WordPress 4.7 introduced post layout template options, duplicating Largo's feature to do the same.

[benlk]

https://make.wordpress.org/core/2016/11/03/post-type-templates-in-4-7/

• change templates as necessary for compatibility
• preserve ability to change "default" option
• compatibility shim for old post-type settings
  • migration function if necessary
  • test against sites with custom templates: https://github.com/INN/umbrella-chicagoreporter, https://github.com/INN/umbrella-energynewsnetwork

[MirandaEcho]

Making it easier to do custom templates/functionality

[benlk]

Research

• does WordPress native have the ability to set template defaults?

[benlk]

Post templates in WordPress: https://developer.wordpress.org/themes/template-files-section/post-template-files/

Page templates have a defalt, which is page.php, bt there doesn't appear to be a way to configure that.: https://developer.wordpress.org/themes/template-files-section/page-template-files/

The "Page Attributes" box does have the opportunity to choose from joint page/post templates, which WordPress's page templates docs describe how to do.