If you haven’t already, in some point in your WordPress-coding/designing life, you’re going to come across a WordPress bug or something you just don’t know how to fix or get working. So what do you do? If you’re like me, you’ll first ask your coding buddies, then hit up Google to see what you can find, then maybe head over to the WordPress Codex, if all else fails. Here are some alternatives to getting WordPress help so you don’t have to bother your coding buddies.
WordPress IRC
WordPress has provided an IRC channel specifically for users to login and get some WordPress help. All you need is an IRC client application and you’re good to go.
WordPress FAQs
The WordPress Codex has a whole section dedicated to FAQs. In there you’ll find some FAQs on Layout and Design, Working with WordPress, Developer Documentation, and Advanced Topics.
WordPress Forums
I usually hate forums. Especially when I’m looking for help. But nonetheless, they do the job most of the time. Some of my favorite WordPress support forums are listed below:
Google, believe it or not, is one of my favorite places to get WordPress help. Google knows a ton of junk. If there’s an answer for your problem, Google is most likely to know where it is. If there aren’t any great search results for your search, it probably means you’re one of the few people having that problem, so don’t be shy, go to a forum and ask!
When using Google, you can use specific keywords to search a specific site. As Hafiz Rahman commented below, you can use “site:codex.wordpress.org” to search WordPress’s Codex directly from a search engine, and it’s more accurate! Click here for more on search engine tricks.
Post Revisions:
- 6 August, 2010 @ 3:51 [Current Revision] by michael castilla
- 5 August, 2010 @ 4:45 by Ryan Imel
- 5 August, 2010 @ 4:36 by Ryan Imel
- 5 March, 2008 @ 20:24 by Ryan Imel
Useful post
Just to add a bit, in my experience, searching things in Codex using Google (as in ” site:codex.wordpress.org”) is vastly more accurate than using Codex’s on search engine.
@Hafiz – Oh that’s right! Thanks. I’ll add that bit in the post.
and then if you still cannot find the answer, you could always post a question on your own blog/ website!
I have solved two issues doing that.
In a shamless bit of self promotion, I help run a website http://www.dedestruct.com where we try to pair up reader questions on web design and wordpress etc. to experienced web developers and designers, who answer with tips and tutorials.
check us out
@Jermayn – Very true! Maybe I’ll add that in, thanks.
@Ayush – Will do, thanks.
Good resources.
I can’t say how many time the WordPress codex has saved me.
Not to mention Google.
I have to agree with Hafiz, Google + WP Codex is the tops. Never thought about the IRC channel.
Community and documentation are what has made WP great. You can always find an answer.
I just wrote a post about WordPress Support Forum and by what the numbers on their forum say, 75% of all questions asked are unresolved!
[...] of WPCandy gives you ideas on where to find WordPress help. In addition to Google search and blogs like this one, there are a lot of great sources out there [...]
[...] of WPCandy gives you ideas on where to find WordPress help. In addition to Google search and blogs like this one, there are a lot of great sources out there [...]
i would LOVE to learn all the things they know about whatever when making those mag themes. i could SO use some of those features in my site plans but i don”t even know where to start with it all.
Thank you for this information.
Hey, nice post.
I need help fixing my website, it doesn’t show up the right way in IE 6. So i tried googling, for days, and i posted it on several forums (including the wordpress support forum). I also tried IRC Channel. But they just called me f*ckface and told me to leave! Unbelivable…
I don’t think the WordPress FAQ forums has anything about exactly this, so i’m not even going to bother looking there.
So any other ideas? =)
I also provide some WordPress support at my forum – http://www.aoclarkejr.com/forum/
I have tried wordpress support forum, sometimes it takes a minute or two to get your problem solved but sometimes you never get heard. As far as i have judged if you have question that is a bit technical you will have to wait longer unless someone really capable reads your post.