1. Project Setup (Start Clean)
- Use a barebones starter theme (like Underscores or Sage).
- Build a custom plugin for any feature that doesn’t belong in the theme.
- Use a child theme if working on a commercial theme.
- Add a
.gitignorefor uploads, cache, and system files.
⚙️ 2. Server & Hosting
- VPS/Cloud host with full control (DigitalOcean, Linode, Cloudways, etc.).
- Use PHP 8.1+ with OPcache enabled.
- Enable Redis or Memcached for object caching.
- Use HTTPS everywhere with an SSL cert.
- Set up a staging subdomain (e.g.
staging.example.com).
🧰 3. Development Environment
- Use LocalWP, Laravel Valet, or DevKinsta for local dev.
- Use Git from day one. Set up GitHub or GitLab repo.
- Enable WP_DEBUG,
WP_DEBUG_LOG,SCRIPT_DEBUGin wp-config.php. - Set up error log file monitoring.
🔐 4. Security Best Practices
- Change
wp_table prefix. - Disable file editing in wp-config:
define( 'DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true ); - Use a WAF (Cloudflare or Sucuri).
- Install Wordfence or iThemes Security.
- Set strong passwords & enable 2FA for admin.
🧪 5. Testing & Quality Control
- Test all forms, menus, buttons, sliders, AJAX calls.
- Check on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, mobile browser.
- Validate HTML/CSS with W3C Validator.
- Test site speed with GTmetrix, WebPageTest, or PageSpeed Insights.
- Optimize images with WebP, lazy load, and compression.
🔄 6. Update Routine
- Weekly core/plugin/theme updates—only after backup.
- Test in staging first if possible.
- Avoid plugin bloat—replace 3 plugins with 1 line of code if you can.
- Document version numbers in changelog or Git commits.
💬 7. Debugging Toolkit
Install and configure:
- Query Monitor – debug database, hooks, REST, etc.
- Health Check & Troubleshooting – isolate plugin/theme conflicts.
- Debug Bar – another classic dev tool.
- Log viewer plugin or direct access to
wp-content/debug.log.
📦 8. Plugin Audit
- Remove all unused plugins.
- Avoid overlapping plugins (e.g., 2 SEO or 2 cache plugins).
- Replace bloated plugins with lightweight alternatives (or custom code).
- Update and document licensed plugins.
💾 9. Backup & Restore Plan
- Install UpdraftPlus, BlogVault, or similar.
- Schedule automatic daily or weekly backups.
- Store backups offsite: Dropbox, S3, or Google Drive.
- Test restore at least once—don’t assume it works.
🚀 10. Post-Launch Monitoring
- Set up Uptime Monitoring (UptimeRobot, Better Uptime).
- Set up Error Tracking (Sentry, LogRocket).
- Track performance with New Relic or Query Monitor.
- Monitor logs weekly. Review debug.log for hidden issues.
🧠 Final Tip: Treat Your Site Like Software, Not a Blog
WordPress may have started as a blogging platform, but in the right hands, it’s a full-fledged development framework.
🔁 Build smart
🧪 Test often
🧱 Stay minimal
🔐 Secure everything
💾 Backup always
If you’re running a client agency, plugin business, or just want enterprise-level standards—this is the mindset and workflow to adopt.