01Where PHP hurts
PHP is the language that runs WordPress, but the fault is almost never in “PHP”: it’s in a misused function, a query that scans too much, an abandoned plugin or a version the hosting no longer supports.
The work is to read the error, reproduce it and separate the symptom from the cause. Without that separation, the same problem gets patched over and over.
- Notices and errors repeating in the log.
- Slow queries, or queries that run on every load.
- Theme or plugin code that is no longer compatible.
- Outdated PHP without security updates.
First the fault is reproduced and the line or query is identified. Then it’s decided whether to repair, replace or isolate it.
02When it’s worth it and when it isn’t
Can stay
Good fit
- There’s a specific, reproducible error.
- The custom code is maintainable.
- The problem is in a locatable integration or plugin.
- Upgrading PHP is feasible.
- Repairing costs less than redoing.
Shouldn’t stay
Bad fit
- The plugin is abandoned and there’s no substitute.
- The code is so coupled that every change breaks something else.
- The architecture calls for another stack.
- The hosting doesn’t allow the needed version.
- Maintaining the code costs more than rebuilding.
The decision isn’t made out of stack preference: it’s made on cost, operations and real margin.
03What we do
This isn’t about defending the technology: it’s about deciding what to do with it. These are the actions usually requested by sites that arrive with this stack.
-
01
Pin down the error
Log, reproduction and trace down to the failing function or query.
Go to WordPress Rescue -
02
Optimize queries and hooks
Fewer queries, less work per load and more readable code.
Go to Speed and WPO -
03
Write what’s missing
Custom functions, integrations or tweaks without extra plugins.
Go to Web development -
04
Update without breaking
PHP, WordPress and dependencies with verification afterward.
Go to Support and maintenance
04Performance and maintenance
Can be optimized
- Repeated queries that can be cached.
- Hooks that load code on every page.
- Duplicated code across theme and plugins.
- PHP versions with real performance gains.
- Unnecessary scheduled tasks.
Can’t be papered over
- A closed plugin that can’t be touched.
- Code that depends on an old version.
- Hosting with limits that can’t be adjusted.
- An architecture that can’t be held up with patches.
Maintenance
Maintaining PHP means updating the version, checking compatibility and testing. No version gets raised in production without staging or a backup; saving an hour doesn’t make up for an outage.
Price and timeline
Diagnosis costs from €50. The repair or the development are quoted afterward, with the scope locked in. The timeline depends on reproducing the fault and on the dependencies.
What determines the costCode complexity · number of plugins · PHP version · hosting · integration scope
05Proof: declared capability
We don’t publish a PHP case with metrics if we don’t have permission. The capability is real; the public proof will be added when it exists.
PHP is level 1 (specialty). The code is read before a plugin is proposed, and we say when the problem isn’t fixed by an update.
See the projects06Frequently asked questions
Is it only for WordPress?
No, but that’s where it’s used most. PHP is also reviewed in integrations or custom code.
Do I have to update the PHP version?
If the hosting and the plugins allow it, yes. It’s tested first and a way back is always left.
Can a plugin replace custom code?
Sometimes. Cost, maintenance and dependency are weighed; a plugin isn’t installed for every single function.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
Diagnosis from €50. The repair is quoted afterward. The timeline depends on reproducing the fault and on the dependencies.
Can it be fixed without touching the theme?
Sometimes. If the fault is in the theme, the theme has to be touched; we say so before starting.