What do you prefer in your team?
👉 A PHP expert who doesn’t understand anything about WordPress or 👉 A WordPress expert who knows PHP well enough to solve everyday problems?
This question goes far beyond syntax. It deals with context, productivity and delivery.
📌 The “pure” PHP developer masters structures, logic and performance — but may become frustrated with the core “shortcuts”, the hook system and the famous reverse compatibility of WordPress.
📌 The WordPress specialist knows how to navigate the native functions like no one else, he knows the main plugins, themes, good practices and the “right ways” to make safe customizations — even if he doesn’t write a framework from scratch in PHP.
🎯 In the end, what’s worth more: deep technical knowledge, or knowledge applied to the customer’s real ecosystem?
🚀 My opinion? The ideal is to seek balance. But if I have to choose, I prefer those who solve things with WordPress, understand its logic, respect its peculiarities and consistently deliver value — even without mastering all the secrets of PHP.
And you, which side are you on? Let’s discuss in the comments. 👇