WordPress in 10 Days: Learn How to Build a Professional Theme without Knowing PHP

P. A. Gabriel strips away the PHP intimidation factor in WordPress in 10 Days. This isn’t a dense programming manual; it’s a practical, code-first route to a professional WordPress theme using the HTML and CSS skills you already have.

Start Building from the First Hour 💻

The book’s step-by-step method introduces blocks of code followed by clear, brief explanations. You’re not reading long theory chapters—you’re assembling a real theme file by file.

Meet the Valhalla Theme

As you work through the project, you’ll develop Valhalla, a theme the author created and makes available for download. That means you can compare your code, trace every function, and reuse pieces in future projects.

What the Book Covers

• Setting up a local development environment with XAMPP and Brackets
• Understanding required and secondary theme files
• Making your theme translatable and styling WordPress widgets
• Following theme guidelines
• Exploring the GPL license and how it affects theme sales

No PHP Knowledge Required 🧩

Although WordPress themes are built in PHP format, the author shows how to use the necessary PHP functions without first learning the entire language. As long as you’re comfortable with HTML and CSS, the code blocks become practical tools rather than obstacles.

Who Will Get the Most from This Book

Web designers and builders who want to expand into WordPress theme development will find the direct style refreshing. If you know HTML and CSS and are willing to use Google when questions arise, this book offers a focused path to your first professional theme.

Practical Answers Included

Beyond coding, the book addresses real questions: How much should you charge to develop a theme? What is a GPL license? How can you make money with GPL themes? These sections add a business-ready perspective that many technical guides skip.