The Journal - notes on AI-first web development by Ludovic Verbeeck.
Why I Serve WordPress Sites as Static Files (and How)
For most brochure and portfolio sites I export WordPress to static files and deploy to Cloudflare Pages. Here is why, and the exact tools and workflow I use.
How to Add a Native Events Calendar to Elementor (Free Plugin)
I built a free, open-source events calendar widget for Elementor Pro and ACF Pro, no bloated addon suite required. Here is what it does and how to install it.
How to Disable the Default Select Placeholder in Elementor Pro Forms
Elementor Pro select fields preselect the first option, so required dropdowns get submitted without a real choice. Here is the JS snippet I use to fix it.
How to Fix an Elementor Loop Grid That Ignores Your Sort Order
Elementor Loop Grid ignoring your sort order? Here is the snippet I use to force the sort via a custom query hook, even on archive pages.
How to Add a Featured Image Column to the WordPress Admin
The WordPress posts list hides featured images. Here is the snippet I use to add a Featured Image column to wp-admin for faster content triage.
How to Send Elementor Form Emails to Different Recipients by Field
Elementor Pro has no conditional recipient option. Here is the snippet I use to route form emails to different inboxes based on a select field.
How to Disable Extra Image Sizes in WordPress
WordPress generates a dozen thumbnail files per upload and bloats your disk. Here is the snippet I use to disable the extra image sizes.
How to Add a Show More Button to an Elementor Gallery
Long Elementor galleries become an endless wall of images. Here is the script I use to add a show more button that reveals photos in batches.
How to Limit the Maximum Upload File Size in WordPress
Clients uploading 20 MB phone photos will slow your WordPress site. Here is the one-filter snippet I use to cap the media library upload size.
How to Turn the Elementor Taxonomy Filter Into a Dropdown
Elementor's Taxonomy Filter only renders as a row of buttons. Here is how I turn it into a clean dropdown that drives the same filter, for any taxonomy.
How to Hide All WordPress Admin Notices
Client dashboards fill up with plugin promo banners and upgrade nags. Here is the one small snippet I use to hide every WordPress admin notice.
How to Add AVIF Support to the Elementor Lightbox
The Elementor lightbox will not open AVIF images because its file-extension list stops at webp. Here is the snippet that adds avif and survives updates.
Why I Went AI-First After 15 Years of WordPress
Fifteen years of WordPress and Elementor taught me that judgement, not typing, is the job. Here is why I went AI-first and where AI actually helps.
My 4-6 Week AI-Assisted Website Build Process
How a client site goes from first call to live URL in four to six weeks: my AI-assisted process, step by step, with none of the steps skipped.
Static + Orbit CMS vs WordPress: The Honest Take
I maintained WordPress sites for 15 years, then moved most clients to static hosting plus my own CMS. The honest comparison, and when WordPress still wins.
Where Elementor Still Fits in an AI Workflow
AI did not kill Elementor. It changed which parts I touch by hand. Four techniques for building faster in Elementor with AI, drawn from real client work.
WooCommerce vs Custom Ecommerce in 2026
WooCommerce or custom ecommerce in 2026? AI changed the maths. My honest checklist for choosing, from someone who builds and runs both.
GEO/AEO: Get Cited by ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity
GEO and AEO without the jargon: the concrete checklist that gets your site quoted by ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity, and the tactics that are snake oil.
How to Hide/Disable Header and Footer in Elementor
The quickest way to hide or disable the theme header and footer on any Elementor page: switch the page template to Elementor Canvas. Still works in 2026.
How to Redirect to Checkout with WooCommerce in Elementor
Send WooCommerce customers straight to checkout: disable AJAX, redirect after add to cart, fix sold-individually products, and clean up the notice.
How to Rename the "Add to Cart" Button in WooCommerce
Two small WooCommerce filters let you rename the "Add to Cart" button on single products and shop archives. Drop them into Code Snippets and you are done.
How to Embed a Typeform Form in Elementor
Embed a Typeform in Elementor with no plugin. The default snippet renders empty because of its height; a one-line fix makes it show. Popup option too.
How to Hide the Google reCAPTCHA Badge in Elementor
Hide the reCAPTCHA v3 badge in Elementor with one line of CSS, without breaking spam protection, and stay compliant by adding Google's attribution.
Display a Mobile Product List in 2 Columns for WooCommerce
Force the WooCommerce shop grid to two columns on mobile with one small, corrected CSS media query. Add it in Elementor or the theme customizer.
Export WordPress Blog Posts With Featured Images, Categories and Tags
The default WordPress export drops featured images when you export only posts. Here is how to migrate posts, images, categories and tags cleanly.
WooCommerce: Automatically Create an Account on Checkout
Make WooCommerce create a customer account automatically at checkout, with no plugin and no code. The exact Accounts and Privacy settings to tick.
How to Fix the Elementor and Cloudflare Rocket Loader Issue
Rocket Loader breaks the Elementor editor by loading scripts async. The fix: a Cloudflare rule that turns Rocket Loader off on Elementor URLs only.
WordPress WP-VCD Malware: The Solution I Used to Fix It
WP-VCD malware rides in on nulled themes, infects core files and functions.php, and spreads on shared hosting. How to spot it, clean it, and stay safe.