PeepSo Gecko Theme

Since the release of PeepSo, we’ve frequently been asked about the best theme to use with it. We’ve made it our goal to ensure PeepSo is compatible with most themes available, and I’m pleased to say we’ve succeeded. However, depending on third-party themes limited our capabilities. That’s why we’ve introduced Gecko—no more compromises, and it’s here to stay.

As I mentioned before, we frequently get asked about a suitable theme for PeepSo. Our usual response has been that we’re not a theme company, but we can recommend some themes. Relying on third-party themes left us with limited control over the actual display. Eventually, we decided to create a proof of concept and received amazing feedback from the community. This made us realize that we could actually create our own theme and do it well. Now, we’re proud to present our own theme that showcases PeepSo’s full potential, beyond just being displayed in a third-party wrapper.

Why did we name it Gecko? Because geckos are awesome, that’s why.

PeepSo First

Gecko is a theme designed by the PeepSo team specifically for PeepSo plugins. Period. However, this doesn’t mean it can’t be used without PeepSo. Our primary development focus will always be to enhance your community in every possible way. If you have any ideas on how to improve Gecko’s compatibility or styling with other plugins, please let us know.

Soft Version Lock

Since Gecko is a theme developed by PeepSo, we’ve ensured that it fully supports and works perfectly with all our PeepSo plugins, capitalizing on and leveraging each other’s features. That’s why there’s a soft version lock on the theme. It might sound complicated, but it really isn’t. We want to be able to release the theme independently from the plugins while ensuring everything works seamlessly.

Beautiful Header

A great navigation and site header really make a difference, especially for community sites. We were frequently asked how to add notifications to the menu, so we created the PeepSo UserBar widget. However, users still faced issues because third-party themes often couldn’t easily place widgets in the header area. To address this, Gecko comes with a dedicated Header Widgets position. Simply place the PeepSo UserBar widget there, and you’re done.

Of course, the menu can be fully customized in the backend of your site under Appearance > Menus. The search function is used for the PeepSo Activity Stream and can be disabled in the backend under Gecko Settings. We also built in an option to disable the black WordPress admin bar in the same place. There’s no need for extra plugins or code.

Layout Options

Gecko includes built-in templates for PeepSo pages. In this release, we have shipped User Profile and Members pages. In future updates, we will introduce layout options for Groups, Messages, and more. We are also planning to add additional layout options for User Profile and Members pages.

To access the page template options, navigate to the page containing the User Profile, for example. Edit the page, and on the right side under Page Attributes, you’ll find the Template option. Choose “User Profile” from the list and save your changes. Similarly, for the Members page, select “Members” from the template list using the same steps.

Beautiful User Profiles featuring stunning cover images. Currently, there are three options available:

Default

The concept is straightforward: the profile cover is surrounded by widget positions on the left and right.

Boxed

The profile cover is wider, with profile positions positioned below on either side of the profile content.

Full

The profile cover stretches full-width, edge to edge, providing a fantastic display of user covers. Widgets and all content are shown below.

Widgets Styling

PeepSo and its plugins offer a wide range of widgets, and with Gecko, we provide styling options to help you achieve a tailored appearance. These settings apply to any widgets. You have four style options to choose from:

• None
• Box
• Bordered
• Gradient

To apply a specific style to a widget, navigate to the backend of your site > Appearance > Widgets. Click on any widget in its position, and at the bottom, you’ll find: “Gecko options.” Rather than describing each styling option in detail, here’s an image that speaks volumes.

Customization Options

Gecko includes easy customization options directly within the theme. You can adjust color schemes, modify the logo, add custom CSS, and more right out of the box. Currently, the options are basic, but we plan to expand them significantly in future updates. We welcome your feedback on these features as well.

Standalone Theme

You can use Gecko independently of PeepSo without any concerns. If you appreciate its aesthetics and functionality, simply install it on your site, enable it, and you’re all set. You don’t need PeepSo to use the theme—it stands completely on its own. Feel free to utilize it for your blog, shop, or any other purpose you can imagine. What’s great is that you can seamlessly navigate through blog posts and still feel connected to the community. This seamless experience is enhanced by the header and widgets surrounding posts.

Page Builders

Page builders are essential for many people when creating a website. With that in mind, we are ensuring that Gecko works well with WordPress Page Builders. Currently, we recommend using either Elementor or Beaver Builder. Most page builders should work out of the box. If you encounter any issues with any page builders, please let us know.