WordPress Web Development Tools Every Developer Should Know

Introduction

WordPress is undoubtedly one of the most popular platforms for building websites. With its open-source nature and flexibility, it powers over 40% of all websites on the internet. However, developing for WordPress requires the right set of tools to ensure that developers can maximise productivity, streamline workflows, and deliver high-quality websites. Whether you’re a seasoned WordPress developer or just starting, there are a variety of tools that can make your development process smoother, faster, and more efficient.

In this article, we’ll explore some essential WordPress web development tools every developer should know. These tools can assist with everything from setting up a local development environment to debugging, testing, and optimising your WordPress site for performance and security.

1. Local by Flywheel

When it comes to local WordPress development, Local by Flywheel has undoubtedly earned its place as one of the most popular and well-regarded tools available. Developers have praised it for its remarkable simplicity and effectiveness in providing a hassle-free local development environment. As WordPress developers, we understand how crucial it is to have a streamlined, efficient development process. Whether you’re starting a new project from scratch, need to make quick changes, or simply want to test new features or plugins without affecting the live site, Local by Flywheel offers a solution that makes local WordPress development both easy and accessible.

One of the standout features of Local by Flywheel is its ability to set up WordPress locally without requiring complex configurations or dealing with cumbersome server setups. Developers no longer need to worry about manually configuring databases or wrestling with PHP settings — Local automates many of the processes that traditionally caused headaches. This ease of use makes it perfect for both beginners who are just getting started with WordPress development and experienced developers looking for a fast and efficient local development environment.

Key Features:

One-click WordPress installation: Local makes setting up WordPress locally a breeze, eliminating the need to manually install databases or configure PHP settings.
Environment switching: Local allows you to switch between PHP versions, so you can test compatibility across different versions of WordPress.
SSL support: It provides local SSL support, which is essential for testing secure sites.
Site sharing: You can share your local development environment with team members, making collaboration easier.

2. XAMPP/WAMP/MAMP

For developers who prefer a more hands-on approach and the flexibility to configure their local development environments to suit their specific needs, tools like XAMPP, WAMP, and MAMP provide excellent alternatives. These software packages offer developers the ability to set up and manage local web servers directly on their machines, giving them complete control over the environment in which they develop their WordPress sites.

Unlike tools such as Local by Flywheel, which provide a streamlined setup and user-friendly interface, XAMPP, WAMP, and MAMP allow developers to get deeper into the nuts and bolts of their local server configurations. With the inclusion of essential components like PHP, MySQL, and Apache, these tools enable developers to replicate the exact server environment used for live production websites, making them indispensable for more experienced developers or those working on complex, custom WordPress projects.

Key Features:

Customised setup: Developers have more control over their local server configuration, allowing them to tailor it to their specific needs.
Cross-platform support: XAMPP, WAMP, and MAMP are available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, making them versatile tools for developers working on different operating systems.
Plugin support: These environments allow you to install additional services like MailHog for email testing or phpMyAdmin for database management.

While these tools can be a bit more complex to configure than Local by Flywheel, they offer a greater degree of flexibility and customisation for developers who need it.

3. Sublime Text / Visual Studio Code

When it comes to code editing for WordPress development, Sublime Text and Visual Studio Code (VSCode) stand out as two of the most popular choices among developers. These editors are widely regarded for their speed, lightweight nature, and high customisability, making them perfect for working with languages like PHP, JavaScript, CSS, and HTML, which are commonly used to build and modify WordPress themes and plugins.

Both Sublime Text and VSCode offer a robust feature set that can significantly improve a developer’s productivity, especially when working on large-scale WordPress projects. These editors are not only powerful out of the box but also highly extendable, allowing developers to customise their experience through plugins, themes, and extensions.

Key Features:

Syntax highlighting and autocompletion: Both editors provide syntax highlighting for various programming languages, making it easier to write and debug code. They also offer autocompletion for faster coding.
Extensions and plugins: Both Sublime Text and VSCode support a wide range of extensions. For example, in VSCode, the PHP Intelephense extension provides IntelliSense for PHP, while the Prettier extension helps with code formatting.
Live preview and version control: With extensions like Live Server in VSCode, you can instantly see your changes on a local server. Both editors also integrate with version control systems like Git.

4. Debug Bar

When developing with WordPress, Debug Bar is an indispensable plugin that has proven to be an essential tool for developers working on themes, plugins, or complex WordPress projects. This plugin provides valuable debugging information directly within the WordPress admin toolbar, offering developers an easy and efficient way to identify issues and troubleshoot problems without leaving the WordPress dashboard. Whether you’re developing a custom theme, a new plugin, or managing an existing WordPress site, Debug Bar is an invaluable tool for improving your workflow and ensuring that your code runs smoothly.

Debug Bar is known for its ability to highlight and diagnose a range of issues that can impact performance, stability, and security. From PHP errors and database queries to HTTP requests and theme/plugin conflicts, Debug Bar provides developers with the insights they need to quickly resolve issues and optimise their WordPress site.

Key Features:

Real-time debugging: Debug Bar shows real-time information about the PHP errors, database queries, HTTP requests, and cache information that could be slowing down your site.
Customisable panels: You can add custom panels to Debug Bar to monitor specific aspects of your site, such as caching or cron jobs.

5. Query Monitor

When it comes to WordPress development, especially when focusing on performance optimisation, Query Monitor is an essential plugin for any developer’s toolkit. Query Monitor is an incredibly powerful and flexible debugging tool that provides in-depth information on database queries, HTTP requests, PHP errors, and various other performance-related issues. This plugin is invaluable for developers working to optimise the performance of their WordPress sites and troubleshoot complex issues.

Whether you’re building custom themes, developing plugins, or managing a WordPress site, Query Monitor helps you identify and resolve issues that could be affecting your site’s performance, security, or user experience. It provides detailed insights into everything happening on the backend, allowing developers to debug their code efficiently and optimise their workflows.

Key Features:

Database query analysis: Query Monitor provides detailed insights into the database queries executed during each page load, including execution time, which is critical for identifying slow queries.
Custom hooks and actions: It allows developers to see which actions and hooks were triggered during the page load, helping troubleshoot issues related to WordPress actions or filters.
Request tracking: Query Monitor tracks HTTP requests and provides detailed information about them, helping developers debug external API calls and resources.

6. WP-CLI

For developers who prefer working in the command line, WP-CLI is a game-changer. WP-CLI allows developers to manage WordPress sites entirely from the terminal. You can update plugins, configure settings, and even install WordPress themes with just a few simple commands.

Key features:

Quick WordPress management: WP-CLI helps you perform routine tasks much faster by automating commands that would typically require several clicks in the WordPress admin dashboard.
Batch processing: You can run commands on multiple WordPress sites at once, making it ideal for managing a network of websites.
Extensibility: WP-CLI can be extended with custom commands, making it a highly flexible tool for developers.

7. Elementor

For developers who want to streamline the process of building custom page layouts, Elementor is one of the most powerful and user-friendly page builders for WordPress. While it’s primarily known for its drag-and-drop capabilities, it also provides developers with advanced control over design, making it an excellent tool for both developers and designers.

Key features:

Customisable widgets: Elementor comes with a wide range of pre-designed widgets, but developers can also build custom widgets to suit specific needs.
Theme building capabilities: Developers can use Elementor to design headers, footers, and single post templates, giving them full control over the site’s design.
Extensibility: Elementor has a vibrant ecosystem of third-party plugins, which can extend its functionality with new widgets, templates, and design elements.

8. GitHub/GitLab

GitHub and GitLab are essential tools for version control and collaboration in web development. Both platforms enable developers to manage code, track changes, and work collaboratively on WordPress projects. Version control is crucial when working with teams, especially in larger projects where multiple developers are involved.

Key Features:

Version tracking: GitHub and GitLab keep track of every change made to your code, allowing you to revert to previous versions when needed.
Collaboration: Both platforms allow developers to collaborate on the same project through features like pull requests and issue tracking.
CI/CD pipelines: GitLab provides built-in Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, making it easier to automate the deployment process.

9. Google Lighthouse

Google Lighthouse is an open-source, automated tool for improving the quality of web pages. It provides developers with insights into performance, accessibility, SEO, and best practices for WordPress sites. It is particularly useful for web developers looking to optimise their site’s overall user experience.

Key Features:

Performance audits: Lighthouse helps developers identify performance bottlenecks, including slow-loading pages or large JavaScript files.
Accessibility checks: It ensures your WordPress site is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
SEO insights: Lighthouse provides suggestions for improving your site’s SEO, ensuring it ranks better in search engines.

10. Trello/Asana for Project Management

While not directly related to development, tools like Trello and Asana are invaluable for managing WordPress web development projects. These project management tools help keep tasks organised, collaborate with team members, and ensure deadlines are met.

Key Features:

Task management: Both tools allow developers to break down a project into manageable tasks, assign them to team members, and set due dates.
Collaboration: Developers can easily communicate with designers, clients, and other stakeholders, ensuring smooth collaboration throughout the project lifecycle.
Integration with other tools: Trello and Asana integrate with a variety of other apps, including Slack, GitHub, and Google Drive, allowing teams to centralise their workflow.

Conclusion

These WordPress web development tools are essential for any developer looking to streamline their workflow, optimise their website’s performance, and deliver high-quality WordPress sites. From local development environments to debugging tools and version control systems, these tools will make your development process more efficient, secure, and productive. By incorporating these tools into your development process, you can ensure that you’re not only keeping up with industry standards but also delivering the best possible websites for your clients.

Contact Digipixel today to build a website that stands out and drives measurable results.