To build my new website, I decided to scrap my site editor and try something new. I had been using Dreamweaver for nearly 30 years, but this time decided to try WordPress (wordpress.org). Discovering and using WordPress is a mix of experiences. I wanted to try something new that didn’t require hours of coding time to build the pages. My web host offered WordPress, so I thought I’d check it out. WordPress is a free, community-driven application originally developed for publishing blogs. But over the years, it developed into a full-site content editor.

I began working with WordPress (WP) over a year ago. Initially, I spent a few months watching video’s relating to building a style theme. WP is an online app. Changes made on a page are immediately ‘live‘ (visible on the internet) once you save the page. But I didn’t want to work on live pages. I wanted to be able to experiment with my pages. So instead, I setup a ‘localhost’. This allows you to setup WP on your computer.

But time passes…

But then I got busy and had to set it aside. That turned out to be a good thing! When I picked it up again in April 2024, I found that WP had a whole new editing system (called the ‘Gutenberg Block Editor’). Not wanting my new site to be behind the curve, I decided to scratch the theme I had started and create a new one using the new block editor. All I can say is WOW! What a difference! No more coding. Everything goes together with predesigned blocks. It took a few more weeks of learning the Block Editor, but eventually I recreated a new custom theme, content pages, and blog.

While I was discovering and using WordPress, another advantage I found while using WP is that it manages the size of images. So I’m able to use one image and have it displayed in multiple sizes, instead of needing two or three images of varying sizes. So I could use all my original images, but I only needed one of each. Maybe all webpage builders have that option now. But just that feature alone has saved time now and will save time in the future.

New site layout goals...

The main goal I had with the new layout was to have ‘responsive‘ pages. Responsive pages automatically resize based on the device they’re being viewed on. So a PC can have a large layout, and a cell phone can have a small layout. All without building separate pages.

Another goal I had for the new layout was a blog. If you’ve been with me since the beginning, my first site had a spot to post updates. I missed that. With WP, I can have a blog as part of the website. And the blog posts allow for comments, so I hope you’ll leave a comment. You can let me know what you think about the new layout, comment about new pens, or even offer ideas for new projects.

Keep your nib wet! JEB
JEBsPens.com