New theme and GIT repo

[DieterF]

The way of creating a new theme is clear for me so far.
When it comes to the file -wcms-modules.json- I am not sure about the “repo” and the “zip” line in the JSON file.

Do I have to host a new theme, that I want to use by my own (not sharing) within my private GIT repository and is this the only way that allows me to install this theme via the settings menu?
Or is it enough to just have a new themes folder within the wondercms structure?

[Helios09]

i am having the same problem, i do not use GitHub (never had) so the whole repo thing is confusing to me...anybody can provide more input?

[NorfolkGreg]

Do I have to host a new theme, that I want to use by my own (not sharing) within my private GIT repository

No!
If you just want to mess with an existing theme and not share the changes with anyone else then you just upload the new/changed files to your server.
(and remember never to accept the update prompt should the original author update the theme)

Or is it enough to just have a new themes folder within the wondercms structure?

Obviously, that's better than doing what I've just described as then there's no risk of updating your changed theme ans getting your own changes overwritten.

If you are using an existing theme as a base, then remember to delete all the stuff designed to allow the "one-click update" stuff, like that .json file.

[Helios09]

Do I have to host a new theme, that I want to use by my own (not sharing) within my private GIT repository

No!
If you just want to mess with an existing theme and not share the changes with anyone else then you just upload the new/changed files to your server.
(and remember never to accept the update prompt should the original author update the theme)

Or is it enough to just have a new themes folder within the wondercms structure?

Obviously, that's better than doing what I've just described as then there's no risk of updating your changed theme ans getting your own changes overwritten.

If you are using an existing theme as a base, then remember to delete all the stuff designed to allow the "one-click update" stuff, like that .json file.

So what you are saying is that uploading to Github is not necessary, i even created an account and was more confused to why i should host files there, then if i remove the zip and repo objects from the json file then the install throws errors and does not allow me to see my theme....by the way thank you for the time to answer these questions! i really appreciate it.

[NorfolkGreg]

Yes! As a minimum, if all you are doing is editing a theme for your own personal use, then just alter the style.css and theme.php file on your server, and upload any additional files that your theme depends on, such as logo images.

You don't need to touch the JSON file. That's just there to allow the theme to be included in the daily call to check if Wcms itself or any of the officially supported themes and plugins have updates and alert you of any updates and process it when you click the "Update" button.

I say this on the basis that you've simply made a copy of the original theme on your server and have been playing with your edited version. If you are just doing this minimum approach there's just one caution. DON'T accept any update notification as you'll just obliterate your theme with the updated version of the original.

Rather than amend the JSON file, I'd delete it. I believe that should stop those update notifications for the theme, but I haven't tested whether that is true.