WordPress Core Setup Checklist
Use this as a one-page checklist when you set up a new WordPress site (or when you need to reset a drifting stack back to a clean baseline). The linked pages contain the details and the rationale.
Setup Checklist
| Step | Task | Command / Action | Validate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Confirm WP root | cd /var/www/html && ls | wp-config.php and wp-content/ exist |
| 2 | Clean core baseline | Follow Foundation | No demo plugins/themes/content |
| 3 | Remove defaults | wp plugin delete hello + wp theme delete twenty* | No unused themes/plugins |
| 4 | Baseline benchmark | PageSpeed Insights (mobile) + DevTools | Record TTFB/LCP/CLS/INP |
| 5 | Choose theme | Follow Theme Selection | CSS/JS budget reasonable; no CLS regressions |
| 6 | Install only required plugins | Prefer single-purpose plugins | Each plugin has a documented role |
| 7 | Audit plugin stack | Follow Plugin Audit | No duplication; no sitewide bloat |
| 8 | Perfmatters baseline (optional) | Follow Perfmatters Baseline | Removed scripts confirmed in Network tab |
| 9 | Disable unused features | Follow Disable Features | No broken flows (checkout/login/forms) |
| 10 | Re-test | Repeat step 4 | Deltas recorded; regressions explained |
Quick Commands (Cheat Sheet)
wp-core-setup-cheat-sheet.sh
# Always work from WP root
cd /var/www/html
# Plugins
wp plugin list
wp plugin deactivate plugin-slug
wp plugin delete plugin-slug
du -sh wp-content/plugins/* | sort -h
# Themes
wp theme list
wp theme delete twenty*
# Options (examples)
wp option update default_comment_status closed
wp option update default_ping_status closed
Static vs Dynamic Baseline
| Area | Static Blog | WooCommerce | LMS / Membership |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theme | Lean theme, minimal JS | Woo-friendly theme, stable templates | Stable dashboard templates |
| REST API | Avoid disabling | Keep | Keep |
| Script delay | More aggressive | Selective + exclusions | Conservative |
| Plugin count (rough) | 5-10 | 15-30 (disciplined) | 15-25 (disciplined) |
| Comments/feeds | Optional | Often keep feeds | Often keep feeds |
| WP-Cron | Optional to replace | Replace only if you can operate cron reliably | Replace only if you can operate cron reliably |
Mini-Quiz (Self-Check)
- Which single change makes plugin audits unreliable if you forget it? (Hint: caching)
- What is the fastest way to see if a plugin loads assets sitewide?
- Why is disabling REST API risky on WooCommerce?