WordPress Theme Development Workflow

/*
Theme Name: My Custom Theme
Theme URI: https://example.com
Author: Developer Name
Author URI: https://example.com
Description: A WordPress 7.0 compatible theme with modern design
Version: 1.0.0
Requires at least: 6.0
Requires PHP: 7.4
License: GNU General Public License v2
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
Text Domain: my-custom-theme
Tags: block-patterns, block-styles, editor-style, wide-blocks
*/

Use @app-builder to scaffold a new WordPress theme project

Use @frontend-developer to create WordPress template files

{
  "$schema": "https://schemas.wp.org/trunk/theme.json",
  "version": 3,
  "settings": {
    "appearanceTools": true,
    "layout": {
      "contentSize": "1200px",
      "wideSize": "1400px"
    },
    "background": {
      "backgroundImage": true
    },
    "typography": {
      "fontFamilies": true,
      "fontSizes": true
    },
    "spacing": {
      "margin": true,
      "padding": true
    },
    "blocks": {
      "core/heading": {
        "typography": {
          "fontSizes": ["24px", "32px", "48px"]
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "styles": {
    "color": {
      "background": "#ffffff",
      "text": "#1a1a1a"
    },
    "elements": {
      "link": {
        "color": {
          "text": "#0066cc"
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "customTemplates": [
    {
      "name": "page-home",
      "title": "Homepage",
      "postTypes": ["page"]
    }
  ],
  "templateParts": [
    {
      "name": "header",
      "title": "Header",
      "area": "header"
    }
  ]
}

Use @backend-dev-guidelines to create theme functions

register_post_type('portfolio', [
    'labels' => [
        'name' => __('Portfolio', 'my-theme'),
        'singular_name' => __('Portfolio Item', 'my-theme')
    ],
    'public' => true,
    'has_archive' => true,
    'show_in_rest' => true,  // Enable for RTC
    'supports' => ['title', 'editor', 'thumbnail', 'excerpt', 'custom-fields'],
    'menu_icon' => 'dashicons-portfolio',
]);

// Register meta for collaboration
register_post_meta('portfolio', 'client_name', [
    'type' => 'string',
    'single' => true,
    'show_in_rest' => true,
    'sanitize_callback' => 'sanitize_text_field',
]);

Use @wordpress-penetration-testing to understand WordPress CPT patterns

{
    "name": "my-theme/hero-section",
    "title": "Hero Section",
    "contentOnly": true,
    "content": [
        {
            "name": "core/cover",
            "attributes": {
                "url": "{{hero_image}}",
                "overlay": "black",
                "dimRatio": 50
            },
            "innerBlocks": [
                {
                    "name": "core/heading",
                    "attributes": {
                        "level": 1,
                        "textAlign": "center",
                        "content": "{{hero_title}}"
                    }
                },
                {
                    "name": "core/paragraph",
                    "attributes": {
                        "align": "center",
                        "content": "{{hero_description}}"
                    }
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}

// template-parts/header-overlay.php
?>
<nav class="header-navigation-overlay" aria-label="<?php esc_attr_e('Overlay Menu', 'my-theme'); ?>">
    <button class="overlay-close" aria-label="<?php esc_attr_e('Close menu', 'my-theme'); ?>">
        <span class="close-icon" aria-hidden="true">
            <svg width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2">
                <line x1="18" y1="6" x2="6" y2="18"></line>
                <line x1="6" y1="6" x2="18" y2="18"></line>
            </svg>
        </span>
    </button>
    <?php
    wp_nav_menu([
        'theme_location' => 'primary',
        'container' => false,
        'menu_class' => 'overlay-menu',
        'fallback_cb' => false,
    ]);
    ?>
</nav>

Use @frontend-developer to create custom Gutenberg blocks

/* Support new admin color scheme */
@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
    :root {
        --admin-color: modern;
    }
}

/* View transitions */
.wp-admin {
    view-transition-name: none;
}

body {
    view-transition-name: page;
}

:root {
    /* New DataViews colors */
    --wp-dataviews-color-background: #ffffff;
    --wp-dataviews-color-border: #e0e0e0;
    
    /* Navigation overlay */
    --wp-overlay-menu-background: #1a1a1a;
    --wp-overlay-menu-text: #ffffff;
}

Use @frontend-design to create responsive theme design

// Add breadcrumb filters for custom post types
add_filter('wp_breadcrumb_args', function($args) {
    $args['separator'] = '<span class="breadcrumb-separator"> / </span>';
    $args['before'] = '<nav class="breadcrumb" aria-label="Breadcrumb">';
    $args['after'] = '</nav>';
    return $args;
});

// Add custom breadcrumb trail for CPT
add_action('breadcrumb_items', function($trail, $crumbs) {
    if (is_singular('portfolio')) {
        $portfolio_page = get_page_by_path('portfolio');
        if ($portfolio_page) {
            array_splice($trail->crumbs, 1, 0, [
                [
                    'title' => get_the_title($portfolio_page),
                    'url' => get_permalink($portfolio_page)
                ]
            ]);
        }
    }
}, 10, 2);

// Add custom icons for Icon block via pattern category
add_action('init', function() {
    register_block_pattern_category('my-theme/icons', [
        'label' => __('Theme Icons', 'my-theme'),
        'description' => __('Custom icons for use in the Icon block', 'my-theme'),
    ]);
});

// For actual SVG icons in the Icon block, use block.json or PHP registration
add_action('init', function() {
    register_block_pattern('my-theme/custom-icons', [
        'title' => __('Custom Icon Set', 'my-theme'),
        'categories' => ['my-theme/icons'],
        'content' => '<!-- Pattern content with Icon blocks -->'
    ]);
});

Use @playwright-skill to test WordPress theme

theme-name/
├── style.css
├── functions.php
├── index.php
├── header.php
├── footer.php
├── sidebar.php
├── single.php
├── page.php
├── archive.php
├── search.php
├── 404.php
├── comments.php
├── template-parts/
│   ├── header/
│   ├── footer/
│   ├── navigation/
│   └── content/
├── patterns/           # Block patterns (WP 7.0)
├── templates/          # Site editor templates
├── inc/
│   ├── class-theme.php
│   └── supports.php
├── assets/
│   ├── css/
│   ├── js/
│   └── images/
└── languages/