Modern software development gives us an extraordinary range of possibilities. We can add animations, dashboards, artificial intelligence, real-time notifications, advanced filters, personalized recommendations, multiple configuration screens, and integrations with almost any service imaginable. The technical question is often straightforward: Can we build it? In many cases, the answer is yes. The more important question is: […]

Many software projects are planned around a finish line. Requirements are gathered. A budget is approved. The software is designed, developed, tested, and launched. Once it goes live, the project is considered complete and attention moves elsewhere. The software, however, has only just begun its working life. Users will find needs that were not obvious […]

Software has a tendency to become more complicated over time. A client asks for one more option. A developer adds another setting. A plugin introduces a new integration. A workflow that once required three steps now requires seven because the system has been designed to handle every situation someone could imagine. Each addition may seem […]

In my previous article, Highland Principle #6: Code Is Read Far More Often Than It’s Written, I discussed an important truth of software development: you’re not writing code for the compiler, you’re writing it for the next developer. That “next developer” might be a teammate. It might be someone who joins the company years from […]

Building upon what was discussed in a previous article, https://highland-software.com/build-for-the-next-developer-not-just-yourself/, we further discuss the need for clean code. “The compiler only needs correct syntax. The next developer needs understanding.” One sentence has influenced the way I write software more than almost any other: Code is read far more often than it’s written. Every developer knows […]

“Good software should never depend on the original developer being available to explain it.” Several years ago I accepted a contract to replace a developer who was leaving a company. The website was built on Drupal. At least… that’s what everyone thought. What I actually inherited wasn’t really Drupal at all. The login system had […]

“The best websites aren’t designed for the average user. They’re designed so everyone has the opportunity to become one.” When accessibility comes up in web development, the conversation usually starts in the same place. WCAG. ADA. AODA. Government regulations. Compliance audits. Legal requirements. Those things are important, and if you’re building websites professionally, understanding them […]

“Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned over the years has nothing to do with WordPress. It has everything to do with restraint. As developers, we’re surrounded by incredible tools. Themes with hundreds of customization options. Page builders capable of creating almost any layout imaginable. Plugins that […]

One of the most common conversations I have with clients begins with a familiar complaint. Their website feels slow. Pages take too long to load. Mobile performance scores are poor. Visitors are dropping off. And almost immediately, the search for solutions begins. Install a caching plugin. Install an image optimization plugin. Install a CDN plugin. […]

Over the years, I have worked on many WordPress projects where the original solution to every problem was simply installing another plugin. In many cases, I spend more time untangling dependency chains and correcting architectural decisions than building new functionality. One of the biggest problems in modern WordPress development is the belief that every problem […]