AI Built the Plugin. Now What?

Thanks Pressable for supporting the show! Get your special hosting deal at https://pressable.com/wpminuteBecome a WP Minute Supporter & Slack member at https://thewpminute.com/supportThis episode of The WP Minute follows Eric Karkovack through his first experience releasing a WordPress plugin with a little help from AI.Eric joins Matt to talk about Karks CRM, an open-source CRM and invoicing plugin he built to replace his aging QuickBooks Desktop workflow. Claude did much of the coding, but Eric provided the direction, testing, revisions, and real-world business requirements.The conversation gets into what AI can actually handle, where human judgment still matters, and what happens when AI-generated code meets the standards of the WordPress.org plugin repository. Eric shares what he learned from the review process, including an issue with CSV sanitization that required multiple rounds of changes.Matt and Eric also talk about why WordPress's stability and community still matter, especially as developers rush toward AI-generated tools and frameworks. And with Karks CRM now open source, the next question is what happens when other WordPress users start asking for features.TakeawaysAI can build a working plugin surprisingly fast.The developer still has to direct, test, and validate the work.AI-generated code doesn't automatically meet WordPress standards.WordPress's plugin review process still catches problems AI misses.UI and usability can require more iteration than the code itself.Open source turns a personal tool into a community commitment.WordPress's stability is still valuable for long-term client work.Community is one of WordPress's biggest advantages.Client data makes hosting and security decisions especially important.AI may change how plugins get built, but judgment still matters.Important LinksKarks CRM: Karks CRM on WordPress.orgKarks CRM website: Karks CRMClaude Code: Claude CodePlugin Check:. Plugin CheckWP-CLI: WP-CLIEmail delivery service Eric mentions: MailgunRecommended security setup for a site containing client data: Cloudflare ★ Support this podcast ★