V Part Five
Extending with code
Custom plugins, hooks, and working with AI tools — for when you outgrow extensions.
For developers (and curious merchants).
- 01 Why Build Your Own Plugin When a custom plugin is better than hunting for an extension that half-fits your needs.
- 02 The Custom Plugin Approach Why a plugin file is better than pasting code into functions.php — and how to structure it.
- 03 Hooks, Filters & the WooCommerce API The fundamental concepts you need to understand — even if AI writes the code for you.
- 04 Using Claude Code to Build Extensions AI as infrastructure for building custom WooCommerce functionality. Not as a magic box — as a tool you direct.
- 05 Real Examples: Small Plugins That Replace Extensions Actual use cases where a custom plugin is the right call.
- 06 Maintaining Custom Code Custom plugins aren't "set and forget." Here's what ongoing maintenance looks like.
- 07 Advanced Diagnostic Snippets One-time code you run to diagnose a problem, then throw away. The most powerful troubleshooting technique nobody teaches.
- 08 Server Resource Planning for WooCommerce WooCommerce is a write-heavy, scheduled-action-dependent application. Most hosting plans aren't optimized for it. Here's how to estimate what you actually need.