Dev Hero

02/18/2026

Webflow is a solid starting point for a lot of startups, but there usually comes a day when you outgrow it. Whether it’s hitting a ceiling with SEO or needing more complex functionality, that transition to a custom build is a big milestone.

We recently helped a client make the move over to a custom Dev Hero WordPress setup. The goal wasn't just a fresh look: it was about building a foundation that could actually scale with them. We focused on clean code, better search visibility, and giving them full control over their own data.

Switching platforms can feel like a headache, but it’s a lot smoother when you have a clear path forward. If your current site is starting to feel a bit cramped for your growth plans, let’s chat about building something that fits where you're headed.

02/06/2026

Building a website usually starts with a simple goal, but it's easy to end up paying what I call the "Complexity Tax."

You know how it goes: you need a small feature, so you add a plugin. Then another for a different tweak. Toss in a heavy "do-it-all" theme, and suddenly you’ve got a digital house of cards. You’re paying for it in slow load times, constant security updates, and a backend that’s a nightmare to navigate.

At Dev Hero, we push for the opposite. For most startups, a lean, custom WordPress build is the best ROI you can get. We strip away the fluff and build exactly what you need: nothing more, nothing less. It makes the site faster, more secure, and way easier to scale as you grow.

You don’t need a tool that does a thousand things you’ll never touch. You need a site that does your five most important things perfectly.

Is your current site feeling a bit bloated or slowed down by too many moving parts? I’d love to hear what’s causing you the most head-scratching lately.

02/06/2026

If you're still dragging and dropping folders via FTP to update a WordPress site, we need to talk.

Seriously, it’s 2026. The "upload and pray" method is a recipe for broken sites and unnecessary stress. At Dev Hero, we’re all about making things cleaner and more reliable.

We’ve shifted entirely to automated CI/CD workflows using GitHub Actions. It’s basically "no-ops" for WordPress. You push your code, the tests run, and the deployment happens automatically. No manual interference, no "oops, I forgot that one file" moments.

It keeps things consistent and lets us focus on building features instead of managing server connections. We even put together a reusable deployment workflow that we use for almost every project. You can check it out here: github.com/dev-hero/reusable-wp-deploy

It’s a game-changer for keeping startups fast and their sites stable. How are you guys handling deployments these days? Still clinging to FileZilla or have you made the jump to automation?

02/04/2026

A slow website isn’t just a bummer for users: in 2026, it’s a technical liability on your startup’s balance sheet.

Think about it like debt. Every millisecond of delay is interest you’re paying in lost conversions and dropped SEO rankings. When we look at a site, we aren't just looking for "bugs." We're looking for where your performance is leaking capital.

The good news? There’s almost always low-hanging fruit. Sometimes it’s a bloated plugin, a script firing when it shouldn't, or an unoptimized image library that’s heavier than it needs to be. Finding those quick wins can make a massive difference in how your business scales.

Clean code isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about protecting your bottom line. At Dev Hero, we focus on custom WordPress builds that cut the fluff and keep things lean from the start.

Is your site moving at the speed of your business, or is it starting to feel like a liability? Let's chat about it in the comments.

02/02/2026

Building a website is just the beginning. At Dev Hero, we value long-term partnerships over one-off projects.

Agency life is most rewarding when we can grow alongside our clients, helping them navigate new tech shifts and scaling challenges as they happen. It’s about being more than just a vendor; it’s about being an extension of your team.

Shoutout to all the partners who have been with us on this journey!

02/02/2026

Remember when SEO was just about peppering keywords into a blog post? Those days are ancient history.

In 2026, we’re designing for two very different types of visitors: humans and AI crawlers.

When an LLM crawls your startup’s site, it isn’t "reading" the same way we do. It’s looking for structural clarity, semantic relationships, and clean data paths. If your site’s architecture is a maze, the AI simply won't "understand" what you do: which means you won’t show up when people ask AI search engines for solutions.

At Dev Hero, we’ve shifted our focus to auditing site structures for AEO (Answer Engine Optimization). We’re making sure the skeleton of your site is as clear to a machine as the UI is to a person. It’s about building a digital foundation that’s readable, relatable, and ready for the way people find information now.

How are you handling your site’s "AI readability" this year? Drop a comment or reach out if you want to chat about the structural side of things.

01/28/2026

Nerd alert! 🤓 WordPress 7.0 is officially on the horizon, and we’re looking at some of the biggest technical shifts in years.

As a developer, I’m most stoked about Phase 3. We’re finally moving past the "solo editor" era into full-blown real-time collaboration. Think live cursors and multi-user editing directly in the block editor: Google Docs style, but for your entire site.

But the real magic for agencies is under the hood:

🔹 The new DataViews and Field API: The admin UI is getting a complete React-powered overhaul. It’s a massive jump away from those clunky legacy PHP list tables.
🔹 The Abilities API: A standardized way for AI to actually "understand" and interact with the editor. No more fragmented AI implementations.
🔹 PHP 7.4 floor: If you’re still clinging to legacy servers, it’s officially time to level up.

It’s a lot to digest, but this is the foundation for how we’ll be building for the next decade.

Are you ready for the collab era, or are you dreading the admin UI changes? Let’s talk shop in the comments! 👇

04/12/2023

WordPress has recently introduced FullSite Editing (FSE), an update that brings new possibilities for website design and customization. With FSE, you can now edit and design various aspects of your site, including headers, footers, sidebars, and content blocks, all within the same interface. 👩‍💻

This feature aims to streamline the process of creating and customizing a website, without the need for extensive coding knowledge. It's an exciting advancement for both beginners and experienced users who want to have more control over their site's design. 🎨

Have you tried WordPress FullSite Editing yet? What are your thoughts on this new approach to web design? Share your experience in the comments! 💬

04/03/2023

Nerd alert! 🤓 I've been working on a reusable GitHub Action for WP Engine and I think most of my development-minded colleagues will find it really helpful. Continuous Deployment (CD) and Continuous Integration (CI) are becoming increasingly important in today's code management process. SFTP just isn't the best practice anymore, nor is it particularly safe.

I've created a reusable GitHub Action, specifically targeted at deployments using WP Engine since I live in that hosting environment daily. Being reusable it will make multi-repository references more dynamic and the deployment functionality can be easily scaled to include more functionality down the road without the need to update more than one reference. I specifically built this to improve our deployment processes and streamline internal workflows. It can also make onboarding new team members much smoother. Check it out here: https://github.com/dev-hero/wp-engine-deploy

Feel free to share your thoughts and any suggestions you might have. Let's collaborate with a common goal of making make code management painless and efficient! 😊

Reusable workflow for WP Engine deployments. Contribute to dev-hero/wp-engine-deploy development by creating an account on GitHub.

01/30/2021

Setting up redundant storage for dailies on a new documentary project!

10/30/2020

New home office is coming along.