This is the technical path through SiteMods: a guide to the current WordPress framework stack, its optional components, and the boundaries that keep final websites maintainable.
For a broader introduction, begin with Web Development or Our Approach.
Plugin Framework
Component registration, autoloading, lifecycle coordination, hook loading, settings, registries, guarded integrations, and extension loading.
Theme Framework
Shared templates, hooks, navigation, layouts, accessibility, editor foundations, guarded commerce presentation, and child-theme inheritance.
Extensions
Ten focused, optional capability groups that remain disabled until a website deliberately enables them.
Standards
High-level practices for ownership, native platform use, accessibility, security, performance, documentation, and production readiness.
See How the Layers Connect
Plugin Integration
Follow site-plugin registration, loading, lifecycle, hooks, and the boundary between shared services and project behavior.
Theme Integration
See how a child theme inherits parent structure while retaining control of identity, assets, and focused presentation choices.
Development Process
Move from discovery and architecture to project-specific functionality, design, verification, launch preparation, and maintenance.
The Ownership Model
| Layer | Primary responsibility |
|---|---|
| Framework | Reusable infrastructure, safe defaults, and stable public contracts |
| Project starter | An internal starting structure for a consistent site-specific plugin or child theme |
| Extension | An optional group of related capabilities and settings |
| Final site | Content, business rules, integrations, workflows, and visual identity |