Building a WordPress Framework

What does it take to build a WordPress Framework? That is a question we thought long and hard about back in early 2012. Thinking that we had a fair idea we began the project in July 2012. We completed the initial work in just over 3 months. Back in May 2013 I wrote a post about that – Building a Parent Theme Framework – Getting Started and then followed that up with another post in June 2013 – Parent Theme Framework – Childs

Those 2 post took the story up to the end of 2012. Here we are 3 years and 3 months on from there and I have not posted about it since. The reason is that building a WordPress Framework is like ‘going down the rabbit hole’ – there is just no way of knowing when you will come back out.

As we draw very near to public release of what has grown into Resposni WordPress Framework the best way to explain what it takes to build a WordPress Framework is to do it by the numbers.

These numbers are tabulated from September 2012 when we first released the Framework in Beta.

Here is the almost 4 year timeline for building the Responsi WordPress Framework

2016

New Versions: 7
New Features: 41
Tweaks released: 60
Bug Fixes: 3

March / 2016 – 3 new versions comprising 22 new features, 38 code tweaks plus 1 bug fix. Responsi WordPress Framework versions 5.6.0, 5.6.1 and 5.7.0 …. Milestones – Complete refactor of framework code to replace static vertical gutters with Dynamic Vertical gutters. Massive resort of framework customizer menus
Feb / 2016 – 1 new version comprising 3 new features and 12 code tweaks. Responsi Framework version 5.5.0 …. Milestones – Built and Add Responsi Blank Child theme. Built in Dynamic text line height feature for all Framework, Theme and Plugins text editors.
Jan / 2016 – 2 new versions comprising 15 new features, 10 code tweaks and 2 bug fixes. Responsi WordPress Framework versions 5.3.6 and 5.4.0 …. Milestones – Removed Featured Content Area, Full Width Template, Related and Recent posts, WP Login page, and create them as Responsi Plugins. Moved other code out of Framework and built it into existing plugins. Added sidebar style options and extensive work to the Footer section.

2015

New Versions : 41
New Features: 31
Tweaks released: 70
Bug Fixes: 43

December /  2015 – 4 new versions comprising 8 code tweaks and 11 bug fixes. Responsi WordPres Framework versions 5.3.2, 5.3.3, 5.3.4 and 5.3.5 …. Milestones – Complete audit and tidy up of the framework code. Upgrade all background colour options to ON | OFF switches. Full compatibility with WordPress version 4.4.0 and WordPress responsive images
November / 2015 – 2 new versions comprising 8 new features, 3 code tweaks and 1 bug fix. Response WordPress Framework version 5.3.0 and 5.3.1 …. Milestones – Major step towards releasing the framework as open source code. Build and Release Responsi Premium Pack plugin. Built Themes and plugins menu for Premium Pack. A3 WordPress Free plugins are directly downloaded from the wordpress repository. Launched Responsi Widget Pack plugin
October / 2015 – 2 new versions comprising 10 code tweaks and 2 bug fixes. Responsi WordPress Framework versions 5.2.3 and 5.2.4 …. Milestones – Massive task – Completely rebuild all Responsi HTML customizer controls templates to js underscore templates Menu and preview load too slowly with CSS in PHP language
September / 2015 – 2 new versions comprising 5 code tweaks and 3 bug fixes.
August / 2015 – 2 new versions comprising 3 new features, 1 code tweak and 5 bug fixes. Responsi WordPress Framework versions 5.1.2 and 5.2.0 …. Milestone – Major refactor of Responsi admin panels. Complete Re Build all framework, Child themes and Responsi plugin admin panels to work on the WordPress customizer. Also full compatibility with WordPress major version 4.3.0
July / 2015 – 6 new versions comprising 3 new features, 1 code tweak and 5 bug fixes. Responsi WordPress Framework versions 5.0.1, 5.0.2, 5.0.3, 5.0.4, 5.1.0 and 5.1.1 …. Milestones – Upgraded the WordPress text editors on the framework to support all WordPress embed features – oembed and shortcodes
June / 2015 – 5 new versions comprising 13 new features, 17 code tweaks and 4 bug fixes. Responsi WordPress Framework versions 4.6.3, 4.7.0, 4.8.0, 4.9.0 and 5.0.0 …. Milestones – Removed Home Page Builder, Developer Settings, Social Share and Theme Background Tiles and Patterns, out of the framework and create each one of those as a Responsi plugin
May / 2015 – 6 new versions comprising 8 code tweaks and 3 bug fixes. Responsi WordPress Framework versions 4.5.7, 4.5.8, 4.5.9, 4.6.0, 4.6.1 and 4.6.2 …. Milestone – Continue to rebuild shortcode functions into the Shortcode plugin and remove from the framework
April / 2015 – 4 new versions comprising 6 code tweaks and 1 bug fix. Responsi WordPress Framework versions 4.5.3, 4.5.4, 4.5.5 and 4.5.6 …. Milestone – Full compatibility with WordPress major version 4.2.0 and continue moving shortcode out of the framework into the shortcode plugin.
March / 2015 – 5 new versions comprising 2 new features, 9 code tweaks and 4 bug fixes. Responsi WordPress Framework versions 4.4.8, 4.4.9, 4.5.0, 4.5.1 and 4.5.2 …. Milestones – Built Full Width Template into the Framework, Built Responsi Shortcode plugin and start to build in new shortcode features and removed shortcodes from the framework as we go.
Feb / 2015 – 1 new version comprising 2 new features and 1 bug fix. Response WordPress Framework versions 4.4.7 …. Milestone – Added post date option for blog cards
Jan / 2015 – 2 new versions with 3 bug fixes. Responsi WordPress Framework version 4.4.5 and 4.4.6

2014

New Versions: 41
New Features: 89
Tweaks released: 100
Bug Fixes: 68

December / 2014 – 9 new versions comprising 4 new features, 16 code tweaks and 13 bug fixes. Responsi Framework versions 4.2.2, 4.3.0, 4.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.4.0, 4.4.1, 4.4.2, 4.4.3 and 4.4.4 …. Milestones – Added Primary Nav Bar Alignment, Launched Responsi Header Nav Bar Add-on
Oct – Nov / 2014 – 5 new versions comprising 11 new features, 6 code tweaks and 12 bug fixes. Responsi Framework Versions 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.1.3, 4.2.0 and 4.2.1 …. Milestones – Major rework of framework for loading in mobile devices. Removed static boxed content padding with dynamic padding
September / 2014 – 3 new versions comprising 12 new features, 8 code tweaks and 4 bug fixes. Responsi Framework versions 4.0.4, 4.0.5 and 4.1.0 …. Milestones – Release of Responsi Custom Sidebars plugin. Added Feature Content Area feature. Built Home Page independent layout
August / 2014 – 4 new versions comprising 3 new features, 5 code tweaks and 6 bug fixes. Responsi Framework versions 4.0.0, 4.0.1, 4.0.2, 4.0.3 …. Milestones – Convert all framework admin panels CSS to Sass. Launched Responsi Nav bar widget plugin
July / 2014 – 3 new versions comprising 2 code tweaks and 2 bug fixes. Responsi Framework versions 3.2.2.3, 3.2.2.4 and 3.2.2.5 …. Milestone – Tweaks to Primary Nav Bar dropdown menu
June / 2014 – 5 new versions comprising 7 new features, 4 code tweaks and 10 bug fixes. Responsi Framework versions 3.2.1.3, 3.2.1.4, 3.2.2, 3.2.2.1 and 3.2.2.2 …. Milestones – Luanch of Responsi Pre Luanch page plugin. Add style options for wp login page.
May / 2014 – 3 new versions comprising 7 news features, 14 code tweaks and 2 Bug Fixes. Framework versions 3.2.1, 3.2.1.1 and 3.2.1.2 …. Milestone – Launch of Responsi Shortcodes plugin.
April / 2014 – 5 new versions comprising 1 new feature, 3 code tweaks and 11 bug fixes. Framework versions 3.1.1, 3.2.0, 3.2.0.1, 3.2.0.2 and 3.2.0.4  …. Milestone – Full Audit of Framework code.
Feb – March / 2014 – 2 new versions comprising 14 new features, 30 Tweaks and 2 bug fixes. Framework versions 3.0.9.1 and major Version 3.1.0 …. Milestone –  Major Restructure of Framework to support complete independent style and layout options for Posts and Pages. Created main Home Page Builder menu and added Content Section Full width and Content section with sidebar. Created Responsi Developer Branding and add many new options.
Jan / 2014 – 2 new versions comprising 30 new features, 12 code tweaks and 6 bug fixes. Framework version 3.0.7 and 3.0.8 …. Milestone – Complete rebuild of Responsi Licensing, Child theme and Add-ons menu for 2 click install and activate and auto updates from those menus. Built Responsi Child theme live demos.

2013

New Versions: 35
New Features added: 100
Tweaks released: 127
Bug Fixes: 23

Nov – Dec / 2013 – 2 new versions comprising 26 new features, 19 Tweaks and 2 bug fixes. Framework versions 3.0.5 and 3.0.6 …. Milestone – Full rewrite of the Framework, Themes and Plugins admin interface – 300 hours of work in this.
October / 2013 – 3 new versions comprising 10 new features, 2 code tweaks and 1 bug fix. Framework version 3.0.3, 3.0.4 and 3.0.4.1 ….  Milestone – Built full support for Facebook open graph meta tags. Built in Fix header in browser layout option and post card recent and related posts option.
September – 2013 – 3 new versions comprising 7 new features, 11 code tweaks and 2 bug fixes. Framework versions 3.0.0, 3.0.1 and 3.0.2 …. Milestone – Major refactor of the Framework – Built in Cards features – Post card and Product cards. Built in support for Google Rich Snippets and schemea.org tags. Launch Resposni bbPress Add-on
August – 2013 – 4 new versions comprising 2 new features, 8 code tweaks and 5 bug fixes. Responsi versions 2.1.5 , 2.1.6, 2.1.7 and 2.1.8 ….  Milestone – Built in Framework caching for compat with IE7, IE8 and IE9. Built bbPress Responsi Templates.
July – 2013 – 2 new versions comprising 2 new features, 10 code tweaks and 1 bug fix. Framework version 2.1.3 and 2.1.4 …. Milestone – Major work on IE7,8 and 9 browser render. Added more style option.
June – 2013 – 5 new versions comprising 4 new features, 3 tweaks and 3 bug fixes. Framework versions 2.0.8, 2.0.9, 2.1.0, 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 …. Milestone – Pull all WooCommerce Template options out of the framework and created as a Responsi plugin.
May – 2013 – 5 new versions comprising 18 new features, 1 code tweak and 11 bug fixes. Responsi Framework versions 2.0.2, 2.0.3, 2.0.4, 2.0.5, 2.0.6 and 2.0.7 …. Milestone – Changed Name to Responsi Framework. Added masonry ‘modernizr’ animation to the framework plus many more style options.
April – 2013 – 1 new version comprising 7 new features, 48 Tweaks and 1 bug fix. a3rev Framework major version 2.0.1 …. Milestone – Added Independent style and layout settings for Post, Archives and pages – release of the 4 card sections on the Home Page.
March – 2013 –  1 new version comprising 7 new features, 17 tweaks and 1 bug fix. a3rev PTF Framework major version 1.1.5 …. Milestone – Released upgrade that added more style and layout options for Blog Posts, Archive pages and WooCommerce templates.
Feb – 2013 – 3 new versions comprising 1 new feature, 5 code tweaks. a3rev PT Framework versions 1.1.2, 1.1.3 and 1.1.4 …. Milestone – Added endless scroll feature to the framework and built and launched Cladded, a3rev and Dixie  child themes.
Jan – 2013 – 6 new versions comprising 16 new features, 3 code tweaks and 7 bug fixes. a3rev Framework versions 1.0.6, 1.0.7, 1.0.8, 1.0.9, 1.1.0 and 1.1.1 …. Milestone – Built full interchangeability of child themes on a3rev PT framework and built and launch the Stilus and Lagoon custom child theme.

2012

New Versions: 6
New Features: 5
Tweaks released: 2
Bug Fixes: 2

Dec – 2012 – 5 new versions comprising 5 new features, 2 tweaks and 2 bug fixes. a3rev Parent Theme Framework versions 1.0.1, 1.0.2, 1.0.3, 1.0.4 and 1.0.5 …. Milestone – Build and launched Knight, Mynehire and JD Sport custom child themes and released Chameleon, Elegance, Décor and Professional Child themes.
20/09/2012 – First beta release, Private Repository created on Github
July 2012 – Commenced building the a3rev Parent Theme Framework