Capabilities vs Roles: Get It Right
Check capabilities, never roles. current_user_can('manage_options') survives custom roles; current_user_can('administrator') breaks the first time someone adds a new admin-equivale…
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Multisite vs Single Site: When to Choose
Multisite makes sense when sites share users, themes, plugins, and a billing relationship — a university with department sites, an agency hosting clients with shared…
Read article →apply_filters Performance: When It Matters
Every apply_filters() call has overhead — even with no hooked callbacks. On a hot path running thousands of times per request, that adds up.For inner-loop…
Read article →Hooked Blocks via Block Hooks API
The Block Hooks API (WP 6.4+) lets a block declare it should auto-insert relative to another block. blockHooks in block.json maps target block names to…
Read article →Custom Database Tables in WordPress
When postmeta queries dominate your slow log, it is time for a custom table. dbDelta() with a CREATE TABLE statement on activation, then $wpdb queries…
Read article →Designing Empty States You Will Actually Read
An empty state is a first impression for a feature. 'No data' is a missed opportunity — explain what the feature does, why it is…
Read article →Form Validation That Respects the User
Validate on blur, not on every keystroke. A user typing their email should not see 'invalid email' before they finish the @.Show errors inline, anchored…
Read article →Designing for Real Devices, Not Devtools
Devtools device emulation does not reproduce slow CPUs, OS keyboards, or 3G networks. Test on a 2018 mid-range Android occasionally — the experience differs sharply…
Read article →Why Tooltips Are the Wrong Answer Most of the Time
Tooltips are invisible by default. Users do not hover icons looking for hidden help — they tap and hope.If the label is essential, put it…
Read article →Choosing a Default That Does the Right Thing
The first default beats the user's first decision. The longer it persists, the more users you affect — and the more you should sweat the…
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