Modern WordPress Theme Development with WP Rig ft. Rob Ruiz

Brian Coords talks with software engineer and WordPress consultant Ian Svoboda about using AI agents in real client work. Ian shares his Claude Code and Codex review loop, how he gives agents practical access to WordPress and tests their changes, and examples from WooCommerce and large site migrations. They also discuss which plugins still earn their place, when clients need WordPress, and why developers should sell business results rather than code. Links Ian Svoboda’s website Learn WordPress Theme Development Ian Svoboda on X Ian’s previous Webmasters.FM episode Chapters 00:00 Ian Svoboda’s path from WordPress builds to AI agents 02:05 From Copilot experiments to agentic development 04:11 Why cross-model code review catches more 06:06 Terminal sessions, agent confidence, and reusable project rules 10:57 Letting agents communicate through panes and shared state 13:03 Giving agents safe, practical access to WordPress sites 16:13 Using WordPress APIs to accelerate client work 17:41 Testing a site migration across hundreds of pages 19:33 Custom WooCommerce features without plugin sprawl 22:44 When to fork a plugin instead of buying another 25:03 Which software products are vulnerable to vibe coding? 27:03 Small bets, custom tools, and measuring time with agents 30:55 Why complex business problems still need specialized products 33:08 Choosing WordPress, static sites, and the right client experience 36:24 SpaceFast for agent-made artifacts and presentations 39:04 Building agent workflows that survive model changes 41:05 Why developers should sell outcomes, not code 44:18 Ian’s upcoming workshop and where to follow him

Brian Coords speaks with Jonny Martin, founder of Built Mighty, a WooCommerce-focused development agency, about how AI is changing development and what agencies must do to stay valuable. Martin explains Built Mighty's AI-driven migration workflow, its Mighty Migrate service, why block themes can improve performance, and how smaller agencies can grow by specializing and delivering more value. Links Built Mighty Mighty Migrate Jonny Martin on LinkedIn Chapters 00:00 From Magento merchant to WooCommerce specialist 03:25 The 30-day challenge that made AI central to development 06:12 AI workflows: plan first or prototype first 08:21 Why AI-generated work still needs review and testing 10:32 Where agencies remain essential for high-stakes stores 13:05 Delivering more value as AI lowers build costs 16:15 How Mighty Migrate turns designs and stores into WordPress 20:33 Block themes, performance scores, and the practical stack 24:48 Choosing the right AI tools and simplifying WooCommerce 28:40 Advice for smaller agencies: specialize in repeatable work 32:32 More opportunity, stronger client relationships

Brian Coords talks with Nathan Wrigley and Dan Maby, co-founders of show.fm, about building a platform that brings podcast planning, booking, publishing, and related workflows together. They explain their human-first approach to AI, commitment to open RSS and creator ownership, and how customer feedback is shaping studio, editing, and distribution features. Links show.fm Nathan Wrigley on WordPress.org WP Builds Dan Maby on WordPress.org Dan Maby’s website Chapters 00:00 Meet Nathan Wrigley and Dan Maby 01:16 The podcast workflow problem behind show.fm 04:20 Helping podcasters get beyond episode three 06:16 Planning and architecture before scaling the product 08:49 How AI fits into development, with human oversight 13:48 AI that supports podcast makers, not replaces them 18:38 Podcasting, WordPress, and open publishing 22:01 RSS, ownership, and the video-versus-audio debate 24:45 Audio-first studio plans and customer feedback 29:29 WordPress distribution, the rebrand, and show.fm’s guest network

In this episode, Rob Ruiz and Brian Coords discuss the evolution of WordPress development, focusing on WP Rig, a modern theme framework. They explore how AI, automation, and best practices can streamline theme creation, improve quality, and address future challenges in content management and developer workflows. Links Rob Ruiz on X - https://x.com/robcruiz WP Rig - https://wprig.io/ WP Rig on X - https://x.com/wprigio Chapters Chapters 0:00 Introduction to Rob Ruiz and WP Rig 1:22 WordCamp US experience and key takeaways 3:33 What is WP Rig and why use it? 7:26 The importance of a toolkit for modern theme development 10:52 AI and agentic frameworks in theme creation 9:09 Handling updates and dependencies in WP Rig 14:17 Building components and plugins with WP Rig 16:45 The open component registry and plugin ecosystem 19:33 Supporting classic and block themes 22:09 Creating custom blocks and build system integration 24:40 Building admin UI and settings pages with WP Rig 28:16 Ensuring opinionated and consistent development workflows 38:31 Content management challenges and future solutions 39:51 The role of content storage and JSON in AI-driven development 41:12 Managing plugins, media, and clutter in WordPress 44:47 Getting involved with WP Rig community and resources

In this episode, Mike from Ollie shares insights on the evolution of WordPress site building, the role of AI, and how Ollie is simplifying website creation for users. Discover how Ollie integrates design, AI, and user experience to empower developers and non-coders alike. Links OllieWP WooCommerce Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Ollie and its evolution 02:04 Key features of Ollie and design touches 03:47 Balancing no-code and developer control 05:45 WooCommerce support and block themes 07:33 Future of WordPress and AI integration 09:04 Designing with AI and content generation 11:09 Challenges with WooCommerce blocks 13:05 Custom landing pages and product templates 14:59 Improving user experience and micro-interactions 16:38 The importance of UI and micro friction points 18:34 AI in content editing and site management 20:14 The role of developer tools and customization 22:25 AI features in Ollie and future plans 24:03 Balancing AI automation with user control 25:56 The sustainability and energy impact of AI 27:51 The importance of user-friendly interfaces 29:49 The future of content editing in WordPress 31:42 Closing thoughts and where to find Ollie

In this episode, Nik McLaughlin and I explore the complexities of community feedback, open source contribution, and the responsibilities of platform maintainers. We discuss how to foster trust, handle criticism, and improve collaboration within the WordPress ecosystem. Links Nik on Twitter Brian on Twitter WordPress 7.0 WordPress AI Connectors Need More Friction, Not Less by Marcus Burnette Nik's Original Thread Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:18 Community Feedback and Engagement 05:40 Understanding User Perspectives 08:29 The Value of Feedback 14:16 Navigating Negative Feedback 19:20 Open Source Responsibilities 24:02 The Dynamics of WordPress and User Expectations 27:46 AI Integration and Community Concerns 29:43 Community Conversations and Feedback Dynamics 35:14 Navigating Technical Bureaucracy in Open Source 41:13 The Time Investment in Open Source Contributions 44:42 Building Trust in Collaborative Environments 49:25 Transparency and Community Engagement in Development

In this conversation, Matt Medeiros discusses his recent experience creating a community-driven app during a significant blizzard, leveraging Cloudflare and Cloud Code for development. He reflects on the impact of AI on software development, the importance of trust in tech, and the evolving landscape of web development tools, particularly in relation to WordPress. The discussion also touches on the future of websites in an AI-driven world and the potential for more competition in providing tech solutions to local governments. Links Matt's Video The WP Minute Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Celebrity Status 08:52 Technical Choices and Cloud Platforms 13:15 The Future of Software Development 19:02 The Importance of Trust in a Competitive Landscape 23:50 The Evolution of WordPress and AI Integration 28:45 The Role of AI in Development and Trust Issues

In this episode, host Brian Coords and Skyverge’s Nik McLaughlin discuss the future of WooCommerce and the impact of the Model Context Protocol (MCP) on the WordPress ecosystem. They explore how AI is streamlining e-commerce development and enhancing user interactions, while also addressing critical challenges like privacy and interface design. Nik highlights the necessity of community collaboration and encourages listeners to actively participate in shaping these emerging technologies. Links Using a Local Model with MCP Tutorial Nik's Website Nik on Twitter SkyVerge Woo Extensions Chapters Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Nik McLaughlin and Skyverge 02:11 The Impact of AI on WooCommerce 07:55 Understanding Model Context Protocol (MCP) 11:20 Practical Applications of MCP in E-Commerce 21:33 Privacy Concerns and Local Models 29:38 Future Directions for WooCommerce and MCP

In this conversation, Brian Coords interviews Rodolfo Melogli about the upcoming Checkout Summit, focusing on the WooCommerce community and the importance of in-person conferences. Rodolfo shares his journey in the WordPress space, the need for networking opportunities, and the unique vibe of the conference set in Sicily. They discuss the diverse audience of WooCommerce, the challenges of content planning, and the exciting lineup of speakers for the event. Links Rodolfo on X Checkout Summit Business Bloomer Chapters 00:00 Introduction to WooCommerce and Rodolfo's Journey 06:16 The Importance of In-Person Conferences 11:28 Diverse Audiences in WooCommerce 16:36 The Checkout Summit: A Unique Experience 22:35 Speakers and Content at the Checkout Summit

In this conversation, Ian Misner discusses his work with Kestrel and the importance of checkout processes in e-commerce, particularly through their product CheckoutWC. He highlights the features that differentiate CheckoutWC from WooCommerce's default checkout, the significance of conversion rates, and the need for extensibility and customization in WooCommerce. Ian also shares insights on preparing for Black Friday sales and the balance between user experience and developer extensibility. Links CheckoutWC https://www.checkoutwc.com/ Kestrel on Woo https://woocommerce.com/vendor/kestrel/ Ian on Twitter https://x.com/ianmisner Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Ian Misner and Kestrel 02:05 The Importance of Checkout in E-commerce 05:52 Features and Benefits of CheckoutWC 11:31 Optimizing Checkout for Higher Conversions 15:11 Extensibility in WooCommerce and CheckoutWC 16:43 Navigating Third-Party Code Challenges 18:08 Payment Gateway Integrations and Compatibility 20:00 Balancing Extensibility and Customization 23:06 User Experience vs. Developer Flexibility 29:49 Preparing for Black Friday Success