Maximizing WordPress with Genesis Theme Framework by Studiopress

Not all code is written equally and if we had one word to describe Genesis it would be … Genius! As code wranglers we always appreciate well written architecture (code). This cuts down on developmental cleanup time and bug fixes. It helps when the original author understands proper structure, compliance, compatibility, security and search engine optimization. Some of the brightest minds in the wordpress development community are behind this framework and they are setting the standard of how to theme!  (See Also: Thesis Theme Framework)

What is a WordPress Theme? (Source WordPress)
Fundamentally, the WordPress Theme system is a way to “skin” your weblog. Yet, it is more than just a “skin.” Skinning your site implies that only the design is changed. WordPress Themes can provide much more control over the look and presentation of the material on your website.

A WordPress Theme is a collection of files that work together to produce a graphical interface with an underlying unifying design for a weblog. These files are called template files. A Theme modifies the way the site is displayed, without modifying the underlying software. Themes may include customized template files, image files (*.jpg, *.gif), style sheets (*.css), custom Pages, as well as any necessary code files (*.php). For an introduction to template files, see Stepping Into Templates.

Download Genesis Theme Framework | Child Theme DEMOs (only screenshots below)

What Does Genesis Do?

The Genesis Theme Framework is built on a simple, vanilla blog-type parent theme, and can be extended with the use of child themes. If you are asking yourself why you should consider using the Genesis Framework, continue reading to learn the advantages of our Framework and what its features are.

Automatic Theme Updates

The main advantage of the Genesis Framework is the ability to provide an easy upgrade route when Genesis evolves and/or is updated to keep up with changes to WordPress. With traditional themes this upgrade path is not easy to maintain – you have to backup and redo all your own customizations each time the developer releases an upgrade.

This feature makes the Genesis Theme Framework the first commercially developed theme to include automatic updates. Similar to the way that WordPress itself (and plugins) are handled, any time there is an update to the Genesis, you’ll be notified in your dashboard and can update with one simple click. There is also an option to be notified via email address when an update occurs.

Search Engine Optimized

Google loves WordPress and most blogs do well in the search engines, but our WordPress themes are fully search engine optimized, making them that much better. The Genesis Theme Framework has an SEO Settings page, as well as inline SEO Inline Options, which give even more control of varying elements of search engine optimization.

While this feature of Genesis is sufficient for any website, you can opt to use the All in One SEO plugin or the Headspace plugin, which can give you additional control over certain SEO elements. If either of these two plugins are being used, the Genesis SEO is disabled.

Theme Settings

The Genesis Framework has many settings that let you fine-tune the way your site looks. Everything from choosing between dynamic text or a logo image for your header to site-wide comment control to controlling archive content display by excerpt or full text. Go ahead and take a look at the Theme Settings.

Custom-Built Widgets

This is the list of the available Genesis Widgets:

• My Tweets – displays an unordered list of your latest Tweets (view widget)
• User Profile – displays the Gravatar of a user, as well as their bio and a link to an about page (view widget)
• eNews & Updates – displays an opt-in box for users to receive your posts by email (view widget)
• Featured Posts – displays post excerpts and a thumbnail to be used in a featured section (view widget)
• Featured Page – displays page excerpts and a thumbnail to be used in a featured section (view widget)

Because the Genesis Framework has been widgetized beyond just the sidebar, you can use any of these Genesis widgets and/or any of the WordPress widgets in any widgetized area of the Theme. This makes it even easier to achieve a unique design for your site.
Many Choices of Layout Options

The Genesis Theme Framework features 6 default layout options:

• content/sidebar
• sidebar/content
• content/sidebar/sidebar
• sidebar/content/sidebar
• sidebar/sidebar/content
• full width content {no sidebar}

These are easily selected on the Theme’s Options page and gives you the flexibility with all themes (Genesis parent and any child themes) to choose whichever layout you want as the default.

Another great feature is that you can “mix and match”, meaning that you can choose, via a radio-button, any of the 6 layouts for each one of your individual pages or posts. No longer are you limited to one layout for your entire site!