Neverending problem of Themes updating or not

Who ever makes a theme will eventually stop making and supporting that theme at some point

That’s true of just about every software add-on, or even software in general.

unless you want to transfer everything over to another theme which take zillion hours of resign and placement

It’s actually a very simple process, some folks even do it monthly just for fun.

The only things you _may_ need to do after changing a theme is click-and-drag widgets from Inactive Widgets to new widget areas at Appearance > Widgets in the site’s Dashboard, and re-assign menu locations at Appearance > Menus in the site’s Dashboard. Overall, that’ll just take a minute or two.

Of course, you may want to further tweak and customize the design of the theme you choose, but that’s a personal choice for sure.

there is no longer term stability with WordPress, correct?

WordPress is free software, developed and support entirely by volunteers. It will be around as long as people are passionate about it, which has been 17 years so far.

James thanks.

1) My sites are very complex and take 60 hours to get the fonts and logo and form nice. I don’t think they would move to a new theme so easily or seamlessly.

2) So what if I try to keep my site, years after a theme is no longer supported? I could be ok, if I have backups and keep my eye out on that, and have a good developer in case of emergency?

• This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by kevs23.

1. That of course is up to you. Further customization will always take more time, but with thousands of themes available, you might be able to find one that’s closer to your liking to minimize needed customization.

2. If a theme is abandoned it’s always possible that an unknown security vulnerability may be discovered and exploited down the line, it’s also possible that a future WordPress update may be fully incompatible (thus forcing your hand without any preparation after the site updates).

Yeah James all themes are abonded, look at Woo Canvas, great theme great company. They even sold lifetime updates.. Then a few years in say no longer interetsed if that theme.

Look Theme Forest, probably 80% themes have been there developers have moved on.

Is this discussed much in WordPress world?

all themes are abonded

That’s a very generalized and incorrect statement.

Here are 7,662 free themes, sorted by most recent: https://www.ads-software.com/themes/browse/new/

The most recent 5 themes were released today, July 29. I also provide support for several themes which are not abandoned.

look at Woo Canvas

Developers can choose when to abandon themes, that’s fine and up to them, but Woo Canvas isn’t “all themes.”

Woo Canvas was released in 2017, it was retired this year so they can focus on their new theme and platform, Storefront: https://woocommerce.com/Storefront/

They even sold lifetime updates

Yes, they did provide updates for the lifetime of the theme, but that theme’s lifetime came to an end this year.

Is this discussed much in WordPress world?

Not really, since it’s unreasonable to expect any piece of software to exist for an eternity. Developers move on or retire all across the industry.

Plus, switching themes is ridiculously easy, as mentioned earlier.

James, Woo Canvas I got 12 years ago, and people who furious at Woo.

I’m just photographer, but devopers who spent 100 hours so angry. Woo extremely cavilier and pathetic. No support stone cold.

So incorrect ridiculously easy. My developer just sent me link upgrade, thanks god, I sent a clone to test, everything is missing, nice grids, good logos, now garbage site.

This is the achilles heel of WordPress.

You’ll have to take up your concerns with Woo.

WordPress as a whole has absolutely nothing to do with their decision.

We’re happy to help you move on, but to be totally honest, we’re not here to be a punching bag for rants, ok?