Blogging Blog. Themes
Menu Manager in Wordpress 3.0
The new menu manager set to launch in Wordpress 3.0 is really shaping up, I think it’s going to be an amazing addition to the core code.
The Wordpress Menu Manager is based on the WooMenu plugin (?) by WooThemes, who donated the code (I think) to the core. Since then it’s changed from how it was in the WooThemes implementation but I have the most recent version from the nightlies and it’s very, very nice (pictures below).
The whole interface is a simple case of drag and drop, and it works perfectly – I used it on the menu of my own blog, shown left. I like that there are more options now than just listing the pages a blog has – I always found that very restrictive in themes and near always removed it. 
I’m looking forward to seeing more themes support the manager (Right now I think you only have to add one line of code, but it’ll be interesting to see how many do). I wonder if a plugin could be made to add the support to themes that *could* support it..
The Genesis Framework
Fairly recently, Studiopress announced their most recent creation to the world, the Genesis Theme Framework. I’m quite taken with the idea, I have been a follower of the StudioPress themes since way back when they were called Revolution and I have been an all inclusive member for nearly as long.
I like the idea of a framework with child themes, it allows for the easy building of very effective individual themes with the solid and secure backend of a theme developed by a pro.
This site is actually built on the genesis framework, and so far I have been very impressed with it – the theme options allow for almost complete management and modification of the theme without ever touching the code, its fast, and its clean. I’m looking forward to making my own child theme for this site.
I also understand that there are plans to release a child-theme marketplace for Genesis, which I think is a brilliant idea – StudioPress are allowing other develops to build upon and profit from their themes, which will bring a huge amount of variety into the available child themes.
I can see the future of premium Wordpress themes moving towards being framework based, it allows for far better and easier modification and design, and it would allow the premium designers to create their own core and allow anyone else to make truly beautiful themes based on their work.
