Read and Ruminate
Read and Ruminate is an engaging platform designed for book lovers and bloggers to share reviews, discuss literature, and curate personalized libraries. This project aims to foster a dynamic community where users can explore book suggestions, write reviews, and interact with like-minded readers through a dedicated discussion forum.
This platform enables users to create book review blogs, maintain a mini library, receive personalized book suggestions, and engage in meaningful discussions. Key features include user registration, frontend blog creation, discussion threads, API-powered book suggestions, and an interactive archive for book reviews and favorites.
Check it out on GitHub.
Problem Statement
I noticed that many book platforms had problems that made them hard to use. Goodreads, for example, was confusing for beginners. It was also difficult for readers to connect with others who shared their interests. On top of that, there were too many features, which made it tricky for new users to find what they were looking for.
Research and Design
During the research and design phase, I conducted an in-depth analysis of book blogging trends and user preferences. By examining popular platforms and gathering feedback from book enthusiasts, I identified essential features that enhance user engagement and content discoverability.
I created a moodboard to capture the feel of a platform for readers, using a mix of dark, soft, and light colors. My goal was to create a welcoming atmosphere with deep colors for depth, soft shades for balance, and light tones for clarity. I carefully selected typography and layout to make reading easy and enjoyable for users.
I also designed wireframes to logically arrange content, optimizing the layout for both desktop and mobile users. Since accessibility and responsiveness were key priorities, I followed a mobile-first approach, ensuring a seamless experience across devices.
Tech Stack
In order to explore WordPress features and create a platform for book enthusiasts, I started by building a website using WordPress classic themes from scratch. I also explored various WordPress functionalities using resources like the WordPress Handbook and Google search to guide me through the development process.
To set up the project, I installed essential plugins that would help enhance the site’s functionality. These included UpdraftPlus for backups, Yoast SEO for search engine optimization, Which Template File for easy template identification, WordPress Popular Posts to highlight trending content and Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) for custom post types.
MVP
After dedicating weeks to researching, planning, and designing,I started by creating templates for key pages, such as book review blogs and book libraries. I built archive and single post pages for both sections, ensuring that users could easily browse and read book-related content. Once the core structure was in place, I added a filter option to the archive page, allowing users to sort content more efficiently. After which, I worked on user registration and login functionality, by using some of the resources from google and AI, customizing it to fit my needs. I also refined the style and color theme based on feedback, making the website visually appealing while maintaining readability and accessibility.
Feature Implementation
Later on, I started adding the features and functionality to enhance user interaction, starting with a discussion forum where readers could connect and share their thoughts. I initially tried using a forum plugin, but ran into some issues with integration and customization. In the end, I decided to build the forum feature using functions instead. This gave me more control over the layout and functionality, though it took some time to improve the user experience. I also created a personalized library where users could save their favorite books and blog posts. There were a few issues with the saving feature at first, but I worked through them to make sure the data was stored properly.
I also created a personalized library where users could save their favorite books. There were a few issues with the saving feature at first, but I worked through them to make sure the data was stored properly.
Problems Faced
Throughout the process, I used template tags and functions to display dynamic content across different pages. However, I ran into a few issues with how the custom fields were being displayed, especially when integrating data from plugins like Advanced Custom Fields (ACF). The challenge was ensuring that the correct data appeared on the right pages without causing errors. I spent some time troubleshooting the template tags and modifying the functions to pull the right content, which ultimately improved the functionality of the site.
Testing
I conducted speed testing to ensure the website loaded quickly and made optimizations where necessary. I used the Accessibility Checker to check if the site met accessibility standards and addressed any issues that could affect users with disabilities. I also ran tests with WAVE to identify and fix any accessibility problems, such as missing labels or poor color contrast, making sure the site was accessible to a wider audience.
