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 .gitignore for 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_DEBUG in 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.

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