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Ido Barnea
Ido Barnea

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Automating WordPress Code Reviews Locally with WP Review & Claude Code

#wordpress #codereview #python #claudecode

Introduction

Manual code reviews for WordPress themes and plugins are time-consuming. Checking for naming collisions, security vulnerabilities, and adherence to WordPress Coding Standards is essential—but doing it from scratch for every project quickly becomes a bottleneck.

I built WP Review to solve this.

It’s a local utility that acts as a first-pass assistant, providing a structured analysis and a Markdown report before you even dive into the source code.

The Problem: The "Context Gap" in AI Reviews

When using LLMs like Claude for code review, they often lack:

  • local file context
  • awareness of WordPress-specific structures such as themes vs. plugins
  • understanding of WordPress coding standards

On top of that, many developers are hesitant to upload entire codebases to cloud tools due to privacy concerns.

The Solution: WP Review

WP Review is a Python-based CLI tool designed to run locally. It detects the project type, runs a series of security and standards checks, and outputs a score along with a detailed report.

Key Features

  • Auto-Detection

    Automatically distinguishes between a WordPress theme and a plugin.

  • Local-First

    Your code never leaves your machine—built with privacy in mind.

  • Claude Code Integration

    It can be installed as a local skill, allowing Claude Code to trigger audits and discuss the results with you in real time.

  • Standardized Output

    Generates a clean REPORT.md file for documentation or team sharing.

How It Works

The tool uses pattern-based checks focused on common WordPress pitfalls.

You can run it directly from your terminal:

Bash / CLI 

# Example usage
python wp-review.py ./path-to-your-plugin
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If you're using Claude Code, you can simply ask:

Analyze this local plugin for security standards.

Claude will then use the WP Review skill to scan files and provide a summarized verdict based on the generated report.

Installation

The project includes a wrapper for easy installation across environments.

1. Clone the Repository 

git clone https://github.com/barbareshet/wp-review-claude
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2. Run the Installer

Windows

.\install_wrapper.ps1
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Linux / Mac

bash install_wrapper.sh
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Why a Practical Assistant?

WP Review is not a replacement for human security audits.

Instead, it acts as a practical assistant to:

  • catch low-hanging issues early
  • enforce consistent standards
  • reduce review time

Think of it as your baseline quality gate before deeper inspection.

Conclusion

Whether you're a solo plugin author or part of an agency, standardizing your review process is one of the best ways to scale efficiently.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the tool—or any WordPress checks you'd like to see added.

Check it out on GitHub: barbareshet/wp-review-claude

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