Build around design tokens, template parts, and a narrow theme API. Keep business logic in plugins, validate every input, escape every output, and make editor behavior predictable.nn## Start with the content modelnnMap pages, posts, projects, taxonomies, and reusable fields before writing templates. The model should describe the business, not the current visual layout.nn## Make performance structuralnnUse responsive images, small assets, native browser capabilities, and only the JavaScript the interface needs. Performance is an architectural choice, not a cleanup task.
Custom WordPress Themes: A Maintainable Architecture
A practical architecture for fast, editable sites that remain easy to extend.