When you need new functionality on a WordPress site, you’ve got choices:
- Install a plugin.
- Drop some code into your child theme.
- Use something like Code Snippets to hook in little features.
But how do you know which approach makes the most sense? Does it really matter? And what are the long-term implications of each?
One area that doesn’t get enough attention is the idea of creating your own small functionality plugins. Many of us lean on tools like Code Snippets because they’re easy — but “making a plugin” feels intimidating. The truth is, it’s often simpler than it sounds, and the benefits can be huge: better organization, portability, maintainability, and fewer headaches down the road.
This session with Mark Westguard (from WS Form) will tackle the pros and cons to each approach, and show us how even a non-developer can whip up their very own functionality plugin.
By the end, you’ll not only know when to choose each approach — you’ll leave with the confidence to build your own lightweight plugins!