Developers are increasingly using Claude Code coupled with the local dev environment called WordPress Studio to build WordPress plugins. This article demonstrates how to set up Claude Code and get started with WordPress Studio.
Installing Claude Code
The first step is to visit Claude Code. As with any AI tool, there is a paid plan involved. For Claude Code, users can choose from several available plans, with the option to default to the Pro Plan (the free plan) to get started.
After signing up, ensure your computer has Node.js 18 or higher installed, then copy the NPM command provided on the website and paste it into the Terminal. The installation process will run and complete, leaving Claude Code installed on the machine.
Installing WordPress Studio
Next, visit the Studio website. Studio is completely free and available for Mac and Windows—it can be installed directly from the site. After completing the installation, users will see a dashboard where they can set up a demo site (such as “My WordPress Website”).
From there, open the site folder in a code editor. Cursor is an AI-powered code editor option, though its AI features aren’t necessary for this process.
Setting up Claude Code
Once the site folder is open in the editor, the plugins folder and its contents become visible. Opening the Terminal inside the editor and simply typing “Claude” will prompt a message asking about trusting files in the folder—clicking “Proceed” opens Claude Code.
While Claude Code has many features, creating a simple plugin is a good place to start.
Creating a Simple WordPress Plugin with AI
When working with Claude Code, providing context is helpful, such as specifying being in the root of the WordPress site folder. A simple prompt like: “I want a simple plugin that displays a welcome message in the admin dashboard” is all that’s needed.
Claude Code will begin working and may ask for permissions, especially for first-time users:
- It will ask for permission to make directories (select “Yes, don’t ask me again”)
- It will create a new plugin folder
- It will ask for permission to make edits (select “Yes”)
The process builds a simple plugin automatically. When accessing the WordPress admin in Studio and activating the new plugin, the welcome message appears.
This is a basic example, but it demonstrates how quickly Claude Code can build WordPress components. From this starting point, developers can return to the Terminal and continue building more features, such as adding custom widgets or creating database tables. The possibilities are extensive with Claude Code.
As with any AI tool, there are best practices around providing context and prompting. There’s plenty of content on YouTube about how to maximize results with Claude Code.
Final Thoughts
This quick overview shows how developers can set up Claude Code and use it to build plugins locally using WordPress Studio. WordPress development continues to evolve with AI tools making the process faster and more accessible.
For more information on AI-assisted WordPress development, check out the WordPress Developer Blog which regularly features updates on new tools and techniques for modern WordPress development. Additionally, the official Anthropic developer documentation provides comprehensive guides on leveraging Claude’s capabilities for development tasks.
