FlatWP: Modern Headless WordPress

FlatWP is a cutting-edge headless WordPress starter that combines WordPress's powerful content management with Next.js's advanced rendering strategies for optimal performance. Built with Next.js 15, React 19, and TypeScript, it delivers near-instant page loads with intelligent caching and incremental static regeneration.

The Problem: WordPress Performance vs. Modern UX

Traditional WordPress sites face significant challenges:

• Slow Load Times: Server-rendered PHP pages with legacy architecture
• Poor Performance: Heavy themes and plugins impact Core Web Vitals
• Outdated Stack: Limited modern JavaScript framework integration
• Scalability Issues: Traditional hosting struggles with traffic spikes
• Developer Experience: Constrained by PHP templating limitations

The Solution: Headless WordPress with Next.js Power

FlatWP solves these challenges by decoupling WordPress content management from frontend delivery, leveraging Next.js 15's advanced capabilities for blazing-fast performance.

⚡ Near-Instant Page Loads

• ISR (Incremental Static Regeneration): Pages update without full rebuilds
• On-Demand Revalidation: Content updates trigger instant regeneration
• Edge Optimization: Static pages served from CDN for global performance
• Image Optimization: Automatic WebP conversion and lazy loading
• Code Splitting: Minimal JavaScript bundles for faster initial loads

🎨 Easy Theme Customization

• TailwindCSS v4: Utility-first styling for rapid customization
• Shadcn/ui Components: Beautiful, accessible UI components out of the box
• TypeScript Support: Type-safe development with autocomplete
• Component Library: Pre-built blocks for common WordPress patterns
• Dark Mode Ready: Built-in theme switching capabilities

🚀 Key Features & Capabilities

Next.js 15 with App Router

FlatWP leverages the latest Next.js features for optimal performance:

• React Server Components: Faster page loads with server-side rendering
• Streaming SSR: Progressive page rendering for better perceived performance
• Parallel Routes: Advanced routing for complex layouts
• Intercepting Routes: Modal and overlay support without page transitions

GraphQL Backend Integration

Deep GraphQL integration with WordPress for efficient data fetching:

• WPGraphQL: Powerful GraphQL API for WordPress content
• Automatic Type Generation: GraphQL Code Generator creates TypeScript types
• Custom Post Types: Full support for custom content structures
• ACF Flexible Content: Custom block layouts with Advanced Custom Fields
• Preview Mode: View draft content before publishing

WordPress Core Blocks & Gutenberg

Full Gutenberg compatibility with modern rendering:

• Core Block Support: All WordPress blocks render correctly
• Custom Block Styles: Extend blocks with Tailwind utilities
• Block Patterns: Reusable content layouts
• Dynamic Blocks: Server-side rendered blocks with data fetching

🔧 Technical Implementation

Modern Technology Stack

Built with cutting-edge web technologies:

// Next.js 15 with App Router
export default async function Page({ params }: PageProps) {
  const { post } = await getPostBySlug(params.slug);

  return (
    <article className="prose dark:prose-invert">
      <h1>{post.title}</h1>
      <div dangerouslySetInnerHTML={{ __html: post.content }} />
    </article>
  );
}

ISR with On-Demand Revalidation

Intelligent caching strategy for optimal performance:

// Incremental Static Regeneration
export const revalidate = 3600; // Revalidate every hour

// On-demand revalidation from WordPress
export async function POST(request: Request) {
  const { slug } = await request.json();
  await revalidatePath(`/blog/${slug}`);
  return Response.json({ revalidated: true });
}

GraphQL Type Safety

Automatic TypeScript generation from GraphQL schema:

// Generated types from GraphQL schema
import { GetPostQuery, GetPostQueryVariables } from '@/graphql/generated';

const { data } = await client.query<GetPostQuery, GetPostQueryVariables>({
  query: GET_POST,
  variables: { slug }
});

🎯 Performance Optimization

Core Web Vitals Excellence

• LCP < 2.5s: Fast Largest Contentful Paint through static generation
• FID < 100ms: Minimal JavaScript for quick First Input Delay
• CLS < 0.1: Stable layouts with proper image dimensions
• TTI < 3.8s: Fast Time to Interactive with progressive enhancement

Image Optimization

• Next.js Image Component: Automatic responsive images
• WebP Conversion: Modern format support with fallbacks
• Lazy Loading: On-demand image loading for faster initial page loads
• Blur Placeholders: Smooth image loading experience

Caching Strategy

• Static Generation: Pre-rendered pages for instant delivery
• ISR: Background regeneration keeps content fresh
• CDN Distribution: Global edge network for minimal latency
• API Response Caching: Optimized GraphQL query performance

🔌 FlatWP WordPress Plugin

Enhanced WordPress Functionality

The companion WordPress plugin provides:

• Deep GraphQL Integration: Extended WPGraphQL capabilities
• Custom Data Structures: Support for all custom post types
• Popular Plugin Integration: ACF, Yoast SEO, and form plugins
• Search Functionality: Built-in search API for frontend
• Block Rendering: Server-side block rendering for accurate display

Developer Experience

• TypeScript Support: Full type safety across frontend and backend
• Development Tools: Hot reload, error reporting, and debugging
• Documentation: Comprehensive guides and code examples
• Active Development: Regular updates and community support

📦 Deployment & Hosting

Multiple Deployment Options

Deploy to your preferred platform:

• Vercel (recommended): Zero-config deployment with ISR support
• Netlify: Continuous deployment with edge functions
• AWS Amplify: Enterprise-grade hosting with CDN
• Cloudflare Pages: Global edge network deployment
• Docker: Containerized deployment for custom infrastructure

WordPress Hosting Requirements

• WordPress 6.4+: Latest WordPress version
• WPGraphQL: Core GraphQL plugin (required)
• FlatWP Plugin: Companion plugin (recommended)
• ACF PRO: Advanced Custom Fields (optional)

🚀 Getting Started

Quick Setup

1. WordPress Setup: Install WordPress with WPGraphQL plugin
2. Clone Starter: git clone https://github.com/flatwp/flatwp-starter
3. Configure: Set WordPress URL in environment variables
4. Install: pnpm install to install dependencies
5. Develop: pnpm dev to start development server
6. Deploy: Push to Vercel/Netlify for automatic deployment

Environment Configuration

WORDPRESS_URL=https://your-wordpress-site.com
WORDPRESS_GRAPHQL_ENDPOINT=/graphql
REVALIDATION_SECRET=your-secret-key

🎨 Theme Customization

TailwindCSS v4 Theming

Customize your site's appearance with Tailwind utilities:

// tailwind.config.ts
export default {
  theme: {
    extend: {
      colors: {
        brand: {
          primary: '#0066ff',
          secondary: '#00cc99'
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Shadcn/ui Components

Beautiful, accessible components ready to use:

• Navigation: Headers, footers, and menus
• Content: Cards, grids, and lists
• Forms: Contact forms with validation
• Overlays: Modals, drawers, and popups

💻 Technology Stack

Built with modern web technologies for optimal developer experience:

• Frontend: Next.js 15 with App Router and React 19
• Styling: TailwindCSS v4 with Shadcn/ui components
• Backend: WordPress with WPGraphQL and FlatWP plugin
• Type Safety: TypeScript in strict mode with GraphQL Code Generator
• Deployment: Vercel-optimized with ISR support
• Performance: Image optimization, code splitting, and edge caching

🔮 Coming Soon

Planned Features

• Advanced Caching: Redis integration for query caching
• Multi-language: i18n support with WordPress WPML
• E-commerce: WooCommerce integration with GraphQL
• Analytics: Built-in analytics dashboard
• A/B Testing: Experimentation framework for content

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FlatWP combines the best of both worlds: WordPress's mature content management with Next.js's cutting-edge performance, delivering near-instant page loads and exceptional user experiences.