If you’re just getting started with WordPress development, the vast array of products can be overwhelming. To make your life easier, we’ve rounded up the essential products all first-time developers should have in their toolboxes. From hosting services to plugins and more, these tools will help you build an effective website with ease.
WordPress Theme Customization and Development
A great WordPress theme is essential for developing a website that looks good and performs well for users. Fortunately, there are countless themes to choose from these days, all designed to meet different needs. When selecting a theme, make sure you opt for one that’s easy to customize and develop according to your specific requirements. Look into premium themes if you want added features such as sliders and typography options.
Website Design (Wireframing and Prototyping)
Wireframing and prototyping tools are essential for any website development project. A wireframe is a basic outline of what the user will experience when visiting the site, while a prototype is an interactive version that adds details about functions and behavior. Wireframes and prototypes help design professionals visualize what users will see as they navigate the website before any formal coding gets underway. There are plenty of services to choose from such as Adobe XD, Fluid UI, Figma, HotGloo, Balsamiq, and Proto.io.
SEO Optimization Tools
SEO optimization is another key aspect of website development for beginners. Having the right tools to ensure your website ranks high in search engine results can make a big difference in your online presence and reach. Popular SEO optimization tools include Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, Yoast SEO, and Raven Tools. These services offer keyword research, content optimization, link building, and more to help you get the most out of your site.
Text Editors and IDEs (Integrated Development Environments)
For those starting out with coding, having the right text editor or IDE can make a world of difference. Common WordPress development products in this category include Atom, Sublime Text, Visual Studio Code, and Brackets. However, if you’re looking for more comprehensive tools to work on multiple projects at once, integrated development environments like Eclipse, NetBeans, and IntelliJ are worth considering.
WordPress Development Debugging Tools.
Debugging can be an intimidating task, but having the right tools makes it easier. Popular WordPress debugging tools include XDebug, WP Checkup, and Query Monitor. XDebug provides an integrated stack trace of errors as well as detailed reports on how your server is performing. WP Checkup scans your system for common WordPress issues such as plugin conflicts or corrupt files. Query Monitor helps you debug slow query times within the WordPress database.
