Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog, 2nd Edition

Critically acclaimed Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog is now available in a second edition! All the goodness of the first book is here, updated for WordPress version 3.1 and up, as well as a lot of new stuff to make this one worth a purchase even for people owning the first edition.

You’ll learn how to (from the book’s back cover):

Build beautiful WordPress themes, including child themes
Create custom login forms and admin themes
Use the loop to control content
Build plugins, including widget functionality
Use custom post types and custom taxonomies
Use post formats
Integrate WordPress with the social web
Use conditional control elements
Integrate theme options
Build your WordPress projects for SEO

Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog not only teaches you what you can do with WordPress, but also aims to open your mind to the possibilities of the platform. With this book you’ll be able to create the sites you want, way beyond the blog.

Buy Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog, 2nd Edition from Amazon: full color book or the Kindle edition. The ISBN is 978-1-119-99596-8 so that you can get it wherever your want. Published by John Wiley & Sons.

Opinions on the first edition

“an indispensable partner” – Linux User & Developer magazine (July 2010)

“chock–full of useful advice” – .net magazine (August 2010)

Featured in the Webkit segment on how to “furnish your studio with gadgets and gizmos” in Web Designer magazine (March 2010).

And some Amazon.co.uk reviews:

“This is a must have book if you want to push WordPress into more of a Content Management System tool” - 5/5 by cwc100 (May 10, 2010)
“At present, I run three seperate instances of WordPress (two blogs and one content managed site) and I can see this book playing a big part in developing these” – 5/5 by Ross B (April 20, 2010)
“I really cannot fault this book. Its definately not for beginners, but if you know PHP and want to get the most out of WordPress, then you will LOVE this book.” – 5/5 by Finnbar Saunders (April 23, 2010)

Current Amazon score is 4 stars out of 5 for Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog (last checked on February 19, 2011). I’m pretty happy with that.

The book cover

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http://profiles.google.com/robinkristianparker Robin Parker

Any idea when the second edition will be available in the UK?
http://profiles.google.com/robinkristianparker Robin Parker

Any idea when the second edition will be available in the UK?
http://profiles.google.com/robinkristianparker Robin Parker

Whoops, sorry for the double post
http://tdhedengren.com Thord Daniel Hedengren

I’m afraid I don’t have a date, it’s just “a few weeks after” the US launch. All depends on shipping and whatnot. As soon as I’ll hear anything I’ll post it.
http://tdhedengren.com Thord Daniel Hedengren

No problem, removed it.
Temitope Soretire

Is there any plan of selling digital (pdf) version. What’s the price and where is the link to it? Thanks.
http://tdhedengren.com Thord Daniel Hedengren

The only digital version I’m aware of at this time is the Kindle version, although there should be ePub versions available as well.
Lulio

tdh,

Just received my copy of “Beyond the Blog”, 2nd Edition, to complete my THD bookshelf (all three of them). All in all, it’s the best WordPress reference collection there is — specially good for the web designer level.

I can’t imagine how you were able to come up with such an explosive production of quality literature — in a very brief period of time.

My count-down for the upcoming Tumblr book just started!

Thank you
http://tdhedengren.com Thord Daniel Hedengren

I’m glad you like it! Hopefully I can fill that bookshelf in due time.
Info

I want to buy one of them, but I am not sure which one? I want to learn more about how to make websites and themes in wordpress. Which one do you recommend? I am a webproducer, just don’t know wordpress.
http://tdhedengren.com Thord Daniel Hedengren

Check out this post where I write a bit about that. Generally, if you want to know a bit more than just about theming, I tend to recommend Beyond the Blog.
Web essay

After reading your post i have a better understanding of what
Beyond the Blog, 2nd Edition really is.Your post have the information that is helpful and very informative. I would like you to keep up the good work.You know how to make your post understandable for most of the people.
Argumentative essay
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Leia

Just got the book, love it! I heard that some people use stalkers and build on that, whats your opinion on that? Thanks, regards from Göteborg
http://tdhedengren.com Thord Daniel Hedengren

Happy to hear that.

Do you mean Starkers by any chance? That’s a nice way to start if you find it fits your needs. The thing with theme frameworks like that is to find one that really does what you want so you end up saving time by using it, rather than losing it to time spent customizing it to your needs.
Vivienne

Hi, just got the book and am working my way through it. I was just wondering if there was an errata page somewhere online?
http://twitter.com/richardzgz Richard Hernández

I read it and I only have to say it’s amazing. I only had a very slight idea about WP Themes and this book opened my eyes. I found it very clear and easy to follow (if you like code).

Before building my theme from the scratch (I’ll do it when I learn a bit more) I’m thinking about building a child theme, so I’m looking for a parent theme I feel comfortable with. I have a question than probably has been explained a lot of times, but I couldn’t find in the site. What is the difference between Blog Notes (used in the book) and Blog Notes Core? BTY, I’m reading now your second book and I’m enjoying it so much as well.

Take care!

Richard

http://www.ricardofoto.es
http://tdh.me Thord Daniel Hedengren

I’m glad you enjoy the books!

Notes Blog Core Theme used in the first book isn’t allowed on the wp.org directory anymore due to its name and the change in name policy, which is why I discontinued it. Basically, I can’t update it since the updates won’t get approved due to the name issue. Since then this has sort of been resolved, so we’ll get a new Notes Core release instead, later on.

Notes Blog is the most up to date theme right now, and you should use that. It is a bit easier to work with than Core is too, so starting out it is a better option.
Dave Porter

Just wanted to point out, that the Amazon kindle listing does not mention which edition this is in the header of the books page – but when you browse down – under Product Details is says ‘Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (February 4, 2010)
So I’m really confused now about what version I will get & nervous to purchase in case I get the old first edition version.
Also if you type Smashing WordPress in the amazon search (just for Kindle Store) – the Beyond the Blog entry also just mentions Feb-4 2010!
TIA, Dave
http://tdh.me Thord Daniel Hedengren

Ah, lovely Amazon… I’ve asked my publisher to look into this. Thanks for letting me know!
James

I can’t find the code snippets anywhere? I’m selling my kindle it sux.. I can’t get anything done with it.. I’m sticking with paper back and pdf’s sorry dude.
Here is the link to all the code..

http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-047066990X,descCd-DOWNLOAD.html
Egsummers

I just bought the first edition from Amazon–I had no idea there was a second edition; I would have bought that one instead. I would like to get the link to the “semi-static” theme from the first edition–the link given in the book is dead.
johnnya

where can I get the 0.2.8 version of notesblog so that I can follow the code in the book?
http://alturl.com/s3ycg Magic

this is a fantastic creation. surely something to look into
http://bestwordpressframework.com Aaron

The link for “the kindle version” not working. Please fix this.
Lynn Danzig

Hi
I am new to Kindle and to WordPress, and have just bought the
Kindle edition for my Ipad. Content looks spot on for my needs, but
seems there is no table of contents or index in the Kindle edition. Am I
missing something? If not, is there a reason for this? I know I can
create my own notes and marks, but would have thought table of contents
and index would be a basic feature for any refernce book. Thanks anyway
for what looks to be a really useful book.
http://tdh.me Thord Daniel Hedengren

Hi Lynn. Sounds weird, I’ll let the publisher know as I’m afraid I don’t have access to the Kindle version myself. I hope you’ll enjoy the book!
http://tdh.me Thord Daniel Hedengren

Thanks, should be working now!

Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog, 2nd Edition

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