordCamp! I'll be speaking on 'building your first widget' at Wordcamp Nashville 2013, join me there!
Six Steps to Secure Your WordPress Site
How is breakdancing related to securing your WordPress site? Find out inside, then read these six steps to secure your WordPress site.
Adding a Custom Class to a Submit Button
Adding a custom class to a submit button can make certain designs easier to manage. Check out this super-simple solution.
Returning a submit button
The WordPress submit_button function normally echos the submit button. Find out how to return it, like from a function, instead.
How to Add a Class to a Metabox
Toggling the visibility of a metabox using a form requires the metabox to have a custom class. This is how to add custom classes to a metabox.
How to Add the jQuery UI Datepicker to a Plugin
Using a datepicker when choosing dates is a much nicer user experience. See the best way to add a jQuery DatePicker to a WordPress plugin.
How to Set Dashboard to Use One Column
I needed to customize the layout of the WordPress Dashboard for every user. Thankfully, there hooks and filters that make it easy.
Find User ID by User MetaData
Getting a particular user by their metadata is not possibile with built-in WordPress functions, but this function does the job.