Skip to main content

Installation Guide

This guide walks you through installing and setting up TheDock on your WordPress site.

Requirements​

Before installing TheDock, ensure your environment meets these requirements:

RequirementMinimum Version
WordPress5.0+
PHP7.4+
MySQL5.6+
BrowserChrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge (latest)

Installation Steps​

Step 1: Download TheDock​

Download the TheDock theme from thedock.app. You'll receive:

  • thedock.zip - The complete theme package (includes the builder plugin)

Step 2: Install the Theme​

  1. Go to Appearance > Themes in your WordPress admin
  2. Click Add New > Upload Theme
  3. Select thedock.zip and click Install Now
  4. Click Activate once installation completes

Step 3: Install the Builder Plugin​

After activating the theme, WordPress will prompt you to install required plugins:

  1. Go to Appearance > Install Plugins (or click the notification at the top of the admin)
  2. You'll see TheDock Builder listed as a required plugin
  3. Click Install next to TheDock Builder
  4. Click Activate once installation completes

The builder plugin is bundled with the theme, so you don't need to upload it separately.

Step 4: Launch TheDock​

After activation, you'll see a new menu item TheDock in your WordPress admin sidebar.

Click TheDock to open the builder interface.

First Launch​

When you first open TheDock, you'll be greeted with an onboarding wizard that introduces the main features:

  1. Export & Preview - Learn how to export your theme and view it in WordPress
  2. Design Panel - Discover typography, colors, spacing, and UI customization
  3. Layout Panel - Understand templates, modules, headers, and footers
  4. Build Panel - Learn about theme structure, custom code, and advanced settings
  5. Getting Help - Find the help button for contextual assistance

You can skip the onboarding or revisit it anytime from the settings.

For the best experience with TheDock:

Browser​

  • Use Google Chrome or Firefox for best performance
  • Enable JavaScript
  • Allow pop-ups from your WordPress domain

WordPress​

  • Use a staging environment for building
  • Install Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) for extended functionality
  • Keep WordPress and plugins updated

Performance​

  • Ensure adequate server memory (256MB+ recommended)
  • Use a modern hosting provider
  • Consider using a caching plugin (disable while editing)

Updating TheDock​

To update TheDock:

  1. Download the latest version from thedock.app
  2. Deactivate and delete the old plugin (your data is preserved)
  3. Install the new version
  4. Re-activate the plugin

Your theme data is stored in the WordPress database and will persist through updates.

Next Steps​

Now that TheDock is installed:

  1. Learn the Interface - Understand the workspace
  2. Build Your First Theme - Step-by-step tutorial
  3. Explore the Design System - Customize your look

← Back to Documentation