Code, Leadership & the Remote Dev Life

How to Onboard a New Developer to Your Plugin Codebase

Written by

Mike Lopez

in

Bringing a new developer into your plugin project can go one of two ways: smooth and productive—or completely chaotic.

I’ve seen both.

Whether you’re working on a public WordPress plugin or a custom solution for a client, onboarding a new dev isn’t just about giving them access to the repo and saying “good luck.” It’s about giving them clarity, confidence, and context.

Here’s how I do it now—and what I wish I had done sooner.

1. Set the Stage: Explain the Plugin’s Purpose

Before diving into any code, I always walk through why the plugin exists. What problem does it solve? Who are the users? What’s the long-term goal?

Too often, devs are thrown into a project and only understand the what, not the why. That leads to narrow thinking and missed opportunities for improvement.

Even a short video or a quick explainer document helps give a mental model of the plugin’s architecture and intent.

2. Provide a Dev-Ready Environment

Don’t make new devs spend hours figuring out how to spin up the environment.

If you’re using Docker, share the commands and prebuilt configs. If you’re on a local dev tool like Local or Lando, make sure setup steps are documented. Add a README.md with installation steps that actually work.

The faster a new dev gets to running code, the sooner they start contributing.

3. Map Out the Architecture

Your plugin probably has its own structure—maybe includes/, assets/, templates/, etc.

I usually include a brief “file structure” doc with one-liners explaining what lives where. Example:

/includes/classes/ → main plugin logic  
/includes/hooks/ → custom hooks and filters  
/templates/ → frontend output

It’s basic, but it orients people quickly.

Bonus points if you document how custom post types, taxonomies, or meta fields are registered and used.

4. Document Common Workflows

Are there scripts for releasing new versions? Conventions for submitting PRs? Gotchas when building new features?

If you’ve been working solo, you’ve probably internalized all this. But to a new dev, it’s tribal (yes tribal, not trivial) knowledge.

I keep a CONTRIBUTING.md file with:

  • Branching strategy
  • PR review process
  • Linting rules
  • Deployment steps

Even if you’re not running a large team, this makes life easier for you and your new dev.

5. Pair on One Task

After the walkthrough and docs, I always sit down (virtually or in person, I mostly do it virtually using Google Meet, Zoom or a similar service) and pair on a small task. Nothing huge—maybe a bug fix or a tiny feature tweak.

It’s not about the code. It’s about watching how they approach things, answering questions in real-time, and catching any disconnects before they grow.

That one session can shortcut days of confusion.

6. Encourage Questions (and Capture the Good Ones)

New developers ask great questions—ones you’ve stopped thinking about long ago. Instead of brushing them off, I treat them like gold.

If they ask something insightful, I update the docs. That way, every new hire makes the process better for the next.

7. Give Them Ownership Early

Once the new dev is up to speed, I assign something meaningful. Not just small bugs, but a feature or enhancement where they can leave their mark.

That sense of ownership builds momentum. And nothing motivates like being trusted.

Final Thought: Onboarding Is an Ongoing Investment

Yes, it takes time. But good onboarding pays dividends. Developers become confident contributors instead of code tourists. They build faster, break less, and stay longer.

Treat onboarding like part of your dev workflow—not a one-time checklist. Your future self (and your team) will thank you.

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