Project: Build a WP Plugin

Build a real WordPress plugin using Claude Code as your development partner. This project bridges your WordPress expertise with AI-assisted development.

What You’ll Build

A “Quick Links” WordPress plugin that:

Adds a custom post type for managing links/resources
Provides a Gutenberg block to display links
Includes a shortcode for classic editor users
Has an admin settings page
Exposes links via the REST API

Step-by-Step

1. Plugin Scaffold

> Create a WordPress plugin called "Quick Links" with:
> - Main plugin file with proper header
> - Activation/deactivation hooks
> - Standard WordPress plugin structure
> - Text domain for translations

2. Custom Post Type

> Register a "quick_link" custom post type with:
> - Title, editor, and thumbnail support
> - Custom fields: URL, description, category
> - Custom taxonomy: link_category
> - REST API enabled

3. Admin Interface

> Create an admin settings page for Quick Links:
> - Number of links to display (default 6)
> - Display style: grid or list
> - Show/hide descriptions
> - Custom CSS class option

4. Shortcode

> Create a [quick_links] shortcode that:
> - Accepts count, category, and style attributes
> - Renders a responsive grid of links
> - Uses the admin settings as defaults
> - Includes basic CSS styling

5. Gutenberg Block

> Create a Gutenberg block for Quick Links:
> - Block controls for count, category, style
> - Server-side rendering
> - Live preview in the editor

6. REST API Endpoints

> Add custom REST API endpoints:
> - GET /wp-json/quick-links/v1/links (with filters)
> - GET /wp-json/quick-links/v1/categories
> - POST /wp-json/quick-links/v1/links (with auth)

What You’ll Practice

WordPress plugin development patterns
Custom post types and taxonomies
Gutenberg block development
REST API extension
Claude Code for PHP development

Challenge Extensions

Add import/export functionality (CSV)
Build a widget for the sidebar
Add click tracking
Create a companion MCP server for managing links from Claude