Check out the full version in substack.
I just completed my first WordPress plugin for public release—a free image converter and optimizer that automatically creates WebP and AVIF versions of uploaded JPG and PNG images.
Why This Matters
Image optimization is crucial for site speed. A 1500×1200 JPG that’s 1.4MB becomes just 250KB in WebP and 99KB in AVIF format—that’s a massive performance boost for your website.
The Build Process
Using Claude and ChatGPT, I developed this plugin in about 75% of the time it would have taken manually. The AI tools were particularly helpful for:
- Code structure and WordPress best practices
- Debugging 50+ errors and warnings from WordPress’ plugin checker
- HTML escaping and security standards
The key was being specific about requirements—I knew I wanted to use ImageMagick, which most PHP servers already have enabled, avoiding unnecessary bloat.
What’s Next
The plugin code has been submitted for WordPress marketplace review. It’s completely free (no freemium model) and handles automatic image conversion with adjustable compression settings.
Want the full story?
Read the complete article on my Substack →
Check out the code on GitHub or reach out if you’d like to test it.