Category: Life

  • Here’s What I’d Do Differently If I Were Starting Today

    I’ve been working with WordPress for over a decade.
    Built client sites. Shipped plugins. Made mistakes. Got better.

    If I had to start from scratch today — no network, no portfolio, no plugins — I’d do a few things very differently.

    Here’s what I wish I knew earlier.

    1. I’d Focus on Plugins Sooner

    For too long, I stayed in the “build websites for clients” lane.
    It paid the bills — but didn’t build leverage.

    If I started today, I’d get into plugin development earlier.
    Even something tiny.
    Just enough to:

    • Learn how WordPress works behind the scenes
    • Launch something public
    • Build momentum

    2. I’d Ship Small, Then Learn

    My first plugin ideas were too big.
    I wanted dashboards, options pages, custom tables — the works.

    Now I know: small plugins teach you more, faster.
    They’re easier to test, easier to support, and more likely to reach users quickly.

    3. I’d Write and Share My Process Publicly

    I kept things private for too long.

    If I started today, I’d:

    • Write short blog posts or dev logs
    • Share problems I’m solving on Twitter or my site
    • Be more visible in the WordPress community

    It’s not about building a “brand.”
    It’s about building trust — and trust brings opportunities.

    4. I’d Pick One or Two Tools — and Go Deep

    There’s always a new framework, a new build tool, a hot repo.

    But if I were starting again, I’d skip the noise and:

    • Learn PHP and JavaScript deeply
    • Understand how WordPress hooks and filters actually work
    • Master a few core plugins/tools (like ACF, WP-CLI, or Gutenberg)

    Mastery compounds over time.

    5. I’d Learn How to Support a Plugin Before Monetizing It

    You don’t need Stripe and subscriptions on Day 1.

    You need:

    • A plugin people actually want
    • A way to handle support clearly
    • A habit of improving what you ship

    If I had started with free plugins and honest support, I would’ve been much more ready for paid ones.

    Final Thought

    There’s no perfect starting point.
    But if I could rewind — I’d start smaller, ship faster, and talk more openly.

    It’s not just about being a better developer.
    It’s about building a career with a strong foundation, one small launch at a time.

  • Why I Still Build for WordPress in 2025

    There’s a lot of noise around WordPress these days.

    Some say it’s bloated.
    Some say it’s old.
    Some think no-code tools or headless stacks will take over.

    But here I am — still building WordPress plugins, still excited to ship something new.

    Here’s why.

    1. WordPress Is Still the Web’s Backbone

    WordPress powers more than 40% of the internet — and that number hasn’t dropped in any meaningful way.

    That means:

    • The ecosystem is alive.
    • People are still launching new businesses on it.
    • And there’s still room for meaningful tools that solve real problems.

    If you’re building for the web, it still makes sense to build for WordPress.

    2. It Lets Me Ship Fast

    I don’t need a 10-step build chain or a devops pipeline to launch a plugin.
    With WordPress:

    • I can build something in a few evenings.
    • Launch it on the .org repo or my site.
    • Get feedback within days.

    It’s rare to have a platform that lets you go from idea → product → user feedback that quickly.

    3. The Plugin Model Still Works

    WordPress plugins are still a great way to:

    • Solve narrow problems
    • Reach a global audience
    • Build sustainable revenue (even as a solo dev)

    And the barrier to entry is still low — especially if you focus on quality and not hype.

    4. I Understand It Deeply

    After more than a decade in this space, I know the ins and outs of plugin building — the hooks, the gotchas, the real-world use cases.

    That matters.

    Because chasing shiny frameworks or stacks just for the sake of it often leads to half-finished ideas.
    I’d rather go deeper into something I already love — and keep leveling up there.

    5. It’s Not About the Stack — It’s About the People

    I’ve met clients, collaborators, contributors, and friends through WordPress.
    I’ve been to dozens of WordCamps.
    I’ve seen the impact this platform has — on people’s careers, businesses, and lives.

    That’s hard to walk away from.

    Final Thought

    I don’t build for WordPress because it’s perfect.
    I build for it because it’s possible.

    Possible to ship fast.
    Possible to reach real users.
    Possible to grow without a team of 10 and $100k in funding.

    And that possibility still excites me — every single day.

  • How I Stay Motivated as a Solo WordPress Developer

    Working solo sounds like freedom.
    And in many ways, it is.

    No daily standups.
    No endless meetings.
    No “Can you just…” messages at 9 PM.

    But it also comes with silence. Doubt. And days where nothing moves unless you move it.

    Over the years, I’ve found a few things that keep me grounded and motivated — even when no one’s watching.

    1. I Celebrate Small Wins

    When you’re working solo, there’s no team Slack channel to say “well done.”

    So I’ve learned to pause and celebrate:

    • A bug fixed that took hours to track.
    • A new active install on a plugin I launched.
    • Even just writing one good blog post.

    The small wins are the fuel.

    2. I Build in Public (Even a Little)

    Sharing what I’m working on — on Twitter, through my blog, or now via YouTube — creates a gentle sense of accountability.

    It’s not about likes or validation.
    It’s about momentum.
    It reminds me that someone, somewhere, might find this useful.

    3. I Keep a “Why” Document

    I maintain a small note (on paper + Notion) with reasons I chose this path:

    • More freedom.
    • Creative control.
    • To build tools I wish existed.

    On slow days, I revisit it.
    It helps.

    4. I Switch Context with Purpose

    If I’m tired of writing PHP, I might write an article.
    If content feels stale, I work on a plugin UI.
    If I need inspiration, I go for a ride.

    Solo devs can shift gears fast — that’s a superpower when used wisely.

    5. I Remember It’s Okay to Pause

    Motivation comes and goes.
    I’ve learned not to panic when it dips.

    Instead of pushing through burnout, I step back.
    I rest. I walk. I ride my Yezdi through the hills.

    The work will wait — and it’s always better when I return with energy.

    Final Thought

    Staying motivated isn’t about hacks or perfect habits.
    It’s about staying connected to why you’re doing this, and giving yourself enough room to enjoy the process.

    Some days are for launching.
    Some are for listening.
    And some are for just writing one good line of code and calling it a win.

  • How I Balance Client Work, Product Building, and Content Creation

    I wear a few hats:
    I run a WordPress agency.
    I build plugins.
    I write articles like this one.
    And now I’ve started a YouTube channel too.

    People often ask how I juggle all of it without burning out.

    The short answer: I don’t do it all at once.
    The long answer? Let’s break it down.

    1. I Work in Seasons, Not Sprints

    Instead of trying to make equal progress on everything every day, I pick a theme for the week (or month).

    • One week, I might focus mostly on plugin updates.
    • Another, I might batch YouTube scripts or record shorts.
    • If there’s a big client delivery coming up, that takes the front seat.

    This way, I avoid context-switching fatigue and make deeper progress.

    2. I Create Before I Consume

    Most of my creative work happens before 1 PM.

    That means:

    • I don’t check emails first thing in the morning.
    • I don’t open Twitter or YouTube Studio before writing.
    • I block notifications while recording or coding.

    Protecting the first few hours of the day helps me actually ship things.

    3. I Build Systems Around Repeating Tasks

    I hate repeating myself. So wherever possible, I systemize:

    • I use templates for support replies.
    • I reuse Notion outlines for every blog post.
    • I’ve made plugin starter kits so I don’t rebuild boilerplate.

    Less decision-making = more doing.

    4. I Embrace Imperfect Consistency

    There are weeks where I miss a post.
    There are days where support takes longer.
    Sometimes, I scrap a video halfway.

    But that’s okay.
    I don’t chase “perfect productivity.” I just try to show up again tomorrow.

    5. I Keep Everything Rooted in Why

    Client work pays the bills.
    Plugins build assets.
    Content helps me connect, reflect, and grow long-term trust.

    As long as I remember why I’m doing each of them, it becomes easier to prioritize.

    Final Thought

    Balance isn’t a fixed formula.
    It’s more like a rhythm — shifting, adjusting, adapting based on where I’m at.

    Sometimes I lean more into products.
    Sometimes I ride out a creative wave with content.
    Sometimes I take a weekend off and do nothing at all.

    And that’s what keeps it sustainable.

  • How I Handle Support Without Losing My Mind

    When I released my first few plugins, I was excited to see people using them.
    Until the support tickets started rolling in.

    Some were polite. Some were rude. Some made no sense.
    And at one point, I was spending more time answering emails than writing code.

    That’s when I realized: support isn’t just about solving problems — it’s about managing energy.

    Here’s what I do now to keep support sane, consistent, and (mostly) stress-free.

    1. I Document Everything Once

    If I find myself answering the same question more than twice, I write a public answer.

    • I create a help doc or FAQ.
    • I link to it from the plugin page.
    • I include it in the plugin settings UI if needed.

    This reduces back-and-forth.
    More importantly, it respects both my time and the user’s time.

    2. I Don’t Rush Replies

    It’s tempting to reply instantly, especially when someone’s frustrated.
    But I’ve learned that urgency creates anxiety.

    Unless it’s critical, I give myself permission to reply in 24–48 hours.
    And most users are okay with that — as long as they feel heard.

    3. I Separate Support from My Creative Time

    I don’t check support when I’m in “build mode.”
    Instead, I batch replies once or twice a day — usually in the afternoon when my energy dips.

    This way, support doesn’t hijack my creative flow.

    4. I Use Snippets, Templates, and Saved Replies

    Over time, I’ve built a library of saved replies for common situations:

    • Troubleshooting steps
    • “This is not a bug, it’s expected behavior”
    • “Here’s a snippet to solve that”

    It’s not robotic — it’s efficient.
    And I always personalize the start and end of every message.

    5. I Accept That Not Everyone Will Be Happy

    Some users will never read the docs.
    Some will blame your plugin for a conflict caused by something else.
    Some just want to vent.

    I don’t take it personally anymore.
    I do my best, but I don’t carry it beyond that.

    Final Thought

    Support is part of the job.
    But it doesn’t have to steal your time, your energy, or your joy for building.

    Set boundaries, stay kind, and automate where it makes sense.
    And remember — for every tough support ticket, there’s a happy user you helped quietly. That’s who you’re building for.

  • I Started a YouTube Channel — xwpankit

    This year, I decided to try something new.

    After years of writing plugins, blog posts, and building quietly, I’ve started a YouTube channel called xwpankit — focused entirely on WordPress.

    It’s not about tutorials or polished course content (not yet, at least).
    It’s about quick ideas. Things I’ve learned. Tips that might help you ship faster, write cleaner code, or just feel more at home in the WordPress ecosystem.

    I’m starting with Shorts — fast, useful, no-fluff videos you can watch in under 60 seconds.

    Things like:

    • Plugin dev tips I wish I knew earlier
    • Core features people overlook
    • UI/UX ideas I’ve picked up
    • Behind-the-scenes of building tools used on 30,000+ sites

    Eventually, I’ll add longer videos too — maybe tutorials, maybe just thoughts from the road.
    But for now, I’m keeping it light, consistent, and real.

    If you’re into WordPress, building products, or just curious how I work — subscribe here.

    xWPAnkit Logo

    It’s a new way for me to share what I’ve always loved about WordPress:
    That it’s not just a CMS — it’s a canvas.

    Let’s see where this goes.

  • Why Building Slowly Beats Building Fast

    The internet moves fast.
    Especially in the WordPress world, it can feel like there’s always a rush to ship, to launch, to release the next version before someone else does.

    For a long time, I believed in that pace too. Build fast. Launch fast. Move fast.
    And yes, there’s some truth to it. Speed matters.
    But what I’ve learned over time, especially through building plugins that thousands of people use, is that building slowly often wins in ways that speed never can.

    When you slow down, you notice details that you would otherwise miss.
    A confusing setting label.
    A button that feels a little off.
    A smarter way to structure your database.
    Small things that, when added up, change the entire user experience.

    When you slow down, you build with users in mind, not just features.
    You think about what happens after they install your plugin, not just how to get them to install it.

    When you slow down, you write cleaner code.
    You leave fewer landmines for yourself six months later.
    You debug less, because you thought about edge cases before they exploded.

    When you slow down, you stay connected to why you’re building something.
    You’re not just chasing downloads, likes, or product launches.
    You’re solving real problems, in ways that actually make sense long-term.

    I’m not saying “move slow and break things.”
    I’m saying move with attention.
    Move with care.

    There’s a huge difference between rushing something out the door, and shipping something solid because you were willing to sit with it a little longer.

    Fast is flashy.
    Slow is sustainable.

    In a world that celebrates quick wins, slow builders quietly build things that last.

    And that’s the kind of work I want to keep doing.

  • Why I’m Starting This Blog (Again)

    I’ve been building things on the web for over a decade — plugins, websites, products, systems.

    But somewhere along the way, I stopped writing about the other stuff — the in-between moments, the experiments, the stories behind the screen.

    So here I am.
    Starting fresh. Writing again. Sharing what feels right.

    This blog isn’t about “how-to” guides or SEO content. It’s about thoughts, travels, code, creativity, and the random detours I take in life and work.

    Sometimes personal. Sometimes technical. Always honest.

    Thanks for reading — and if you’re on a similar journey, I’d love to hear from you.