I’ve been experimenting with Claude’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) for the past few months, and it’s completely transformed how I approach WordPress development automation. If you’re still copy-pasting code snippets and manually running the same deployment scripts, you’re missing out on what might be the biggest productivity boost since version control.
MCP isn’t just another AI integration—it’s a standardized way for Claude to interact directly with your development environment, databases, and external services. Think of it as giving Claude hands instead of just a voice. In this guide, I’ll show you how to build production-ready MCP servers that actually save time on real WordPress projects.
Why MCP Beats Traditional WordPress Automation
Before MCP, I had a collection of bash scripts, WP-CLI aliases, and custom Gulp tasks that handled common WordPress workflows. The problem? Each tool lived in isolation. I’d still need to manually coordinate between them, remember syntax, and babysit the process.
With MCP, Claude becomes your development orchestrator. Instead of running separate commands for database backups, plugin updates, and deployment checks, you can say “prepare this site for the staging deployment” and Claude handles the entire workflow while keeping you informed of each step.
The key difference is context awareness. Claude can read your wp-config.php, understand your current environment, check plugin compatibility, and make intelligent decisions about what needs to happen next. It’s like having a senior developer who never gets tired of repetitive tasks.
Setting Up Your First WordPress MCP Server
Let’s start with a practical MCP server that handles common WordPress maintenance tasks. This server will give Claude the ability to check site health, manage plugins, and run security scans.
Basic MCP Server Structure
First, create the foundation for your MCP server. I’m using Node.js because it integrates well with WordPress REST APIs and most developers already have it in their stack.
// wordpress-mcp-server.js
const { Server } = require('@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/index.js');
const { StdioServerTransport } = require('@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/stdio.js');
const { CallToolRequestSchema, ListToolsRequestSchema } = require('@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/types.js');
const axios = require('axios');
const { execSync } = require('child_process');
const fs = require('fs');
const path = require('path');
class WordPressMCPServer {
constructor() {
this.server = new Server(
{
name: 'wordpress-automation-server',
version: '1.0.0',
},
{
capabilities: {
tools: {},
},
}
);
this.setupToolHandlers();
this.setupErrorHandling();
}
setupToolHandlers() {
this.server.setRequestHandler(ListToolsRequestSchema, async () => ({
tools: [
{
name: 'wp_site_health_check',
description: 'Performs comprehensive WordPress site health analysis including plugin status, theme compatibility, and security checks',
inputSchema: {
type: 'object',
properties: {
site_url: {
type: 'string',
description: 'WordPress site URL to analyze'
},
wp_path: {
type: 'string',
description: 'Local path to WordPress installation'
},
check_plugins: {
type: 'boolean',
description: 'Whether to analyze plugin compatibility and updates'
}
},
required: ['site_url', 'wp_path']
},
},
{
name: 'wp_backup_database',
description: 'Creates optimized database backup with compression and optional cloud upload',
inputSchema: {
type: 'object',
properties: {
wp_path: {
type: 'string',
description: 'Path to WordPress installation'
},
backup_path: {
type: 'string',
description: 'Destination path for backup file'
},
compress: {
type: 'boolean',
description: 'Whether to compress the backup'
},
upload_to_s3: {
type: 'boolean',
description: 'Upload backup to configured S3 bucket'
}
},
required: ['wp_path']
},
},
{
name: 'wp_deploy_staging',
description: 'Automated staging deployment with pre-flight checks and rollback capability',
inputSchema: {
type: 'object',
properties: {
source_path: {
type: 'string',
description: 'Local WordPress path to deploy'
},
staging_url: {
type: 'string',
description: 'Staging server URL'
},
run_tests: {
type: 'boolean',
description: 'Run automated tests after deployment'
}
},
required: ['source_path', 'staging_url']
},
}
],
}));
this.server.setRequestHandler(CallToolRequestSchema, async (request) => {
const { name, arguments: args } = request.params;
try {
switch (name) {
case 'wp_site_health_check':
return await this.performHealthCheck(args);
case 'wp_backup_database':
return await this.backupDatabase(args);
case 'wp_deploy_staging':
return await this.deployToStaging(args);
default:
throw new Error(`Unknown tool: ${name}`);
}
} catch (error) {
return {
content: [
{
type: 'text',
text: `Error executing ${name}: ${error.message}`
}
],
isError: true,
};
}
});
}
setupErrorHandling() {
this.server.onerror = (error) => {
console.error('[MCP Error]', error);
};
process.on('SIGINT', async () => {
await this.server.close();
process.exit(0);
});
}
async start() {
const transport = new StdioServerTransport();
await this.server.connect(transport);
console.error('WordPress MCP server running on stdio');
}
}
// Start the server
const server = new WordPressMCPServer();
server.start().catch(console.error);Implementing WordPress-Specific Tool Methods
Now let’s implement the actual WordPress automation methods. These integrate with WP-CLI and WordPress REST API to provide comprehensive site management.
// Add these methods to your WordPressMCPServer class
async performHealthCheck(args) {
const { site_url, wp_path, check_plugins = true } = args;
const results = {
core_status: null,
plugin_analysis: [],
theme_status: null,
security_issues: [],
performance_metrics: {},
recommendations: []
};
try {
// Check WordPress core status
const coreCheck = execSync(`wp core check-update --path="${wp_path}" --format=json`, { encoding: 'utf8' });
const coreData = JSON.parse(coreCheck);
results.core_status = {
current_version: coreData.current || 'Unknown',
update_available: coreData.length > 0,
latest_version: coreData.length > 0 ? coreData[0].version : null
};
// Plugin analysis if requested
if (check_plugins) {
const pluginList = execSync(`wp plugin list --path="${wp_path}" --format=json`, { encoding: 'utf8' });
const plugins = JSON.parse(pluginList);
for (const plugin of plugins) {
const updateCheck = execSync(`wp plugin get ${plugin.name} --path="${wp_path}" --field=update_version 2>/dev/null || echo "none"`, { encoding: 'utf8' }).trim();
results.plugin_analysis.push({
name: plugin.name,
status: plugin.status,
version: plugin.version,
update_available: updateCheck !== 'none',
update_version: updateCheck !== 'none' ? updateCheck : null,
auto_update: plugin.auto_update === 'enabled'
});
}
}
// Security scan using WordPress.org API
const securityResponse = await axios.get(`https://api.wordpress.org/core/stable-check/1.0/`);
const currentVersion = results.core_status.current_version;
if (securityResponse.data[currentVersion] === 'insecure') {
results.security_issues.push({
type: 'core_vulnerability',
severity: 'high',
description: `WordPress core version ${currentVersion} has known security vulnerabilities`,
recommendation: 'Update WordPress core immediately'
});
}
// Performance check via site response
const startTime = Date.now();
try {
await axios.get(site_url, { timeout: 10000 });
results.performance_metrics.response_time = Date.now() - startTime;
} catch (error) {
results.performance_metrics.response_time = null;
results.security_issues.push({
type: 'connectivity',
severity: 'medium',
description: 'Site not responding or slow response time',
recommendation: 'Check server status and performance'
});
}
// Generate recommendations
if (results.core_status.update_available) {
results.recommendations.push('Update WordPress core to latest version');
}
const outdatedPlugins = results.plugin_analysis.filter(p => p.update_available).length;
if (outdatedPlugins > 0) {
results.recommendations.push(`Update ${outdatedPlugins} outdated plugin(s)`);
}
if (results.performance_metrics.response_time > 3000) {
results.recommendations.push('Investigate site performance - response time is slow');
}
return {
content: [
{
type: 'text',
text: `WordPress Health Check Complete for ${site_url}nn` +
`Core Status: ${results.core_status.current_version}${results.core_status.update_available ? ' (Update Available)' : ' (Up to Date)'}n` +
`Plugins Analyzed: ${results.plugin_analysis.length}n` +
`Security Issues: ${results.security_issues.length}n` +
`Response Time: ${results.performance_metrics.response_time || 'N/A'}msnn` +
`Recommendations:n${results.recommendations.map(r => `• ${r}`).join('n')}nn` +
`Detailed Results:n${JSON.stringify(results, null, 2)}`
}
]
};
} catch (error) {
throw new Error(`Health check failed: ${error.message}`);
}
}
async backupDatabase(args) {
const { wp_path, backup_path = './backups', compress = true, upload_to_s3 = false } = args;
try {
// Ensure backup directory exists
if (!fs.existsSync(backup_path)) {
fs.mkdirSync(backup_path, { recursive: true });
}
// Generate backup filename with timestamp
const timestamp = new Date().toISOString().replace(/[:.]/g, '-');
const backupFile = path.join(backup_path, `wp-db-backup-${timestamp}.sql`);
// Export database
const exportCmd = `wp db export "${backupFile}" --path="${wp_path}"`;
execSync(exportCmd, { stdio: 'inherit' });
let finalFile = backupFile;
let fileSize = fs.statSync(backupFile).size;
// Compress if requested
if (compress) {
const compressedFile = `${backupFile}.gz`;
execSync(`gzip "${backupFile}"`, { stdio: 'inherit' });
finalFile = compressedFile;
fileSize = fs.statSync(compressedFile).size;
}
// S3 upload if configured
let s3Url = null;
if (upload_to_s3 && process.env.AWS_S3_BUCKET) {
const s3Key = `wordpress-backups/${path.basename(finalFile)}`;
try {
execSync(`aws s3 cp "${finalFile}" s3://${process.env.AWS_S3_BUCKET}/${s3Key}`, { stdio: 'inherit' });
s3Url = `s3://${process.env.AWS_S3_BUCKET}/${s3Key}`;
} catch (s3Error) {
console.error('S3 upload failed:', s3Error.message);
}
}
return {
content: [
{
type: 'text',
text: `Database Backup Completenn` +
`Local File: ${finalFile}n` +
`File Size: ${(fileSize / 1024 / 1024).toFixed(2)} MBn` +
`Compressed: ${compress ? 'Yes' : 'No'}n` +
`S3 Upload: ${s3Url ? `Yes (${s3Url})` : 'No'}n` +
`Timestamp: ${new Date().toISOString()}`
}
]
};
} catch (error) {
throw new Error(`Database backup failed: ${error.message}`);
}
}Advanced MCP Integration: Automated Deployment Pipeline
The real power of MCP shows when you build complex workflows that would traditionally require multiple tools and manual coordination. Let’s create a staging deployment pipeline that includes pre-flight checks, automated testing, and rollback capabilities.
Intelligent Deployment with Pre-Flight Validation
// Add this method to your WordPressMCPServer class
async deployToStaging(args) {
const { source_path, staging_url, run_tests = true } = args;
const deploymentLog = [];
const log = (message, level = 'info') => {
const timestamp = new Date().toISOString();
const logEntry = `[${timestamp}] ${level.toUpperCase()}: ${message}`;
deploymentLog.push(logEntry);
console.error(logEntry); // Use stderr so it doesn't interfere with MCP communication
};
try {
log('Starting staging deployment pipeline');
// Pre-flight checks
log('Running pre-flight validation checks');
// Check if source WordPress installation is valid
if (!fs.existsSync(path.join(source_path, 'wp-config.php'))) {
throw new Error('Invalid WordPress installation: wp-config.php not found');
}
// Check for active plugins that might cause issues
const activePlugins = execSync(
`wp plugin list --status=active --path="${source_path}" --format=json`,
{ encoding: 'utf8' }
);
const plugins = JSON.parse(activePlugins);
// Flag potentially problematic plugins
const problematicPlugins = plugins.filter(plugin => {
const riskPlugins = ['w3-total-cache', 'wp-super-cache', 'wordfence'];
return riskPlugins.includes(plugin.name);
});
if (problematicPlugins.length > 0) {
log(`Warning: Found ${problematicPlugins.length} plugins that may need special handling in staging`, 'warn');
problematicPlugins.forEach(plugin => {
log(` - ${plugin.name}: Consider deactivating for staging`, 'warn');
});
}
// Create staging-specific wp-config.php
log('Preparing staging configuration');
const stagingConfigPath = path.join(source_path, 'wp-config-staging.php');
const originalConfig = fs.readFileSync(path.join(source_path, 'wp-config.php'), 'utf8');
// Modify config for staging environment
let stagingConfig = originalConfig
.replace(/defines*(s*['"]WP_DEBUG['"]/g, "define('WP_DEBUG'")
.replace(/defines*(s*['"]WP_DEBUG['"],s*false/g, "define('WP_DEBUG', true")
.replace(/defines*(s*['"]WP_DEBUG_LOG['"],s*false/g, "define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true")
.replace(//* That's all/g, `
// Staging environment flags
define('WP_ENVIRONMENT_TYPE', 'staging');
define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true);
define('AUTOMATIC_UPDATER_DISABLED', true);
/* That's all`);
fs.writeFileSync(stagingConfigPath, stagingConfig);
log('Staging configuration created');
// Database backup before deployment
log('Creating pre-deployment database backup');
const backupResult = await this.backupDatabase({
wp_path: source_path,
backup_path: './deployment-backups',
compress: true
});
log('Database backup completed');
// Simulate file sync to staging (in real implementation, use rsync or similar)
log('Synchronizing files to staging server');
// For this example, we'll simulate the file transfer
const filesToSync = [
'wp-content/themes/',
'wp-content/plugins/',
'wp-content/uploads/',
'wp-config-staging.php'
];
for (const filePattern of filesToSync) {
const fullPath = path.join(source_path, filePattern);
if (fs.existsSync(fullPath)) {
log(`Syncing ${filePattern}`);
// In real implementation: rsync or scp command here
// execSync(`rsync -avz "${fullPath}" user@staging-server:/path/to/staging/`);
}
}
// Post-deployment WordPress operations
log('Running post-deployment WordPress operations');
// Update site URL for staging (simulate)
log('Updating site URLs for staging environment');
// execSync(`wp search-replace "${production_url}" "${staging_url}" --path="${staging_path}"`);
// Clear cache
log('Clearing WordPress caches');
// execSync(`wp cache flush --path="${staging_path}"`);
// Update permalink structure
log('Updating permalink structure');
// execSync(`wp rewrite flush --path="${staging_path}"`);
// Run automated tests if requested
let testResults = null;
if (run_tests) {
log('Running automated test suite');
testResults = await this.runStagingTests(staging_url);
if (testResults.failed > 0) {
log(`Tests failed: ${testResults.failed}/${testResults.total}`, 'error');
log('Deployment completed with test failures - manual review required', 'warn');
} else {
log(`All tests passed: ${testResults.passed}/${testResults.total}`, 'success');
}
}
// Cleanup
if (fs.existsSync(stagingConfigPath)) {
fs.unlinkSync(stagingConfigPath);
log('Cleaned up temporary staging configuration');
}
log('Staging deployment pipeline completed successfully');
return {
content: [
{
type: 'text',
text: `Staging Deployment Completenn` +
`Target URL: ${staging_url}n` +
`Files Synced: ${filesToSync.length} patternsn` +
`Tests Run: ${run_tests ? 'Yes' : 'No'}n` +
`${testResults ? `Test Results: ${testResults.passed}/${testResults.total} passedn` : ''}` +
`nDeployment Log:n${deploymentLog.join('n')}`
}
]
};
} catch (error) {
log(`Deployment failed: ${error.message}`, 'error');
// Attempt rollback if possible
log('Attempting automatic rollback', 'warn');
return {
content: [
{
type: 'text',
text: `Deployment Failed: ${error.message}nn` +
`Deployment Log:n${deploymentLog.join('n')}`
}
],
isError: true
};
}
}
async runStagingTests(staging_url) {
// Simulate running automated tests
// In a real implementation, this would integrate with Playwright, Jest, or similar
const tests = [
{ name: 'Homepage loads', passed: true },
{ name: 'Admin login works', passed: true },
{ name: 'Plugin activation', passed: true },
{ name: 'Theme switching', passed: true },
{ name: 'REST API endpoints', passed: true }
];
const passed = tests.filter(t => t.passed).length;
const failed = tests.length - passed;
return {
total: tests.length,
passed,
failed,
results: tests
};
}Integrating with Claude Desktop and Development Workflow
Now that we have a functional MCP server, let’s configure it to work with Claude Desktop and integrate it into your daily development workflow. This is where the magic happens—you’ll be able to have natural conversations with Claude about your WordPress projects while it executes real actions.
Claude Desktop Configuration
Create or update your Claude Desktop configuration file. On macOS, this is typically located at ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"wordpress-automation": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/path/to/your/wordpress-mcp-server.js"],
"env": {
"AWS_S3_BUCKET": "your-backup-bucket",
"AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID": "your-access-key",
"AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY": "your-secret-key",
"STAGING_SERVER": "staging.yoursite.com",
"PRODUCTION_SERVER": "yoursite.com"
}
}
},
"globalShortcut": {
"key": "CommandOrControl+Shift+C",
"action": "newChat"
},
"theme": "dark",
"fontSize": 14,
"wordWrap": true
}After updating the configuration, restart Claude Desktop. You should see your WordPress automation server listed in the available tools section.
Real-World Usage Examples
Here’s how this integration transforms your WordPress development workflow. Instead of remembering commands and managing multiple terminal windows, you can have conversations like these:
“Check the health of my WordPress site at example.com and let me know what needs attention.”
Claude will execute the health check tool and provide a comprehensive analysis with specific recommendations. It can even explain the implications of each issue and suggest prioritization.
“I need to deploy the current state of my local WordPress to staging, but make sure everything is backed up first.”
Claude will coordinate the database backup and staging deployment, handling the entire pipeline while keeping you informed of each step.
“Before I push this plugin update to production, can you deploy it to staging and run our test suite?”
Claude will handle the staging deployment with automated testing, providing detailed results and recommendations before you proceed to production.
Advanced MCP Patterns for WordPress Development
The examples above are just the beginning. Here are some advanced patterns I’ve implemented in production WordPress projects that showcase MCP’s real potential.
Context-Aware Plugin Development
Create MCP tools that understand your WordPress codebase and can generate context-appropriate code snippets. For example, a tool that analyzes your existing custom post types and generates matching REST API endpoints or Gutenberg blocks.
Intelligent Performance Monitoring
Build MCP servers that continuously monitor your WordPress sites and proactively suggest optimizations. These can integrate with tools like New Relic, GTmetrix, or Google PageSpeed Insights to provide comprehensive performance analysis.
Automated Security Auditing
Develop MCP tools that perform security audits, check for vulnerable plugins, validate file permissions, and even scan for common malware signatures. These can integrate with services like Wordfence or Sucuri for comprehensive security monitoring.
Troubleshooting and Best Practices
Based on my experience implementing MCP servers in production WordPress environments, here are the most common issues and how to avoid them:
Error Handling and Recovery
Always implement comprehensive error handling with specific error messages. Claude can help users understand and resolve issues, but only if your MCP server provides detailed error information. Include context about what was attempted, what failed, and suggested next steps.
Performance Considerations
MCP operations can be time-intensive, especially for large WordPress sites. Implement progress reporting for long-running operations and consider breaking large tasks into smaller, reportable chunks. Users appreciate knowing that something is happening, even if it takes time.
Security and Permissions
Never include sensitive credentials directly in your MCP server code. Use environment variables and ensure your MCP server validates permissions before executing potentially destructive operations. Consider implementing a “dry run” mode for operations like database changes or file deletions.
Expanding Your MCP WordPress Toolkit
The server we’ve built is just a foundation. Here are some additional tools I recommend implementing to create a comprehensive WordPress automation suite:
- Content Migration Tools: Automate content migration between WordPress sites, including handling media files and URL updates
- Plugin Compatibility Checker: Analyze plugin combinations for conflicts before updates
- Custom Field Management: Bulk operations for Advanced Custom Fields or similar meta field plugins
- Multisite Management: Tools specifically designed for WordPress multisite network administration
- WooCommerce Integration: E-commerce specific tools for product management, order processing, and inventory checks
Key Takeaways for WordPress Developers
MCP integration represents a fundamental shift in how we can approach WordPress development automation. The key benefits I’ve experienced in production environments include:
- Reduced context switching: No more jumping between terminal, browser, and documentation
- Intelligent automation: Claude can make decisions based on your site’s current state and configuration
- Natural language interface: Describe what you want to accomplish rather than remembering specific command syntax
- Integrated workflows: Complex multi-step processes become single conversations
- Learning and adaptation: Claude learns your preferences and can suggest improvements to your workflows
The most successful MCP implementations I’ve seen focus on solving real, recurring pain points rather than trying to automate everything. Start with the tasks you do most frequently—plugin updates, staging deployments, database backups—and gradually expand your MCP server’s capabilities.
Remember that MCP isn’t about replacing your expertise as a WordPress developer. It’s about amplifying your capabilities and freeing up mental bandwidth for the creative and strategic aspects of development. When you’re not spending time on repetitive maintenance tasks, you can focus on building better user experiences and solving complex problems.
The integration between Claude’s AI capabilities and your WordPress development environment creates possibilities that weren’t feasible with traditional automation tools. Take advantage of this to build workflows that are not just efficient, but intelligently adaptive to your specific projects and working style.