BuddyPress profile themes

[williamsba]

Has anyone worked on creating a custom BuddyPress profile theme yet? I can't help but think that the first person to create a MySpace/Facebook/LinkedIn/InsertSocialNetworkHere styled profile theme will be very popular as people are very eager for different styled profile themes.

I think the market is wide-open for talented BuddyPress developers/designers and will be for the next year or so.

[Ryan]

Do you think there is a big market for it?

I'm moving into bbPress theming at the moment as there doesn't seem to be much available there, but am unsure about BuddyPress. I don't want to make a base theme for it and find that most of the users of it are happy to do it all in house.

[williamsba]

There's not a huge market yet, but there will be soon. That's why I think the market is so wide open right now. It would be easy to become the BuddyPress "guy" that everyone knows for theming and I honestly think it would only take one or two solid BuddyPress profile themes.

There is just no one creating them at the moment.

[andrea_r]

I agree with Brad - I think it is a huge market opening up. As for people doing it in-house, most of the people I've seen setting it up have enough issues with that, they'd probably *love* ready to drop in themes.

That's the gist I'm getting anyway.

Also, keep an eye on this: http://www.freebuddypressthemes.com/

[conorp]

Also, keep an eye on this: http://www.freebuddypressthemes.com/

Thanks for the link. PS, what a premium domain name is buddypress becomes big.

[Ryan]

Thanks for the link. PS, what a premium domain name is buddypress becomes big.

Are they allowed to use that domain though? WordPress doesn't allow anyone to use the name 'WordPress' in their domain without permission, so I'm assuming BuddyPress would have a similar requirement ... I coud be wrong though.

[Jeffro]

Are they allowed to use that domain though? WordPress doesn't allow anyone to use the name 'WordPress' in their domain without permission, so I'm assuming BuddyPress would have a similar requirement ... I could be wrong though.

Not to side track the conversation as I think Brad is right. But I too wonder if using BuddyPress in the domain name is a trademark infringement. I'll have to nudge Andy and see what he says.

[tmojoe]

I for one, can tell you i would give my left arm for more choices in buddypress themes. I am not an ultra web-savvy guy. I know how to write, and have a few ideas for social networking sites to integrate with a few other online communities that i run (www.tmotoday.com, a drupal site which i would like to eventually switch over entirely to bp) but other than basic css editing in a text editor, I am lost.

I am quite sure, that I am not the only person in these shoes. On top of that, I really, REALLY, do not want to copy facebook's theme. Just because something can be done, does not mean that it should be done. I think anyone other than middle school students would probably be put off by a facebook cloned site, but hey...thts just my opinion. Including the Facebuddy theme, I have been able to find 4 other themes in total, for BP.

While I think that Buddypress/WPMU is an amazing creation, It is not likely to go anywhere if those of you who know how to code/develop dont start doing just that.

Also, I have to say.....in 3 days of endless searching for BP themes, no matter where I go, Andrea is there, has posted, and posted again. This leaves me with one question: Andrea, Do you sleep ? lol


If any of you are interested in creating a custom theme I would be happy to help contribute by either paying for your time, or setting up a hosting account and paying for your demo site for a year or two. Email me at tmojoe@gmail.com if there are any takers.

Goodnight.

[andrea_r]

I have been able to find 4 other themes in total, for BP.

Because that's about all there is. the member theme has proved difficult to work with for a LOT of people.

If you're making a new theme from scratch it's not too bad, but to integrate an existing layout? Headache.

no matter where I go, Andrea is there, has posted, and posted again. This leaves me with one question: Andrea, Do you sleep ? lol

Yes, I do! :D I type fast and breeze by everywhere, that's my secret. (and a FF extension called linky, so I can select multiple links on a page and open them in tabs all at once, then fly by each and answer threads. :P )

[tmojoe]

well, i have my site up and running, for better or worse. I certainly plan on making some changes in theming to the forums, and tweaking a few things yet in general. Feel free to check it out at www.delcosocial.com

Keep in mind, i am not very computer literate, and this was my first time playing with css. and ftp. Let me know what you think so far. (its not that bad...really)