A WordPress theme (with the Block Editor since 2019 and the site editor since 2022) defines the layout of pages and posts, while plugins extend the functionality of the WordPress core.
Instead of overloading every project with options and features, I avoid performance-killing page builders and plugins to focus on speed and performance – for visitors and also for the editorial experience.
For common functions like complex forms, security monitoring, translations, or SEO, my projects specifically rely on a few professional plugins. However, most client projects benefit from customised development. By writing custom, modular code based on WordPress standards, I ensure high quality standards and long-term maintainability.
If a website requires special interactive features—for example, for a web application or an interactive widget—I evaluate the requirements and usually opt for modern, pure JavaScript. For complex solutions, I typically use React, often in combination with REST APIs like the one provided by WordPress.
Quality standards
The foundation of the entire internet is high-quality, maintainable code. I make it a priority to ensure that every website and every project meets a professional level of quality, is based on common coding standards, and implements proven, modern best practices.
Every project follows the official World Wide Web Consortium guidelines for HTML and CSS, and server-side code consistently adheres to standards such as PSR through the use of tools like PHPStan.
WordPress offers a variety of approaches, which is one of its strengths. Website owners can install inexpensive, pre-built themes and plugins themselves, but often run the risk that their developers don’t sufficiently consider quality and longevity. Therefore, it makes sense to base your online communication on a quality solution.
AI or hand coding
I have many years of experience implementing high-quality solutions, both as a collaborator and as a team leader. All projects are developed with clean, efficient, and maintainable code. Thanks to in-depth system and language knowledge and a precise attention to detail, projects often remain online for years without a constant need for technical reworking.
Since 2022, I have been using tools like ChatGPT and Copilot for technical prototyping. They support the development process, but do not replace it. Through my experience and thanks to a critical eye, I quickly recognise the weak, inefficient code that AI models often generate and I ensure that clients receive a truly sustainable solution—not just “vibe coded” in the hope that it will work.
I take my work for my clients seriously.
Not only my own experience, but also recent studies show that the use of AI coding tools can actually slow down experienced developers. Even the manufacturer OpenAI states that errors (or “hallucinations”) will inevitably remain part of automatic code generation.
Given the rapid development in this field, it is important for me to always keep up with current coding practices.
