Bash + PHP
A lightweight CLI for spinning up local WordPress sites — no Docker, no VMs, no overhead.
wp-local came from a need for speed and simplicity when setting up local WordPress environments. Instead of Docker or heavy VMs, it leverages PHP's built-in web server and a local MySQL instance to create fresh installations in seconds.
I built it as a shell-based utility that automates the boring parts of local setup: downloading WP, creating databases, configuring wp-config.php, and setting up a unified router. It also provides advanced features like WP-CLI passthrough and one-click auto-login, all managed from a single command.
Challenge
Local WordPress development often requires Docker or local server stacks, which can be resource-heavy or slow to start. The challenge was to build something zero-dependency that still feels like a modern developer tool, handling things like database generation and routing smoothly.
Approach
I chose Bash for the core implementation to ensure portability and zero startup time. I implemented a custom PHP router to handle path-based multisite routing on a single server instance. For the user experience, I focused on a simple command structure and automated environment checks to make setup frictionless. I also used Claude in a few places to help decide on better architectural patterns and UX details.
Highlights
Outcome
wp-local provides a middle ground between manual setup and heavy containers. It's the fastest way to spin up a quick test site, demo a feature, or work on a lightweight plugin without the overhead of Docker.