Where to start learning making a Theme?

[JesusIsGodAlmighty.Life]

Okay I think the beginning styling might be the first place that I could start out. Changing colors and going from there and picking up on things. So where are the main place for learning and get going with that?
Anyone have a video maybe I could see on youtube or whatever Just so I get a little feel of it and can begin moving myself.

Thanks
- Darkijah

[Antechinus]

Get Stylus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stylus_(browser_extension)
Website: https://add0n.com/stylus.html

You can set it to whatever site or page you want to try things on, and then merrily throw CSS at it to see how it looks. Best and easiest way to start playing with things.

That's how I made the dark theme for this site. It's custom CSS, running in Stylus.

[JesusIsGodAlmighty.Life]

Get Stylus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stylus_(browser_extension)
Website: https://add0n.com/stylus.html

You can set it to whatever site or page you want to try things on, and then merrily throw CSS at it to see how it looks. Best and easiest way to start playing with things.

That's how I made the dark theme for this site. It's custom CSS, running in Stylus.

The CSS theme you made toppen on top - could you do a Theme I can install on my forum RC2?
Or do I just need top copy some files?

I was thinking more like where the CSS files for the standard theme, I guess they are most likely in the folder for the theme itself - I should go take a look.

Dearly regards
- Darkijah

[Antechinus]

Yes, I could do that. I had idly been thinking of it anyway, but have been off coding other things. But you could get the same effect by just copying the CSS from the dark theme onto the end of the 2.0.x index.css.* It'd be a bit bloated, but it would work.

And yes, the CSS files for any theme are usually in the css folder for that theme. The default theme will have a folder called default/css and you'll find the usual suspects in there.

*Note that so far I haven't got into theming 2.1 RC2. I might have a crack at it soonish, but am feeling no great urgency at the moment. I'd be more inclined to wait until at least RC3 (which they keep promising will be along soon...).

[JesusIsGodAlmighty.Life]

Yes, I could do that. I had idly been thinking of it anyway, but have been off coding other things. But you could get the same effect by just copying the CSS from the dark theme onto the end of the 2.0.x index.css.* It'd be a bit bloated, but it would work.

And yes, the CSS files for any theme are usually in the css folder for that theme. The default theme will have a folder called default/css and you'll find the usual suspects in there.

*Note that so far I haven't got into theming 2.1 RC2. I might have a crack at it soonish, but am feeling no great urgency at the moment. I'd be more inclined to wait until at least RC3 (which they keep promising will be along soon...).

I understand. You think there is much difference with RC2 and RC3 themes in how it is done? I would think it would be much of the same, although what do I know. And yea, RC3 should be just around the corner, we will see. Just need to dig down in some CSS files and try things out, if there is already a lot of settings put forth, then I can start to edit things myself and see for myself

You talked about ElkArte as well, was looking a little around as well on that. Seems to be a fork of SMF. Although not sure why they would not just work together, but of cause I don't know much about what is behind the curtain of the programming stuff and such. But spreading out, is not always a good idea, and I guess sometimes it is. But php forums are getting hit by all the new modern nonsense and taking a lot of people away from them.
FluxBB is a great example of how spreading out killed it all, had they just worked together moving forward, it might still have been warm and not cold death.

Dearly regards
- Darkijah

[JesusIsGodAlmighty.Life]

Trying to make an account for Elkarte, and I'm stuck at this Question thing... I don't know the answer... Had issues with Arch forum as well, as I did not recognize that I needed to use the Linux Terminal to get the answer. :/

And now... Elkarte is a basque word. What language (basque) is the name of this project? What do I know, I don't even understand the question.

Dearly Regards
- Darkijah

[Antechinus]

I understand. You think there is much difference with RC2 and RC3 themes in how it is done?

Probably just enough to be annoying. RC's tend to be like that.

You talked about ElkArte as well, was looking a little around as well on that. Seems to be a fork of SMF. Although not sure why they would not just work together...

There was a bit of a kerfuffle at the time.

Trying to make an account for Elkarte, and I'm stuck at this Question thing... I don't know the answer... Had issues with Arch forum as well, as I did not recognize that I needed to use the Linux Terminal to get the answer. :/

And now... Elkarte is a basque word. What language (basque) is the name of this project? What do I know, I don't even understand the question.

Dearly Regards
- Darkijah

It's meant to be an easy question for humans but a hard one for bots. The name of the project is in the language that it tells you. That's the answer to the question.

[JesusIsGodAlmighty.Life]

Found you again, lost the tab somehow and had no idea where to look on the forum.
I wonder if there is a feature where I can see all my own posts and places where they are at - would have been useful in this instance, I think.

Anyway I just tried out the wonderful feature of show new replies to posts - awesome find out places where people have replied. very useful for sure! I think I will really like that feature, at least it was a great enjoyment using it. I remember the first Forum I was on, very minimilistisc, we had this square box at the right side telling about the newest posts and the most popular threads. It worked very nicely overall.

Anyway back to topic. Okay so we might have some differences - I guess I understand why you people rather wanna wait for the Release version before making your Themes then to 2.1. It also seems that RC version can't be upgraded to final someone said, so I might need to look into 2.0.17 and see if I can find any mobile themes which makes it more or less mobile. I'll have to dig around I guess.

There was a bit of a kerfuffle at the time.

I guess the Kindergarden never stops with unruling children. Seems there is a lot of that on the forums and between people and programmers. But it might be a trick to ruin good software as well, the Devil has his infiltraters - and many have forgotten the dangers of Rome. The Jesuit oath to take one, talks about how they work, but there are other interesting books on that subject. It's really disgusting... Anyway.

It's meant to be an easy question for humans but a hard one for bots. The name of the project is in the language that it tells you. That's the answer to the question.

Ahhh, I get it now - I think. I just did not even know what basque was and that confused me. Overall, I did not at all get it. I don't think I'm that tired - had issues with Arch Linux as well. It is a smart way of keeping the bots out I guess, I think it might be a good idea to have, although I will have to figure out something people know and don't end up looking the door on people.

Not sure how much spam there is - but it would be nice with a open place as well for guest to write as well. But I guess it might be ruined by spammers and ads and such devilish things.

Elkarte did look interesting, although I was somewhat horrified when I found talks about going the Flarum way of things on the front page That was the reason I wanted to make an account to respond. Like Flarum is taking the tag way of things, and personally I find it confusing. At least it should rather be an option then, I think, then a direct change. But it is nice to see that Elkarte seems to be inovative, the mobility of things seems to already be pretty good like it should be done. With a thin bar at the top - that's the way to do it for mobiles so you don't waste space, as space is gold and one cannot just make empty holes and waste it. It looked very interesting as well, and being based on SMF, might not be a bad thing looking into as well.

Still swimming around to find a boat, and testing here and there, and talking to people and getting ideas and info.

Dearly regards
- Darkijah

[JesusIsGodAlmighty.Life]

An afterthought.

You know of any page talking about the construction of themes - I was looking in the folders of the Themes, lot of things are going on in there. Lots and lots of files.

Dearly regards
- Darkijah

[Kindred]

personally, I just make a copy of the default theme (using the tools in the smf admin)

then I keep the CSS file open in one tab and have the site open in the other tab...    and I use the browser's inspector tool to make changes a little at a time. If they look good, I make the same changes in the CSS file, save, refresh and move to the next change.

that's how I've applied the changes to my test site.
https://test2.turtleshellprod.com/

[JesusIsGodAlmighty.Life]

Kindred what browser would you be using for that, Chrome?

Dearly regards
- Darkijah

[Kindred]

It's east to do in either Chrome and Firefox -- even the current Edge has the tools to do it, I just don't like edge.

[JesusIsGodAlmighty.Life]

Is the tool in Firefox or an addon?

Dearly regards
- Darkijah

[Kindred]

it's built into all modern browsers...

right click on the spot you want to examine and select Inspect Element.

In the inspect tool that comes up, you can then make edits which are applied to your view but are cleared the moment you refresh or change the page,

[JesusIsGodAlmighty.Life]

Okay, I'll have a look on it, most likely some youtube videos on it. Might come in handy for making a theme. But overall, still researching and getting data points and need more testing.

I think my plans today is to install SMF 2.0.17 and ElkArte 1.1.6 and try them out and mostly the Themes and see there mobility. Apparently the SMF RC versions was a blind alley, I did not know they are not going to be upgraded, or updated to the final so it's not worth for me to then use them at all.

So, that is the goal for today I think. Also have a plugged waterhold thing that I need to figure out how to fix in the kitching. There is something underneath the sink which seems one can deattach it.

Anyway...

Thanks for the info.

Dearly regards
- Darkijah

[SychO]

You can upgrade from 2.1 RC to 2.1 Final, you  just misunderstood

[Dzonny]

Yeah, you can upgrade from 2.1 RC versions to 2.1 final, but by using large upgrade pack, which means you'll lost any mods/theme installed (not the data like posts, topics, members etc). After upgrade you can again install needed mods/themes (ofc if they're compatible with new version).
After final version is released, patches will be provided between each version, so you'll be able to update without losing anything (mods, themes, data etc).