Jacob Martella – @arenapigskin

Member Since: June 8th, 2011
Location: Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
Website: jacobmartella.com
Job Title: Developer
Employer: Faith Growth, Inc.
Find me on:

Bio

Web development. Web design. Writing. Those are a few of my favorite things. Writing was my first love since I could remember. I wanted to become a sports journalist, and at the University of Texas at Austin, I accomplished just that. I graduated in May 2016 with a journalism degree, working four years at The Daily Texan and covering the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. But during that time, I developed another passion — web development. I discovered a love for creating things, especially with code. I self-taught myself the basics, graduated with an Elements of Computing Certificate from UT and now work as a junior developer at a development firm. It’s been a strange journey, but it’s one that’s been worth it.

Interests

Web Development, Web Design, reading, video, photography

WordPress Origin Story

I never thought I would be a WordPress developer.

For the vast majority of my life, I wanted to be a journalist. A sports journalist to be more specific. I grew up loving to play sports — especially baseball — and I developed a love of writing in the fourth grade.

So in high school, I joined the school newspaper covering the sports teams. At the University of Texas at Austin, I joined The Daily Texan. There I covered both golf teams, women’s soccer, softball, volleyball, baseball and basketball. Then in my final semester, I became the sports editor for the paper. And in August 2016, I got to go to Rio de Janeiro to cover the summer Olympics.

I ended up graduating with a journalism degree, but that’s not what I’ve been doing professionally. Instead, during that time there was another thing that kept trying to get my attention: web development.

My introduction to WordPress came at my high school newspaper. Fascinated by the software and wanting to learn more, I started my own WordPress site — a blog that covered arena football. As my time in high school went on, I became more interested in how WordPress worked.

Finally, in the summer after my high school graduation, I took the time to teach myself web development. I learned HTML, CSS, PHP and JavaScript and how WordPress worked. It definitely wasn’t the best learning, looking back at it now, but it was a start. And by the end of the summer, I had a custom theme for my arena football blog.

Eventually, my interest in arena football faded, but not my interest in web development. In fact, it was quite the opposite. I only became more intrigued by WordPress and web development. I took programming classes at UT and ended up with an Elements of Computing Certificate. And I created a theme for the WordPress theme directory.

But in the summer of 2014, web development went from a hobby to a job. Through an interesting set of circumstances, Christopher Harris hired me to be a development intern at his company, Faith Growth. It was the much-needed next step, and I learned a lot about how to properly do things in WordPress and web programming.

I now have a couple of more themes in the directory and a few plugins in the repository plus a premium sports plugin. I’ve also created numerous websites for churches and ministries at Faith Growth. But through all of that work, I hadn’t quite unlocked the true power of WordPress — the community.

In September 2016, I attended my first WordCamp DFW. Although I listened to a lot great talks, my biggest lesson came with how big and how awesome the WordPress community is. With WordPress and web development, it’s easy to feel like a lone wolf. I know that there are obviously online communities for WordPress, but it can be tough to feel that personal interaction online, especially for those of us who are just starting out.

But that WordCamp DFW got me excited about web development. Seeing so many people using the software and being excited about it gave me energy to keep going with WordPress and opened my eyes to what I could do with it.

After that experience, I became an active member of the Fort Worth WordPress Users MeetUp. There my experience with the WordPress community has only become more positive. I’ve met people who are wanting to learn more about WordPress and people who are willing to teach. It’s undoubtedly the best community I’ve ever been a part of.

Contribution History

Meetup Organizer
Plugin Developer
Theme Developer
WordCamp Organizer
WordCamp Speaker

Activity
Plugins
Themes

Wrote a comment on the post WordPress 5.6: What’s on your wishlist?, on the site Make WordPress Core:
+1

9 months ago
Posted a reply to Add update button, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
Hi, I just pushed an update to the plugin which should now show the add…

10 months ago
Committed [2334572] to Plugins Trac:
tagging version 1.4.2

10 months ago
Committed [2334571] to Plugins Trac:
updating to version 1.4.2

10 months ago
Posted a reply to Add update button, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
Hi, So the good news is that I have the code that adds that update…

10 months ago
Posted a reply to No add content button, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
Hi, Sorry that you're running into this issue. I'm working on fixing the issue with…

1 year ago
Committed [2216451] to Plugins Trac:
actually updating to version 1.4.1

1 year ago
Posted a reply to Latest update crashed my site, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
Awesome! Glad I could help.

1 year ago
Committed [2216450] to Plugins Trac:
tagging version 1.4.1

1 year ago
Committed [2216449] to Plugins Trac:
tagging version 1.4.1

1 year ago
Committed [2216448] to Plugins Trac:
tagging version 1.9.2

1 year ago
Committed [2216447] to Plugins Trac:
adding version 1.9.2

1 year ago
Posted a reply to Latest update crashed my site, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
Ugh. Not sure what to think now. I can't reproduce that error for the life…

1 year ago
Posted a reply to Latest update crashed my site, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
Thanks. Just pushed out an update. Let me know if that fixed the problem. Now…

1 year ago
Committed [2216408] to Plugins Trac:
tagging version 1.9.1

1 year ago
Committed [2216406] to Plugins Trac:
adding version 1.9.1

1 year ago
Posted a reply to Latest update crashed my site, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
Thanks! It's not Gutenberg related, or at least directly. I'm calling that is_plugin_active function incorrectly.…

1 year ago
Posted a reply to Latest update crashed my site, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
Hello, Ugh. Thought I tested the plugin enough to push the update. Looking into it.…

1 year ago
Committed [2216359] to Plugins Trac:
fixed the tested up to number

1 year ago
Posted a reply to Update, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
Hello, Yeah, unfortunately I just haven't had the time to sit down and update it…

2 years ago
Joined the organizing team for WordCamp Dallas / Ft. Worth, Texas, USA 2019

2 years ago
Posted a reply to Where is the code?, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
You can use the following shortcode to use in posts or pages. Sorry, life's been…

2 years ago
Posted a reply to Hello,, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
Hey Theodora, It's technically possible to create a fourth column. But you would have to…

2 years ago
Wrote a new post, Sponsor Shoutout:, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
We’re happy to have Simply Design Group as one of our Bronze sponsors for this…

2 years ago
Wrote a new post, Sponsor Shoutout: GravityView, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
We’re happy to have GravityView as one of our Gold sponsors for this year’s WordCamp…

2 years ago
Wrote a new post, WCDFW Speaker Spotlight:, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
Topic: Building API Services for your Plugins Using the WordPress REST API CTO of WPMU DEV…

2 years ago
Wrote a comment on the post WordCamp DFW 2018 dates, venue announced, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
Well, I added the Saturday part after your comment. So you didn't miss it. It…

2 years ago
Wrote a comment on the post WordCamp DFW 2018 After Party To Be Held At Bar Louie, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
Saturday.

2 years ago
Wrote a new post, WordCamp DFW 2018 After Party To Be Held At Bar Louie, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
This year our post-conference events kick-off immediately following the closing remarks! Join us in the…

2 years ago
Wrote a new post, Sponsor Shoutout: WS Form, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
We’re happy to have WS Form as one of our Gold sponsors for this year’s…

2 years ago
Wrote a new post, Lindsey Miller, Paul Clark Keynote Speakers for WordCamp DFW, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
WordCamp DFW is excited to announce the two keynote speakers for this year’s event: Lindsey…

2 years ago
Wrote a new post, WCDFW Speaker Spotlight: Elayna Fernandez, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
Topic: How To Use Your Blog To Become A Digital Influencer Elayna Fernández, known worldwide as…

2 years ago
Wrote a new post, WCDFW Speaker Spotlight: LaToya Frazier, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
Topic: Managing Your WordPress Projects With Ease LaToya is an Online Project Manager who helps busy…

2 years ago
Wrote a new post, WCDFW Speaker Spotlight: Christopher Harris, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
Topic: Gutenberg 101 Christopher launched Faith Growth in 2010. Since then, he has led his team…

2 years ago
Wrote a new post, WCDFW Speaker Spotlight: Nick Batik, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
Topic: Rapid Application Development with the PODS Framework Nick Batik Chief Technical Officer, Senior WordPress Back-end…

2 years ago
Wrote a new post, WCDFW Speaker Spotlight: David Noland, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
Topic: Maintaining a HEART Healthy WordPress Database David serves as a Customer Experience Data Analyst and…

2 years ago
Wrote a new post, WCDFW Speaker Spotlight: Pratik Ghela, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
Topic: Our 6 months journey around AMP, WordPress & AMP Stories Pratik Ghela has been working…

2 years ago
Wrote a new post, Sponsor Shoutout: Beaver Builder, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
We’re happy to have Beaver Builder as one of our Silver sponsors for this year’s…

2 years ago
Wrote a new post, WCDFW Speaker Spotlight: Doug Stewart, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
Topic: WP Local SEO Basics: How to Get Your WordPress Powered Website Listed in Google's Local…

2 years ago
Wrote a new post, WordCamp DFW Speakers: Round Five, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
With WordCamp DFW just 15 days away, the organizing committee is ready to announce the…

2 years ago
Wrote a new post, WCDFW Speaker Spotlight: Ben Word, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
Topic: Deploying WordPress with Git and Continuous Integration (CI) Ben Word is the founder of Roots…

2 years ago
Wrote a new post, WCDFW Speaker Spotlight: Jacob Martella, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
Topic: Keeping Your Themes and Plugins Separate Writing. Web Development. Storytelling. These are a few of…

2 years ago
Wrote a new post, WCDFW Speaker Spotlight: Treva Marshall, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
Topic: Automating Your Client Onboarding & Client Mangement Process For A High-End Customer Experience Treva Marshall…

2 years ago
Wrote a new post, WordCamp DFW Speakers: Round Four, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
With WordCamp DFW just 22 days away, the organizing committee is ready to announce the…

3 years ago
Wrote a new post, Sponsor Shoutout: GreenGeeks, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
We’re happy to have GreenGeeks as one of our Gold sponsors for this year’s WordCamp…

3 years ago
Wrote a new post, WCDFW Speaker Spotlight: Craig Beaman, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
Topic: WordPress 101 I wrote my first blog on self-hosted WordPress in October of 2006. Since…

3 years ago
Wrote a new post, WCDFW Speaker Spotlight:, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
Topic: CSS Jam Session Brent Jett is a designer and developer in Dallas, Tx and is…

3 years ago
Wrote a new post, WCDFW Speaker Spotlight: Zach Stepek, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
Topic: Immaterial Woo - eCommerce Without Products Zach is the CEO of Mindsize, an eCommerce -focused…

3 years ago
Wrote a new post, Sponsor Shoutout:, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
We’re happy to have WPMU DEV as one of our Gold sponsors for this year’s…

3 years ago
Wrote a new post, WCDFW Speaker Spotlight: Mia Mian, on the site WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth:
Topic: WP DIY Gone Awry… NOW WHAT?! Startup and Tech Enthusiast byways of San Diego, CA.…

3 years ago

Developer

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WordPress Origin Story

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