Matthew Boynes – 
Matthew Boynes is a lead developer at Alley Interactive. The only thing Matt loves more than developing on WordPress is helping others develop and solve complex problems using WordPress. When he’s not coding, you’ll often find Matt engaged in some outdoor activity like hiking or skiing.
Matthew will be speaking on Object-Oriented Custom Post Types, Taxonomies, and Post Meta during Foundation Friday.
Why do you use WordPress?
I use a hammer for nails, a screwdriver for screws, and WordPress for content-oriented websites. Most projects that I work on revolve around content, and WordPress is the best tool for that job. WordPress allows me to create a wonderful environment for my clients to create and manage their content. It’s simple, friendly, and easy-to-use, even for those unfamiliar with writing for the web. If I’m building a web application like a to-do list, I’m probably going to use something different. But 99% of the time, I’m building a website for content.
What do you like best about WordCamps?
Sharing ideas and helping others. It’s wonderful seeing how others are solving problems using WordPress.
What is your favorite tip or resource for a new WordPress user?
WordPress Answers (the WordPress StackExchange site).
How do you stay up to date with new information about WordPress?
I browse the WordPress Subreddit and WordPress Answers daily. Any new information about WordPress pops up in one or the other quickly. Also, newsletters like wpMail.me.
Share an example of a really great (creative, cool, unusual) use of WordPress you’ve seen recently.
I promise I’m not really as arrogant as this makes me seem. My company, Alley Interactive, just redesigned kff.org on WordPress and it is the most fascinating use of WordPress I’ve seen. First off, it has one of the best WordPress search experiences in existence: http://kff.org/search/. We also developed a few new plugins for the site, the best of which is Field Manager. Field Manager allows you to create complex editing environments that go well beyond what every other plugin allows.
Do you have any advice for a person who’s building a business around WordPress design/development?
- If you’re not using WordPress Multisite in your development or hosting, you’re wasting time and energy.
- The coding standards are important! Adhere to them religiously. http://codex.wordpress.org/WordPress_Coding_Standards
- Give back. There are countless ways to do so: contribute to core, help enhance the codex, answer questions in the forums or on WordPress Answers.