--- title: 'Top 20 WordPress Development Plugins' url: 'https://worldoweb.co.uk/2017/top-20-wordpress-development-plugins' markdown: 'https://worldoweb.co.uk/2017/top-20-wordpress-development-plugins.md' date: '2017-07-13' description: 'A comprehensive list of the top 20 WordPress development plugins to enhance your development workflow, including tools for debugging, database management, testing, and more.' taxonomy: category: - 'Web Development' - WordPress tag: - PHP - Tools - Server - Plugins --- # Top 20 WordPress Development Plugins Published on July 13, 2017 by Tracy Ridge in [Web Development](https://worldoweb.co.uk/category/category:Web%20Development) [WordPress](https://worldoweb.co.uk/category/category:WordPress) Everybody needs tools to help with a job. You can’t put up a shelf without the aid of a screwdriver, using ‘no more nails’ doesn’t count! The same can be said of WordPress development. If you are developing a WordPress theme or plugin there are some excellent plugins available to help you do the job better. Furthermore, here is a roundup of more than 20 development tools that can speed up the process for you. I would only recommend that you use these plugins in development environments and not on a production server. Some tools are very similar so I have grouped them into several categories so you don’t need to install them all. As always make sure you backup your [WordPress installation and database](https://www.worldoweb.co.uk/2013/top-time-saving-wordpress-plugins). ## Quick Start Plugins Whether you are a theme or plugin developer the [developer](https://wordpress.org/plugins/developer/) plugin advises and quickly enables you to install several plugins at the same time. ## Database Tools If you need a database manager and don’t want to go through the hassle of accessing server-side tools such as PHPMyAdmin then [ARI Adminer](https://wordpress.org/plugins/ari-adminer/) can be installed and accessed through the WordPress dashboard. Alternatively, lightweight [Better Search Replace](https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-search-replace/) can help you search and replace text throughout your database. ## Theme Related Tools Whether creating, testing or submitting a theme to the WP Directory the following plugins will optimise and speed up your workflow. [Theme Test Drive](https://wordpress.org/plugins/theme-test-drive/)[Theme Check](https://wordpress.org/plugins/theme-check/)[Child Theme Configurator](https://wordpress.org/plugins/child-theme-configurator/)[Child Theme Generator](https://wordpress.org/plugins/child-theme-generator/)[WP Bootscraper](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-bootscraper/) ## Debuggers [Debug bar](https://wordpress.org/plugins/debug-bar/) and its extensions have been the grandfather of WordPress debugging tools for many years. There are a few alternatives, however, that do similar jobs. [SF Adminbar Tools](https://wordpress.org/plugins/sf-adminbar-tools/)[Debug This](https://wordpress.org/plugins/debug-this/)[Simple Debug Info Panel](https://wordpress.org/plugins/simple-debug-info-panel/)[DTS Debugger](https://wordpress.org/plugins/dts-debugger/)[Query Monitor](https://wordpress.org/plugins/query-monitor/)[Database Debugging Tools For Developers](https://wordpress.org/plugins/database-debugging-tools-for-developers/)[WP PHP Console](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-php-console/)[Simply Show Hooks](https://wordpress.org/plugins/simply-show-hooks/) ## Information and Logs Catching and finding all the errors can be cumbersome as is finding out server info. The following tools relieve the stress of manually hunting through the logs or gathering information from the server. [WP Server Info](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-serverinfo/)[WP Log Viewer](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-log-viewer/)[Plugin Inspector](https://wordpress.org/plugins/plugin-inspector/)[Core Control](https://wordpress.org/plugins/core-control/) ## Testing Test, test, test! Whether you are testing your theme or plugin with the latest version of WordPress or you need to reset your WordPress installation then look no further. [WordPress Beta Tester](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-beta-tester/)[Duplicator](https://wordpress.org/plugins/duplicator/)[Monster Widget](https://wordpress.org/plugins/monster-widget/)[Advanced WP Reset](https://wordpress.org/plugins/advanced-wp-reset/)[Transients Manager](https://wordpress.org/plugins/transients-manager/) ## Frameworks and API’s Some people use WordPress for entirely different reasons. Whether it’s a back-end to a web app or you want to hook on to the rest API the following plugins will have you covered. [WP MVC](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-mvc/)[Timber Library](https://wordpress.org/plugins/timber-library/)[REST API](https://wordpress.org/plugins/rest-api/)[WP REST API Log](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-rest-api-log/) ## Conclusion In conclusion, I think you can agree that there are plenty of relevant tools on offer to speed up your workflow. However, if you think I have missed your favourite out then please feel free to comment. ### Share [X](https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=Top%2020%20WordPress%20Development%20Plugins&url=https%3A%2F%2Fworldoweb.co.uk%2F2017%2Ftop-20-wordpress-development-plugins&via=worldoweb "Share on X") [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fworldoweb.co.uk%2F2017%2Ftop-20-wordpress-development-plugins "Share on Facebook") [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fworldoweb.co.uk%2F2017%2Ftop-20-wordpress-development-plugins&title=Top%2020%20WordPress%20Development%20Plugins "Share on Reddit") [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fworldoweb.co.uk%2F2017%2Ftop-20-wordpress-development-plugins "Share on LinkedIn") [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Top%2020%20WordPress%20Development%20Plugins%20https%3A%2F%2Fworldoweb.co.uk%2F2017%2Ftop-20-wordpress-development-plugins "Share on Bluesky") [Email](mailto:?subject=Top%2020%20WordPress%20Development%20Plugins&body=https%3A%2F%2Fworldoweb.co.uk%2F2017%2Ftop-20-wordpress-development-plugins "Share via email") #### Tags [ PHP](https://worldoweb.co.uk/tag/tag:PHP) [ Tools](https://worldoweb.co.uk/tag/tag:Tools) [ Server](https://worldoweb.co.uk/tag/tag:Server) [ Plugins](https://worldoweb.co.uk/tag/tag:Plugins) ##### Next [ ← 4 Reasons You Should Be Using WordPress For Your Business Website ](https://worldoweb.co.uk/2017/4-reasons-you-should-be-using-wordpress-for-your-business-website) OR ##### Previous [ How to Stand Out from Your Competitors → ](https://worldoweb.co.uk/2017/how-to-stand-out-from-your-competitors) --- ## Navigation - Previous: [4 Reasons You Should Be Using WordPress For Your Business Website](https://worldoweb.co.uk/2017/4-reasons-you-should-be-using-wordpress-for-your-business-website.md) - Next: [How to Stand Out from Your Competitors](https://worldoweb.co.uk/2017/how-to-stand-out-from-your-competitors.md)