Why I Prefer Lightweight WordPress Development and Custom Code

Shayla Swarbrick — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 14:24:08 +0000

I'm a self-taught developer and the owner of SJS Leo Universal LLC. My work includes HTML, CSS, PHP, WordPress, accessibility improvements, and responsive website development.

Over time, I've learned that adding more tools or plugins isn't automatically the best solution to a website problem.

When working with WordPress, I prefer to evaluate the existing structure first. Sometimes native blocks and custom CSS provide everything a project needs.

My development approach

Understand the existing website

Before rebuilding anything, I review the structure, navigation, content, and existing functionality.

Choose the appropriate solution

I use native WordPress features and custom code when they fit the requirements. The goal is maintainability rather than unnecessary complexity.

Consider accessibility

Navigation, readable content, responsive layouts, and keyboard usability are important parts of the development process.

Evaluate performance

Images, scripts, stylesheets, and unnecessary dependencies can all affect how a website performs.

Explain the changes

Clients should understand what was changed, why it matters, and how it affects their website.

Examples of my work

I've developed operating websites, WordPress demonstrations, custom PHP projects, dashboards, and interactive application concepts.

You can explore my public technical work here:

https://gist.github.com/sjsleodigitalblueprintco

I plan to share more project breakdowns, development decisions, and practical examples from my work.

DEV Community: Shayla Swarbrick

Why I Prefer Lightweight WordPress Development and Custom Code