1How do you audit plugins before installation?
Review WP Hive reports for memory and query impact, check update cadence, and confirm compatibility with your PHP/WordPress versions. Read support forums for unresolved issues. Maintain a request form so stakeholders justify new plugins with business goals.
Score each plugin 1-5 for security, support, and performance to compare alternatives objectively.
2Why should you use staging environments?
Clone production to staging, enable WP_DEBUG, and install or update plugins there first. Run checkout, subscription, and fulfillment flows. Use version control or deployment tools (Buddy, DeployHQ) to push changes only after QA signoff.
Mirror cron schedules and caches on staging so behavior matches production.
3How do you optimize plugin performance?
Lazy load plugin assets, disable features you do not need, and dequeue scripts on templates where they are unused. Pair Perfmatters or Asset CleanUp with server caching. Replace bloated plugins with lightweight custom code when only one feature is required.
Set quarterly reviews to remove inactive plugins; fewer plugins mean fewer security risks.
4How do you handle updates without downtime?
Schedule maintenance windows, back up database/files, and use tools like WP Rollback or VersionPress for quick reverts. Update one plugin at a time, clearing caches and retesting mission-critical flows between each change.
Automate status notifications via Slack or email so teams know when maintenance starts and ends.
5When should you commission custom development?
If multiple plugins overlap, security concerns arise, or performance targets suffer, build a tailored extension. Document requirements, create specs, and ensure code follows WordPress Coding Standards. Keep custom plugins in private repos with semantic version tags.
Budget for ongoing maintenance of custom work; WooCommerce updates can deprecate hooks you rely on.