Development Archives - Business Bloomer

Running Custom Server-Side Code on Checkout Field Blur in WooCommerce

A recent query in the Business Bloomer Club asked for advice on executing custom server-side code when a user enters their email address during checkout in WooCommerce, specifically after the field loses focus (similar to how the cart updates for coupons and shipping).

This setup can be useful for verifying user input dynamically without a full page refresh.

Here’s a guide on how to achieve this functionality using AJAX and JavaScript.

Resolving Undefined Variable Errors in WooCommerce Custom Code

In a recent Business Bloomer Club thread, a member encountered an undefined variable error in a WooCommerce snippet they were using to display custom order statuses on the admin dashboard.

Despite the functionality working correctly, Query Monitor flagged an error message due to a missing initial value for a PHP variable. Properly initializing this variable before using it is essential to prevent PHP errors and ensure code stability.

Here’s a breakdown of the issue and a step-by-step solution to help avoid similar problems in your custom WooCommerce snippets.

Optimizing functions.php to Improve WooCommerce Site Performance

In a recent Business Bloomer Club thread, a member sought advice on reducing the Time to First Byte (TTFB) on their WooCommerce store. They noted that their functions.php file was overloaded with custom functions and wondered if this might be impacting the site’s loading speed.

For WooCommerce and WordPress developers, a large functions.php file can lead to slower load times if not managed carefully. Here’s a closer look at best practices to ensure functions in this file are optimized and only run when needed, ultimately improving site performance.

How to Migrate a WooCommerce Site to a New Design Without Losing Data

In a recent Business Bloomer Club Slack thread, a WooCommerce developer sought advice on the best way to migrate an existing WooCommerce site to a new design and theme.

Unlike typical migrations, this one required extra care as the live site had ongoing new orders, customers, and product updates, along with a loyalty program. Given the complexity, the goal was to migrate only the theme, design settings, and additional plugins without overwriting any live data.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to minimize downtime and avoid common issues.

Best Practices for Developing a WooCommerce Site Across Multiple Machines

In a recent Business Bloomer Club Slack thread, a developer asked for advice on managing WooCommerce theme development across multiple devices.

Switching between local machines and keeping code in sync is a common challenge, especially for developers who alternate between local environments and live sites. The community shared several strategies, including using Git, virtual environments, and syncing tools to streamline multi-device development.

Here’s a breakdown of the recommended approaches, along with tools and workflows for each.

How to Replace WooCommerce Product Loop Structure with a Bootstrap-Friendly Layout

In a recent Business Bloomer Club Slack thread, a user wanted to replace WooCommerce’s default product loop HTML structure with a layout more compatible with Bootstrap’s “container – row – col” classes.

While modifying woocommerce_product_loop_start() to replace <ul> with <div> is straightforward, changing the default <li> markup in content-product.php requires further customization.

Here’s a guide on options for creating a Bootstrap-friendly WooCommerce product grid without entirely overwriting core templates.

Best Practices for Passing Data from PHP to JavaScript in WooCommerce

In a recent Business Bloomer Club Slack thread, a member asked about the most effective way to pass PHP data to JavaScript, specifically an array of image attachment IDs intended for a lightbox script.

Passing data between PHP and JavaScript can sometimes be tricky, especially when aiming to avoid page reloads or dealing with dynamic content.

WooCommerce provides several methods to streamline this, including wp_localize_script and wc_enqueue_js. Here’s a breakdown of popular approaches and tips for choosing the best method based on your project’s needs.