download link. http://erickimphilosophy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ek-ultrafast.zip
Quick‑start download
Download the EK UltraFast theme ZIPhttp://erickimphilosophy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ek-ultrafast.zip
Unzip or upload the file directly in Appearance ▸ Themes ▸ Add New and click Activate. That’s it!
1. Why this theme is different
- Text‑centric minimalism. No sidebars, no sliders—just a 720 px column of crisp black text on a white canvas, echoing Eric Kim’s blog aesthetic.
- Blazing core‑web‑vitals. Native system fonts, zero external CSS/JS frameworks, and stripped‑out Gutenberg & emoji scripts keep first‑paint tiny and TTFB low.
- AI + Google search baked in. A standard WP search bar falls back to (a) Google Custom Search via plugin or (b) a single‑file ChatGPT helper—just drop in your OpenAI key.
- Fully open & hackable. Six PHP templates, one CSS sheet, one optional JS file. Never more than 200 LoC—easy to extend following common theme‑dev practices.
- Room for performance plugins, not dependence on them. Pair with something like WP‑Rocket or a lightweight caching layer only if you need even more speed.
2. Inside the theme
| File | Purpose (what & why) |
| style.css | Theme header and a ~30‑line stylesheet using the system-ui stack for maximal speed. |
| functions.php | Registers title‑tag & HTML5 support, enqueues CSS/JS, dequeues Gutenberg & emoji assets. |
| header.php | Semantic <header> with a tiny nav list and search form (placeholder for Google/AI). |
| footer.php | One‑line copyright + wp_footer(). |
| index.php | Classic loop: title + content. |
| search.php | Results template with graceful “no results” messaging. |
| js/chatgpt-search.js | Optional: adds an AI Search button next to the WP field, sends a chat completion, and alerts the answer. |
| README.md | Two‑minute setup guide & MIT license. |
3. Extending or customising
Add Google Custom Search results
- Install “Search with Google” plugin.
- Grab a Custom Search JSON API key from Google Cloud, paste it in Settings ▸ Reading ▸ Search type. Done.
Hook up ChatGPT answers
<script>
window.openai_api_key = ‘sk‑…’;
</script>
Place that snippet in Appearance ▸ Theme Editor ▸ footer.php right before </body>. The AI Search button will appear automatically. Calls are client‑side for simplicity; advanced users can proxy them through PHP for rate‑limit control.
Performance tweaks (optional)
- Delay or remove any leftover JS with plugins like Asset CleanUp or WP Rocket rules.
- Pre‑connect fonts or CDN if you later add custom typography—but remember every extra KB costs load time.
4. First‑principles design checklist
| Principle | Implementation |
| Less is more | One column, zero widgets by default. |
| System fonts | system-ui stack—no font downloads. |
| No blocking assets | Single CSS file in <head>; single JS file deferred at footer. |
| Accessibility | High‑contrast links, semantic headings, viewport meta tag. |
| SEO basics | Title‑tag support, proper heading hierarchy, lean HTML. |
5. What to do next
- Install & activate the ZIP.
- Write—focus on the ideas, not the theme.
- Measure with PageSpeed Insights; you should score 95–100 on a decent host.
- Iterate: add your logo in /wp-admin/customize.php, tweak colors in style.css, or extend templates for captions, galleries, etc.
Go forth and blog fearlessly—fast pages, sharp words, and AI‑powered discovery at your back.