Is your Custom WordPress Theme DRY enough?

What is DRY code?

DRY code stands for “Don’t Repeat Yourself.” It is a software development principle that encourages programmers to avoid repeating code in their codebase. Instead, they should identify the repetitive code and extract it into a reusable function or class. This makes the code more maintainable and easier to update.

Why is DRY code important?

There are several reasons why DRY code is important. First, it makes code more readable and understandable. When code is repeated, it can be difficult to track down the original source of the code. This can make it difficult to debug and update the code. DRY code, on the other hand, is easier to understand because it is only defined in one place.

Second, DRY code makes code more maintainable. When code is repeated, it is more likely to contain errors. This is because each instance of the repeated code must be updated separately. DRY code, on the other hand, is only updated in one place. This makes it less likely to contain errors.

Third, DRY code makes code more reusable. When code is extracted into a reusable function or class, it can be used in multiple places in the codebase. This makes code development faster and easier.

As a Freelance WordPress Developer, Quality and Speed are important. Writing DRY code helps me to produce high quality, easily maintainable WordPress Websites much faster.

Common mistakes to avoid

There are a few common mistakes that programmers make when trying to write DRY code. One mistake is to copy and paste code from one place to another. This is not DRY code because it is simply duplicating the code. A better approach is to extract the code into a reusable function or class.

Another mistake is to use global variables. Global variables are variables that are accessible from anywhere in the codebase. This can make code difficult to read and maintain, and it can also lead to errors. A better approach is to use local variables, which are only accessible from the scope in which they are declared.

Finally, some programmers avoid using DRY code because they think it will make their code more complicated. However, the opposite is actually true. DRY code makes code simpler and easier to understand. It also makes code more maintainable and reusable.

Is there a WordPress starter theme I can use?

Roots Sage is a WordPress starter theme that follows the DRY principle.

One way that Roots Sage achieves DRY code is by using functions and classes. Functions are blocks of code that can be reused in multiple places. Classes are a way of organising code into reusable objects. By using functions and classes, Roots Sage developers can avoid repeating code in different places.

Another way that Roots Sage achieves DRY code is by using template parts. Template parts are reusable pieces of template code that can be included in different templates. This makes it easy to add the same content to multiple templates without having to repeat the code.

Roots Sage also uses a number of other techniques to achieve DRY code, such as using constants, variables, and object properties. By following these techniques, Roots Sage developers can write code that is more readable, maintainable, and reusable.

Sage 10 also uses Tailwind, which allows you to build beautiful Custom WordPress Themes without writing a single line of  CSS.

Conclusion

DRY code is an important principle of software development. It can help to make code more readable, maintainable, and reusable. By following the principles of DRY code, programmers can write code that is easier to work with and that is less likely to contain errors.