Author: Julio Marchi

We have the power to bend WordPress to our will. A little (or a lot) of custom code can make the content management system (CMS) do more. The sky’s the limit when it comes to functionality.

That’s quite a magic wand in our pockets. However, it does bring up a few key questions.

Do we go big when building plugins and themes for WordPress? Do we add all the bells and whistles and account for every potential use case? Or do we aim for the bare minimum – just enough to serve our needs?

I prefer the latter approach – start small and adapt as needed. That minimizes bloat and saves on future maintenance. It’s a hard-learned lesson.

The elephant in the room is that our needs tend to change. The plugin that once did the job may no longer do enough, while the theme that helped us achieve one look may not be flexible enough to adapt to a new one.

This is where a modular approach to development is valuable. It’s all about building to suit your current needs while planning for the future. Change is inevitable – so why not account for it now?

Let’s explore this different way to do WordPress development. We’ll cover the basics of what it is, how it looks, and how it benefits your workflow.

First, Consider Your Short-Term Goals

It’s easy to go down a rabbit hole during a development project. The finished plugin or theme might not resemble the idea you started with. We get sidetracked by shiny features and the quest to deliver more than advertised.

Our intent is noble. However, we also complicate our project by straying from the initial plan. Did we build something sustainable? How will we manage the code a year from now?

There’s a danger in going too big, too soon. For one, it can lead to sloppy code and structure. The impacts can be felt in performance and security. You could miss something important while attempting to squeeze more into your project’s timeline.

In addition, half-baked features could be a pain to work with down the road. Poor structure means bolting on additions or (gasp) ripping things apart and starting from scratch.

To avoid this fate, consider your short-term goals. Ask yourself:

• What are the minimum requirements for the project?
• What features do I need now?
• How much time do I have to build this?
• How much testing will I need to do?

The idea is to focus on what you need to achieve in the time you have. Anything beyond that can probably wait.

Get Organized to Prepare for the Future

The websites we build will evolve. Clients change their mind or have something new to offer. WordPress and the underlying technology of our sites also move forward.

That impacts our custom plugins and themes. There will likely be new features to add or changes to existing ones. It’s all part of the development lifecycle.

Using a modular approach helps when it’s time for a change. The first step is to get organized. Having a sound structure allows you to build logically and efficiently.

The WordPress developer documentation gives you a head start by outlining plugin and theme structure. Following these guidelines ensures a sustainable start to your project. That’s better than reorganizing a messy jumble of files and code.

For example, here’s the suggested plugin structure:

/plugin-name
     plugin-name.php
     uninstall.php
     /languages
     /includes
     /admin
          /js
          /css
          /images
     /public
          /js
          /css
          /images

The ability to pick up where you left off is priceless. If you haven’t worked on that custom plugin for a few years, you might have difficulty remembering what you did and where things are. A well-organized plugin removes some of the guesswork.

Adding comments to your code also helps with organization. You’ll receive a high-five from your future self for documenting what each snippet does. It’s a small thing that makes a real difference.

The better your organizational skills, the easier it will be to maintain your work.

Add Plugin and Theme Features One at a Time

Sure, it would be cool if our plugin could do x, y, and z right out of the box. Perhaps that’s not realistic, given the budget and timeline. We don’t have to forget about those big ideas, though.

The priority is building something that works as intended. It should do what we outlined in our short-term goals. Once that is established, we can plan for those extra goodies.

Think of these features as items on a checklist where you can only do one at a time. Pick one, make it the best you can, and move on. That ensures your focus will be on the task at hand, rather than scrambling to fit puzzle pieces together.

Besides, trying to do all the things at once rarely works out. This is a difficult challenge for solo developers as there’s only so much time in the day. Not to mention those of us working on multiple projects.

Remember, good things take time. That’s why committing to a single task makes sense. Train your focus on one thing and do it well. The result will be improved quality and some mental clarity.

A Better Way to Build for WordPress

Every developer has a preferred workflow. We use our favorite tools and techniques to enhance our WordPress projects.

That individuality is both freeing and a bit troublesome. It’s great to write code how you want and when you want. However, a lack of foresight and organization can complicate things. It could lead to a buggy product that is a pain to maintain.

Starting with a modular approach is the cure for future chaos. Everyone benefits when every part of your plugin or theme has a place and purpose. You’ll love that you can find what you need with minimal effort. Clients and users will love that it works (even if they don’t realize it).

Writing code is challenging enough. The right approach can help you focus on getting it right.

Top