What are WordPress Plugins?

WordPress plugins are software add-ons that extend your website’s functionality without altering the core WordPress files. This allows for easy addition of new features and enhancements, with a vast library of plugins available for almost any need. Using plugins is essential for maintaining compatibility during WordPress updates.

Plugins that are free:

• They are a convenient and easy way to use the WordPress service, making them suitable for websites with lower traffic.
• A large number of them are available in the WordPress plugin catalog, making it easy to try them out and assess their quality, as the code is accessible.
• Development is often open, allowing beneficial changes to be contributed to the project through donations.”

Plugins that can be purchased:

• Occasionally offers on-call support, with developers working to maintain security and ensure plugin compatibility with the latest version of WordPress, as well as with other plugins and themes.
• It is mostly compatible with other plugins, but sometimes the plugin’s code interferes with others, causing compatibility issues.
• If the plugin meets your exact needs, the cost is significantly lower than developing a custom solution. Development is usually closed, meaning changes that benefit you cannot typically be contributed to the project.

Plugins that are developed tailor-made:

• Do exactly what you want them to do.
• Full control over the quality of the plugin and its further development.
• Tested and adapted to the theme you use.
• Only features that benefit you are included in the plugin.

Development of customised WordPress plugins

Plugins that are available for free, as well as those sold on various websites, are often designed to address multiple issues for a wide range of users. However, their attempt to solve numerous problems simultaneously can lead to compatibility issues and significantly impact website performance. This is especially noticeable when multiple plugins are used on high-traffic websites.

A delay of just 50 milliseconds may be barely noticeable on a small website, but when ten thousand users visit the site, it results in over eight minutes of lost time, leading to missed opportunities. The more generic the plugins you use, the worse the performance will be, creating a substantial impact on your website’s efficiency.

By developing your own plugins, you extend WordPress by adding functionality beyond its core features. WordPress plugins can range from simple to complex, depending on their purpose. The simplest type of plugin consists of a single PHP file, while most WordPress plugins comprise multiple files. However, a plugin only requires one main file with a specially formatted DocBlock in the header.

At Angry Creative, we pay close attention to every detail and optimise every component of your web platform. Wherever possible, we refine existing plugins, remove unnecessary components and features, and ensure that separate plugins work seamlessly together. When a plugin’s structure is unstable or incompatible, we recommend an alternative solution or develop custom plugins tailored to your needs, optimised for both speed and usability.

Plugins we have developed