So, you’re new to web development. You’re learning Laravel, React, Vue, or whatever’s trending on Twitter this week. You’re building to-do apps, arguing about tabs vs. spaces, and rolling your eyes at the idea of WordPress. “Ugh, WordPress isn’t real coding,” you say. “It’s just dragging blocks around, right?”
I get it. I used to think the same way.
When I started, I treated WordPress like that old, dusty tool in the garage. Real developers code from scratch! Real developers use fancy frameworks! Real developers… uh, judge things they’ve never tried?
Then I actually became a WordPress developer. And holy guacamole, was I wrong.
Let’s Talk About the “Not a Real Developer” Myth
First, the elephant in the room: yes, you can use WordPress without writing code. Plugins, themes, page builders—they make it accessible. But here’s the thing: that’s the point. WordPress democratizes the web. It lets small businesses, artists, and yes, cat bloggers, exist online without needing a PhD in JavaScript.
But if you’re a developer? You’re not just installing plugins and picking colors. You’re:
- Building custom themes from scratch (HTML, CSS, PHP, anyone?),
- Writing plugins that do exactly what your client needs,
- Hooking into REST APIs, databases, and third-party services,
- Optimizing performance for millions of visitors (yes, millions. I have done that).
This isn’t “drag and drop.” It’s problem-solving, architecture, and creativity—just like any other dev job.
WordPress Powers the Big Leagues
Think WordPress is just for hobby sites? Let’s name-drop:
- TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com
The go-to site for startup news and tech trends. - The White House
https://www.whitehouse.gov/
The official White House site during the Obama administration. - The Rolling Stone
https://www.rollingstone.com
Music, culture, and politics—all on WordPress. - The Walt Disney Company (News & Blogs)
https://thewaltdisneycompany.com
Disney’s official news and blog hub. - Microsoft News Center
https://news.microsoft.com
Microsoft’s official news platform. - Time.com
https://time.com
The online home of the iconic TIME magazine. - Harvard University Blogs
https://blogs.harvard.edu
Harvard’s official blogging platform for research and insights. - NASA
https://nasa.gov
NASA’s official blog platform for space exploration updates. - The Obama Foundation
https://www.obama.org
The official site for President Obama’s foundation.
These aren’t “simple blogs.” They’re high-traffic, complex platforms with custom functionality—and they run on WordPress.
Why Being a WordPress Developer is Low-Key Awesome
- You’ll Never Run Out of Work: Over 40% of the web uses WordPress. That’s half the internet. Small businesses, Fortune 500s, nonprofits—they all need WP devs.
- You Can Go Deep or Wide: Love front-end? Build sleek themes. Obsessed with optimization? Dive into server-level caching. Into security? Become the WP security guru.
- Instant Gratification: Unlike coding a SaaS app for 6 months before launch, you can ship a client’s site in days (and get paid).
- Community Vibes: The WordPress community is massive, friendly, and full of free resources. No gatekeeping, just people sharing code.
“But Isn’t WordPress Old?”
Sure, WordPress is 20. So is Taylor Swift. Age doesn’t mean outdated. The platform evolves constantly: block editors, headless WP, modern PHP standards. It’s like a retro car with a Tesla engine.
Final Takeaway: Stop Snobbin’, Start Buildin’
WordPress isn’t a “lesser” path—it’s a different one. And honestly? It’s fun. You get to solve real problems for real people, flex your coding muscles, and actually make money while doing it.
Next time someone dismisses WordPress, just smile and think: “Cool, more job security for me.”
P.S. If you’re still skeptical, try building a custom theme or plugin. You might just fall in love with the chaos.
