Programmatically Create a WordPress Page, Post, or Custom Post Type

Programmatically creates a WordPress post based on the incoming parameters.
/**
 * Programmatically creates a WordPress post based on the incoming parameters.
 *
 * Note: This function may need some additional work if you're dealing with non-English languages.
 *
 * @param	string	$title		The title of the page as presented to the users
 * @param	string	$slug		The slug used to access the page via the URL
 * @param	string	$post_type	The type of post to create. Can be either 'page' or 'post'
 * @param	string	$template	The template to apply to the page.
 * @return	int			The ID of the page that was created. -1 if the page already exists.
 */
function wp_snippets_create_post( $title, $slug, $post_type, $template = null ) {

	// Initialize the page ID so we know if it's been created
	$page_id = -1;

	// If a post doesn't already exist with the specified title, create it
	if( null == wp_snippets_get_permalink_by_title( $slug, $post_type ) ) {

		$page_id = wp_insert_post(
			array(
				'comment_status'	=>	'open',
				'ping_status'		=>	'open',
				'post_author'		=>	1,			// Administrator is creating the page
				'post_title'		=>	$title,
				'post_name'		=>	strtolower( $slug ),
				'post_status'		=>	'publish',
				'post_type'		=>	strtolower( $post_type )
			)
		);

		// If a template is specified in the function arguments, let's apply it
		if( null != $template ) {
			update_post_meta( get_the_ID(), '_wp_page_template', $template );
		} // end if

	} // end if

	return $page_id;

} // end wp_snippets_create_post

/**
 * Determine if a post or page already exists with the specified title.
 *
 * Note: This function may need some additional work if you're dealing with non-English languages.
 *
 * @param	string	$title		The title used to check if the post exists.
 * @param	string	$post_type	The post type that we're checking (could be post, page, or a custom post type)
 * @return	string				The permalink to the post. Null if the post or page doesn't exist.
 */
function wp_snippets_get_permalink_by_title( $title, $post_type ) {

    // Initialize the permalink value
    $permalink = null;

    // Try to get the page by the incoming title
    $post = get_page_by_title( strtolower( $title ), OBJECT, $post_type );

    // If the post exists, then let's get its permalink
    if( null != $post ) {
        $permalink = get_permalink( $post->ID );
    } // end if

    return $permalink;

} // end wp_snippets_get_permalink_by_title