Why Your WordPress Query is a Mess (And How to Fix It)
I got a call from a client running a decent-sized WooCommerce shop. They were in a panic. Their main shop page, which should have been…
Tag: Block Styles
How to Start Unit Testing Your Existing WordPress Code
Had a client call last week. They’ve got this huge, old WooCommerce plugin that’s been passed through three different dev teams. A new junior dev…
Why Your WordCamp Talk Got Rejected (And How to Fix It)
A junior dev on my team looked crushed. “They rejected my talk,” he said, staring at his laptop. He’d just gotten the canned ‘thanks but…
Generate HTML in WordPress without the mess
A client wanted a shortcode to highlight reader comments, but the inherited code crammed all the HTML into the shortcode function. Moving it into a dedicated generator class and a separate template file keeps the markup out of the PHP.
WordPress Blueprints: a real fix for dev environment headaches
Had to onboard a new junior dev last month for a big WooCommerce project. First task was simple: set up the local environment. He’s a…
Stop hacking WordPress admin pages: build a class instead
I got a call from a client last week. Their last developer bailed, and they had a “simple” request: add a new delivery option to…
Build a reusable WordPress meta box class
A client’s Resources section had meta box code scattered across functions.php and two include files, so every small change broke something. One reusable meta box class moved the registration logic into a constructor and the form HTML into a template.
Technical documentation debt turns a simple fix into a nightmare
A simple VIP discount request stalled on a 1000-line, undocumented function nobody understood. The fix was not more code, it was documenting the intent behind it. A short comment block up front saves hours later.
When a side project plugin turns into a nightmare
A client side project plugin grew into an operational crisis of spaghetti code. The lesson: give even a small plugin real structure from day one, a main class and separated concerns, so it stays maintainable.
The Right Way to Handle WordPress Password Hashing
I got a call from a client with a membership site that’s been around since the dawn of time. They wanted to upgrade their security,…