wp-child-theme

name	wp-child-theme
description	Scaffold and deploy a WordPress child theme via SSH. Generates style.css, functions.php (with correct parent style enqueueing), and index.php. Supports Kadence, Astra, GeneratePress, Hello Elementor, OceanWP, and any custom parent. Can activate the child theme immediately after creation.
triggers	["create child theme","child theme","scaffold theme","new child theme","Kadence child","Astra child","Elementor child theme"]

Skill: wp-child-theme

Scaffolds a correctly structured WordPress child theme and uploads it to the server via SFTP. Handles the right way to enqueue parent styles (not @import).

Usage

# List available parent themes on the server
python scripts/management/wp-child-theme.py --config config/config.yaml --list-parents

# Create child theme for Kadence
python scripts/management/wp-child-theme.py --config config/config.yaml \
    --parent kadence --child-name "My Kadence Child"

# Create + immediately activate
python scripts/management/wp-child-theme.py --config config/config.yaml \
    --parent hello-elementor \
    --child-name "Client Site Theme" \
    --child-slug client-site-theme \
    --activate

# Full options
python scripts/management/wp-child-theme.py --config config/config.yaml \
    --parent astra \
    --child-name "Agency Client Theme" \
    --child-slug agency-client-child \
    --author "Agency Name" \
    --description "Custom child theme for Agency client site" \
    --version "1.0.0"

Files created

File	Contents
style.css	Theme header with correct Template: field pointing to parent
functions.php	Parent + child style enqueueing via wp_enqueue_scripts hook
index.php	Silent fallback (// Silence is golden.)

Supported parent themes

Slug	Theme
kadence	Kadence
astra	Astra
generatepress	GeneratePress
hello-elementor	Hello Elementor
oceanwp	OceanWP
blocksy	Blocksy
neve	Neve
twentytwentyfour	Twenty Twenty-Four
Any slug	Custom parent — reads name from style.css

The right way to enqueue parent styles

The script generates the correct approach — never @import in style.css:

// WRONG (do not do this in style.css):
@import url("../parent-theme/style.css");

// RIGHT (generated by wp-child-theme.py in functions.php):
function mytheme_enqueue_styles() {
    wp_enqueue_style( 'parent-style',
        get_template_directory_uri() . '/style.css' );
    wp_enqueue_style( 'child-style',
        get_stylesheet_directory_uri() . '/style.css',
        array( 'parent-style' ) );
}
add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'mytheme_enqueue_styles' );

After scaffold

1. Activate: via --activate flag or WP Admin → Appearance → Themes
2. Customise CSS: add to wp-content/themes/YOUR-CHILD/style.css
3. Override templates: copy template files from parent, edit in child
4. Add functions: add to wp-content/themes/YOUR-CHILD/functions.php
5. Audit: run wp-theme-audit.py to verify nothing unexpected was inherited

Kadence-specific notes

Kadence uses a custom fonts/colours system via the Customizer. Child theme inherits all Kadence settings. To override:

• Customizer: Appearance → Customise → Global Colours / Typography
• Kadence Blocks: use Global Styles in the block editor
• CSS: target .kadence-* and .wp-block-kadence-* classes