Finally the decision is final now. I have been in the dilemma of getting which one for a project. All I need to do is to make sure the e-commerce plugin works well with the WordPress theme.

Initially I thought to give Jigoshop a chance, so I headed in and work around the clock to make sure everything is right and in place. Majority of my clients seems to work just fine with my WordPress theme and Jigoshop plugin, in fact I even support them how to add variation in Jigoshop and etc. As a person who likes to explore this and that, I didn’t really went into Jigoshop forum nor the knowledgebase, as everything was just as any other plugins.

The problems came recently, which after some discussion with my partner about it, we decided to start working with WooCommerce instead. Here are some reasons:

Support

Jigoshop doesn’t give a good support. I’m not saying the tip-top hacks or anything, just a support to make sure their plugin works well in WordPress. What I got ended up was a finger pointing at the theme. Not only that, after second questioning, the error become another error. It seems that the support aren’t there to check thoroughly what actually happen, but simply shoot an issue. I do believe that support need to be paid, but if you are to giving free with support, then make sure the plugin really works and make sure what plugin may crashes with it.

Updates

Just recently I notice that Jigoshop has been keep updating. I don’t condone update though, in fact I like update, it means that the plugin team is working on some issue or just compatibility. However, when the update made by a team, why is so many mistake making along the way?

I am disappointed with Jigoshop, especially with the support team. Nothing has been done to help the users, I was the one sitting here checking through and through to help their users. It is just not fair working this way just so they can sell their premium support.

In system, I practically means any kind of system. WordPress has too wide variation and plugins to help you achieve almost anything possible for a website. I choose WordPress all the time, as long as there is “update website content” mentioned in the brief. Here are why you should choose WordPress too.

Installation – WordPress provide a 5 minutes installation, or less, for me. Not only that, most web hosting that comes with script installation like Fantasico or Simple Script, they already has WordPress ready for you to install with just one click. Talk about moving/transfering easier (of course, there are easier ways).

Extension – Not only plugins helps, some little tweak on the theme code will help too. There is no need to open any WordPress core files just to get what you need. I don’t know how many plugins there are, but they are a lot. Either one will help building your website or, blog.

Update – That will depend on the theme you’re using too. Make sure you find a good theme that is sustainable for years, especially the way the developer code the theme. Updates are one-click job normally, that include all the plugins as well.

Theme – Or design. There are lots of premium WordPress theme ready on the market as well. Any one of them may works well with you, if you’re not looking for a branding of your website. Even if you do, you can find some handful of WordPress designer in the market too.

However, There is still myth that WordPress is a blogging system. Quite bother me from time to time, as it made one has a decision not to use WordPress. If you know how WordPress works, even a blog theme can turned into a CMS website just some clicks. With all above mentioned points, what is that not to believe it is a good choice?

Since I work alot around WordPress, this question got me thinking about my position. What is actually a WordPress theme developer, or designer? Coding a WordPress actually is quite easy, as long as you understand both HTML and CSS, you can consider yourself able to develop a WordPress theme.

As you can see, WordPress designer or developer is nothing new nowadays. Now, what is the real deal when developing WordPress theme? After a long thinking, well… Solving problem.

WordPress is able to create a lot of website, it can create an e-commerce, job board, directories and whatnot. The real problem is in the solving the technical problem with it. Theme Options is just a small step into solving the problem.

I like how templatic solve all these problem with their themes without any other plugins help. But for a longer term plan, I would prefer a plugin instead. Take it as an advice, because you wouldn’t want to mess with updates.