Hey everyone! Welcome to Day 1 of the development journey for the Beeverse Parent Theme. We’re pumped to get started, and we’re even more excited to bring you along for the ride. In this first entry of our Dev Diary, we’ll break down our initial goals, what we’re tackling first, and the thought process behind some of our key decisions. So, grab a coffee (or some Orangina Zero if you’re like me), and let’s dive in!

First Things First: Laying Down the Foundation

As with any big project, a solid foundation is crucial. The Beeverse Parent Theme is meant to be a long-lasting base for our own projects and a reliable theme for anyone who wants a strong, flexible foundation. Here are the main pillars we’re starting with:

  • WordPress 6.6.2 and Multisite Support: We’re also committed to keeping the Beeverse Parent Theme fully compatible with the latest WordPress versions, including WordPress 6.6.2. And because we love the multisite option of WordPress, we’re making sure this theme works seamlessly with multisite setups. This means easy network management, smoother transitions, and scalability if you’re running multiple sites on a single WordPress install.
  • Bootstrap v5.3.x Integration: We’re Bootstrap fanatics, and we’re building this theme to be 100% Bootstrap-compatible. Why? Because Bootstrap gives developers tons of flexibility with ready-made components, grids, and even responsive layouts. We’re integrating Bootstrap in a way that keeps it light while offering full access to its features – including the Bootstrap icon library with over 2,000 icons!
  • WooCommerce v9.3.3 Compatibility: From Day 1, we’re coding with WooCommerce in mind. We want Beeverse to be a solid choice for anyone looking to build an online store. This means we’re making sure that product layouts, shop pages, and cart functionality are seamlessly supported, right out of the box.
  • Simple, Responsive, and Beautiful: Some parent themes are just too barebones, requiring a child theme before they even look good or feel complete. With the Beeverse Parent Theme, we want every page designed to look beautiful and function seamlessly on any device, right out of the box. This means you can jump in and start using it without needing to make any modifications or create a child theme (if that’s what you want). We’re crafting each layout to be responsive, visually appealing, and ready to go, so you can focus on customizing exactly what you want, knowing the rest is already taken care of.
  • Easy to Use and Modify: Whether you’re an expert developer working on a client project or a non-technical user creating your very first WordPress site, we want this theme to feel accessible, flexible, and intuitive. We’re designing the Beeverse Parent Theme to be easy to navigate, customize, and extend. For developers, we’ll be including modular code and custom hooks to streamline customization and save time. For beginners, we’re focusing on a straightforward settings panel, clear documentation, and pre-designed elements that make building a site as smooth as possible – no coding expertise needed.
  • Lightweight & SEO-Friendly: Our goal is to make this theme as lean as possible. We’re focusing on clean, efficient code to keep loading times fast. Plus, we’re making sure it’s SEO-optimized, so users can benefit from strong search rankings without needing to worry about complicated settings or any additional plugins.

Today’s Mission: Bootstrap Setup & Initial File Structure

Step 1: Setting Up the Dev Environment

First things first – we’re setting up our WordPress development environment. We’re installing the latest version of WordPress along with the WooCommerce plugin to ensure full compatibility as we build. To make collaboration easy, we’re hosting this environment online so we can work together in real time, test features as a team, and streamline the feedback process.

Step 2: Laying Out the Base File Structure

With the dev environment in place, our next move is to create the core file structure for the Beeverse Parent Theme. This means getting all the essential files organized and laying out our folder structure. We’re setting up the basics – header.php, footer.php, functions.php, etc. – and creating dedicated folders to keep things clean and modular.


beeverse-parent/
├── assets/                      # Folder for all asset files
│   ├── css/                     # Folder for additional CSS files
│   ├── images/                  # Folder for theme images (e.g., logos, placeholders)
│   └── js/                      # Folder for JavaScript files
├── includes/                    # Folder for PHP files (e.g., custom functions, hooks)
├── languages/                   # Folder for translation files (.mo, .po)
├── template-parts/              # Folder for reusable template parts
├── woocommerce/                 # Folder for WooCommerce-specific templates
├── header.php                   # Header template file
├── index.php                    # Main template file (fallback if no other template matches)
├── footer.php                   # Footer template file
├── functions.php                # Theme functions file
├── style.css                    # Main stylesheet with theme header information
└── screenshot.png               # Screenshot image for theme preview

Challenges and First Impressions

It wouldn’t be a dev journey without a few challenges! Right now, our main focus is getting Bootstrap integrated while keeping the theme’s load speed quick. This requires some testing and fine-tuning, especially as we want this theme to feel super responsive and clean.

We’re also being mindful of making the WooCommerce compatibility as seamless as possible without adding bulk. Today, that means prepping the structure for custom WooCommerce templates that fit with our Bootstrap styling and blend naturally with the rest of the theme.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next?

Day 1 has been all about setting up a rock-solid base for the Beeverse Parent Theme. Next up, we’ll be diving into the header. We’ll also start our SEO optimizations and create the first set of theme options to make customization super intuitive.

Join the Journey – Share Your Ideas!

That’s a wrap on Day 1! We’ll be posting regular updates as we go, and we’d love to have you join us on this journey. Got any thoughts, suggestions, or questions about the Beeverse Parent Theme? Drop a comment below or reach out to us directly. We’re building this theme for you, so every piece of feedback counts!

Stay tuned for more updates, and thanks for being a part of the Beeverse journey!