WordPress Stinks!: A Developer's Perspective.
Back in 2012, I wanted to develop a freelancing site and was hit with choices of the tech stacks to use. WordPress was the fastest way to get online, but I was a little bit skeptic for the following 5 reasons.
Security Vulnerabilities
WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS), making it a prime target for hackers. Its open-source nature means that its code is readily available for inspection, which can make it easier for attackers to identify and exploit vulnerabilities. This puts WordPress websites at a higher risk of being compromised compared to custom-built sites.
Performance Issues
WordPress can become sluggish and slow-loading, especially on sites with a lot of content or traffic. This is due to its complex architecture and the reliance on plugins and themes, which can add unnecessary weight and bloat to the site. Poor performance can negatively impact user experience and search engine optimization (SEO).
Limited Customization and Flexibility
WordPress is designed for a specific purpose – managing blog-style content. While it can be adapted to create other types of websites, it can be challenging to achieve a truly custom and unique design or functionality without extensive coding and customization. This can limit a developer's creative freedom and ability to deliver a truly unique solution for their clients.
Plugin and Theme Dependency
WordPress relies heavily on plugins and themes to extend its functionality and appearance. While this can be convenient, it also introduces potential problems. Plugins can conflict with each other or with WordPress itself, causing compatibility issues and website malfunctions. Similarly, themes can become outdated or poorly maintained, leading to security vulnerabilities and performance issues.
Maintenance Burden
WordPress websites require regular maintenance to keep them secure, updated, and functioning properly. This includes managing plugins and themes, applying security patches, and performing backups. This ongoing maintenance can be time-consuming and expensive, especially for larger or more complex websites.
In summary, while WordPress can be a suitable option for some users, developers often find it limiting, insecure, and performance-challenged. For projects that demand high performance, flexibility, and security, custom-built solutions are often the preferred approach.