An Introduction to WordPress Studio  🔗 **Source:** [An Introduction to WordPress Studio](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MV17Qzj_T0) > [!note]+ Document Notes > --- > tags: [wordpress-development, local-development, developer-tools, wordpress-com, webassembly, ai-assistant] > author: Nick (host, uncredited surname) > source: WordPress.com > reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MV17Qzj_T0 > date created: {{date:YYYY-MM-DD}} {{time:HH:mm}} > --- > # 🏷️ Title: An introduction to WordPress Studio > ## 🧭 Table of Contents > - [📝 Summary](#-summary) > - [📖 Main Content](#-main-content) > - [🗒️ Notes](#️-notes) > - [📚 References](#-references) > - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#️-paraphrase) > - [📰 Newsletter](#-newsletter) > - [✅ Action Items](#-action-items) > - [🧪 Hypotheses](#-hypotheses) > - [📊 Methodology](#-methodology) > - [❓ Questions](#-questions) > - [🔮 Future Research](#-future-research) > - [💡 Implications](#-implications) > - [🧠 Learning Styles Assessment](#-learning-styles-assessment) > - [📊 Accessibility Assessment](#-accessibility-assessment) > - [🌍 DEIB Assessment](#-deib-assessment) > - [✅ Logical Validity](#-logical-validity) > - [🛡️ DARVO Analysis](#-darvo-analysis) > - [🎯 Conclusion](#-conclusion) > ### 🔗 References > - [Studio download page](https://developer.WordPress.com/Studio) > - [Studio GitHub repository](https://github.com/Automattic/studio) > ## 📝 Summary > - A WordPress.com host named Nick walks through Studio, a free, open source desktop app for local WordPress development on macOS and Windows. > - It matters because Studio removes the usual local-dev friction — no Docker, no manual server config — and ships with WebAssembly under the hood, so you spin up a working site in seconds. > - Key stakeholders: WordPress.com (vendor), Pressable customers, plugin and theme developers, agencies sharing work with clients, and the broader open source WordPress community. > - Risks and tradeoffs: the most valuable features (Sync, live previews, AI assistant) lean on a WordPress.com account, and Sync to production is gated to business/commerce plans. The video is vendor marketing, so it frames everything positively and skips limitations. > - Bottom line: Studio is a genuinely useful, free local-dev tool whose core works account-free, but its standout workflow features pull you toward the WordPress.com/Pressable ecosystem. > ## 📖 Main Content > - Studio is positioned as a fast, lightweight local WordPress environment "built with cutting edge web assembly technology" and aimed at "modern development workflows." WebAssembly (WASM) is what lets it run WordPress without Docker or a manually configured PHP/MySQL stack. > - Core, account-free features: create local sites from a fresh install or a backup import; pick PHP version, WordPress version (including nightlies and betas), custom local path, custom domain, and optional HTTPS; start/stop sites; jump straight to wp-admin, the site editor, the site folder, your code editor, or a terminal. > - Preferences let you set language, preferred code editor (the host uses Cursor), and terminal app. Studio detects which supported apps are installed. > - Account-gated features (free WordPress.com account): live preview links to share work, Studio Sync with WordPress.com/Pressable staging or production, and a built-in AI assistant. > - Studio Sync pulls a live site down to overwrite your local copy, or pushes a local build up — even launching a local site as a brand new WordPress.com site. Caveat stated in-video: Sync only works on WordPress.com business or commerce plans; lower tiers see an upgrade prompt. Pressable sites need Jetpack activated and connected with the same account. > - Live previews: up to 10 free preview sites at once, each with a unique URL based on your WordPress.com username, expiring seven days after the last update, powered by WordPress.com. They're separate from production/staging and meant for showing colleagues or clients. > - AI assistant: every WordPress.com account gets 200 free prompts per month. It's framed as a complement, not a replacement, for tools like Cursor — it makes changes directly to the Studio site, often returning WP-CLI commands you run with a click (demo installs WooCommerce). > - Contested/uncertain (as vendor content): "fast," "lightweight," and "saves a lot of time" are unquantified claims. No benchmarks, no comparison to competing tools (Local, LocalWP, wp-env, DevKinsta), and no mention of WASM limitations or current AI-assistant constraints beyond the prompt cap. > ### 🗒️ Notes > #### ⏱️ [00:00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MV17Qzj_T0?t=0) Intro and feature roadmap > - Host Nick introduces Studio as a free, open source local WordPress dev app for plugins, themes, or full sites. > - Pitched as fast, lightweight, WebAssembly-based, for modern workflows. > - Promised agenda: create a local site, configure preferences, sync WordPress.com/Pressable sites, create shareable preview copies, use the AI assistant. > #### ⏱️ [00:01:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MV17Qzj_T0?t=60) Dashboard and creating a site > - macOS and Windows supported; download at developer.WordPress.com/Studio. > - Familiar two-pane layout: site list on the left, overview on the right (selected site named "Encore"). > - "Add site" → name it ("push to prod"), start fresh or import a backup. > #### ⏱️ [00:02:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MV17Qzj_T0?t=150) Advanced options and no-Docker setup > - Advanced toggle: custom local path, PHP version, WordPress version (nightlies/betas), custom domain, optional HTTPS (handy for Jetpack). > - Studio configures everything behind the scenes — "no extra tooling like Docker." > - Start/stop sites from overview or sidebar; defaults give a Twenty Twenty-Five install on localhost. > #### ⏱️ [00:05:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MV17Qzj_T0?t=300) Settings, overview buttons, preferences > - Edit site settings anytime (custom domain, WordPress version) via a modal like the create flow. > - Overview buttons jump to site editor, open the site folder in Finder, or launch your code editor/terminal — "the less mouse clicks, the better." > - Preferences (via WordPress.com login link): language, preferred editor (Cursor), terminal app; Studio remembers selections. > #### ⏱️ [00:07:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MV17Qzj_T0?t=450) Open source + account-gated features > - Core features work with a fresh install, no account needed; full code base on GitHub. > - A free WordPress.com account unlocks shareable live previews, Sync with WordPress.com/Pressable, and the AI assistant. > #### ⏱️ [00:08:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MV17Qzj_T0?t=510) Studio Sync > - Sign in, see WordPress.com sites and Jetpack-enabled Pressable sites; link them to local sites, or push a local site up as a new WordPress.com site. > - Caveat: Sync needs a business or commerce plan; lower tiers show an upgrade prompt. Pressable needs Jetpack on the same account. > - Demo: connect production "push to prod," click Pull to overwrite the local fresh install with the real site. > #### ⏱️ [00:10:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MV17Qzj_T0?t=630) Live site previews > - Previews tab needs only a free WordPress.com account; up to 10 at once, expire 7 days after last update, powered by WordPress.com. > - Each gets a unique URL based on your username (host's is "ndiego"); log in with credentials on the Settings tab. > - Update locally then push the preview so collaborators see changes immediately. > #### ⏱️ [00:12:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MV17Qzj_T0?t=750) AI assistant and wrap-up > - Assistant gives 200 free prompts/month per account; complements rather than replaces Cursor, making changes directly to the Studio site. > - Demo: "install WooCommerce" returns a WP-CLI command you click Run; opens the WooCommerce setup wizard. > - Closing pitch: fast, flexible, free, open source; download at developer.WordPress.com/Studio; like and subscribe. > ## 📚 References > - [Studio download](https://developer.WordPress.com/Studio) > - [Studio on GitHub (Automattic/studio)](https://github.com/Automattic/studio) > - [WordPress.com](https://wordpress.com/) > - [Pressable](https://pressable.com/) > - [WP-CLI](https://wp-cli.org/) > - [WooCommerce](https://woocommerce.com/) > ## 🗣️ Paraphrase > - Studio is a free, open source desktop app from WordPress.com that gives you a local WordPress site in seconds. Because it runs on WebAssembly, you skip Docker and manual server setup Hey there, my name is Nick, and in this video we're going to be taking a look at one of my favorite tools Studio by the WordPress.com team. It's a free open source application for local WordPress development, and it's great for building plugins, themes, or even entire WordPress websites. It's also fast, lightweight, and built with cutting edge web assembly technology and is designed specifically for modern development workflows. In the next few minutes, you're going to learn how to create a local WordPress site using Studio, configure Studio based on your own development preferences. Sync WordPress.com and Pressable sites to Studio so you can work in them locally. Create publicly accessible preview copies of your local sites so you can share those with colleagues or clients and learn how to use the AI assistant inside of Studio. So let's dive in and check out all the features. Alright, let's go ahead and open the Studio application. As you can see, I've already got it, installed them on Mac Studio supports both macOS and Windows. If you want to follow along and don't have Studio installed yet, head on over to developer.WordPress.com/Studio to download it for your operating system. I've also dropped the link in the video description below. This is the main dashboard, and if you've used other local development tools before, this layout should feel pretty familiar. On the left, you'll see a list of any sites that you've already created, and on the right you'll see an overview of whichever site is currently selected. In this case, the site's name is Encore. We'll explore the site overview panel a little bit later, but for now, let's walk through creating a brand new local WordPress site. To do so, click on the add site button to get started. A mod will pop up and you can name your site whatever you want. In this case, let's call it push to prod. At this stage, you can choose to start with a fresh install or import a site backup. For this video, we'll just start fresh, but if you're curious about importing, I recommend checking out the docs for more information. Now you can just click add site and be done, but there are a few advanced options that are worth knowing about. Click the toggle to expand them. You can customize the local path, choose the PHP version and even pick a specific version of WordPress, including nightlys and betas if they are available. You can also set a custom domain. If you go with a custom domain, you'll have the option to enable HTTPS as well, which can come in handy when working with plugins like Jetpack that sometimes require a secure connection. For this walkthrough, I'm going to stick with the defaults and just click Add site, and just like that, the new site is up and running. Studio sets up everything for me. Behind the scenes, there's no complex manual configuration, no extra tooling like Docker. Now you can start and stop a Studio site at any time by clicking this button in the site overview. Or you could also use the buttons in the site list in the sidebar Since our test site push to prod is already running, let's head to the WordPress admin by clicking this link here. And as you can see that this is a fresh WordPress install, and if we click on themes, we can see that it's running the default Twenty Twenty-Five theme. Let's take a quick look at the front end, and you'll notice here in the URL that we're using the default local host setup, since we didn't configure our custom domain. Once your site has been created, you can always go back and adjust the settings. Maybe you decide that actually I do want a custom domain or perhaps you want to switch the WordPress version to do that. Head to the Settings tab for your site. This is where you'll find all the key details about your setup. Just click on edit site and you'll see that modal that looks very similar to the one that we saw when creating a site. From here, you can make any changes that you want. For now though, let's just stick to the default options and continue. Moving on, let's go back to the Overview tab here. You're going to find several buttons that allow you to quickly navigate to various areas of your site, such as the site editor. The less mouse clicks, the better. So I find these buttons very helpful. One of my favorite features is the buttons that let you open the site folder in your finder, as well as load the site in your preferred code editor or terminal application. This really saves a lot of time. You can see here that I like using Cursor for my editor and the default Terminal application on my Mac. You can set these preferences by clicking the WordPress.com login link at the top of the app. This will open another modal. The first tab is for logging into WordPress.com, which will unlock some additional features. But don't worry, you don't need an account to use the core Studio functionality, so we'll skip that for now. Click on the preferences tab instead, and here you can set your language, choose your preferred code editor and pick your preferred terminal application. Each dropdown will show you the supported apps and those that are already installed on your machine. Once you've made your selections, just click save and Studio will remember your preferences moving forward. Now let's try clicking on the open and cursor button. And there we go. Cursor boots up in the entire site. Folder has been opened in the app, and if we click on Terminal, that's going to launch the Terminal app. And here you can see we're in the root directory of our site, and if we type in Ls, we can see all the files and confirm that this is in fact the root directory of our site. So there was a quick overview of the Core Studio features, the stuff that you get right out of the box without needing a WordPress.com account. As I mentioned earlier, Studio is completely open source and you can grab the full code base on GitHub. Everything I just showed you is available as is with a fresh install. However, if you choose to connect a free WordPress.com account, and you might already have one if you're a WordPress.com customer, you'll unlock some powerful additional tools. These include live preview links that you can share the ability to sync local sites with staging or production environments on WordPress.com or Pressable and the AI Assistant built right into the app that will help you code faster. So let's take a look at how these additional features work. Okay, so let's start with one of Studio's most powerful features, especially if you're already a WordPress.com or Pressable customer, and that's Studio sync. To get started, let's click on the sync tab. Since I'm not logged in yet, I'm prompted to sign in, so I'm going to click on log into WordPress.com. If you don't already have an account, you can create one for free. You will need to do this if you're a Pressable customer as well. Once you're connected, you're going to see a list of all your existing sites on WordPress.com and any sites on Pressable with Jetpack enabled. From here, you can then link any of those production or st sites to a local site in Studio, and you can even go the other way around. Take a local Studio site and launch it as a brand new WordPress.com site. This is a great workflow if you prefer to build locally and then push yourself live in just a few clicks. For this demo, I'm going to connect the production version of Push to Prod, which I've already built and now want to continue working on. Locally. I can see that I have push to prod listed here. Now it's important to note that Studio Sync only works with WordPress.com sites on a business or commerce plan. If your site is on a lower tiered plan, you'll see an upgrade prompt like you do here with some of these other test sites. For Pressable sites, you will need to ensure that you have Jet Pack activated and connected using the same WordPress.com account that you're using here in Studio. Links to WordPress.com and Pressable documentation that talk more about this are available in the video description. Let's go ahead and click on Push to prod and then click connect. Once the connection is established, I can click pull to bring down the live version of the site and overwrite my local copy. Since my local version is currently just a fresh WordPress install, let's go ahead and pull down the real site. Depending on the size of your site, this process might take a little while, so be prepared for that. For the sake of the video, I've sped things up and there we go. Now you can see that the sink is complete. Let's take a look at the front end. We've now got a real site, no more blank install. Let's head back to Studio. Now you can incorporate sync into a variety of different workflows. In the description of the video, have included a link to a recent blog post on this topic. For now, let's move on to another feature, one of my favorites, which is called live Site Previews. So click on the previews tab. This functionality allows you to create and share live copies of your Studio sites, and you don't need to be a WordPress.com or Pressable customer, you just need a free WordPress.com account. As you can see here, you can have up to 10 preview sites for free at any one time. Sites will expire after seven days since their last update and under the hood. This is all being powered by WordPress.com. These are an excellent way to share previews of your work that you're working on locally with colleagues or clients. So let's create one and see how it works. I'm going to click on Create preview site similar to Studio Sync. This process can take a bit of time depending on the size of the site. So let's speed it up a bit. Now that the site has been created, it'll have a unique URL based on your WordPress.com username. Mine is ndiego, which you can see here. Let's click on the link and there's a live preview of push to prod. There's a fully live site that you can log into using the credentials that are listed on the Settings tab in Studio. So let's go take a look at the Settings tab, and you can see here that the default username is admin and then there's a password. So, let's navigate to the login screen. We'll enter an admin, and then we can copy and paste that password in. And there we have it. We're logged into our custom preview site. Now this is separate from your production and staging sites that you might have, and this is a great way to showcase your work to again, your colleagues or clients before you push that content or the plugins and the code back up to your production and staging sites. Again, these previous sites will expire after seven days of the last update, but you can update the sites as often as you like. So if you make changes locally, such as updating the design or adding a new feature, just remember to update and anyone you share the link with will be able to see those changes immediately. Alright, the last feature that I want to show you in this video is the AI Assistant. To open it, just click on the assistant button over here on the right. Like most AI tools, its capabilities will continue to evolve, but let's take a quick look at how it works today. First, every WordPress.com account gets free 200 prompts per month. The assistant isn't meant to replace tools like Cursor or other AI powered development environments. Instead, it's designed to help you make changes directly to your Studio site. So let's try something simple. I'm going to ask it to install WooCommerce. You'll notice that most of the responses come back as WP-CLI commands, which is great if you're already familiar with WP-CLI, but even if you're not, it's super easy to use. It's going to give you the command, and then you're just going to click run. Once the plugin is installed and activated, we can click the link to open the WooCommerce settings. And just like that, we're in the setup wizard for WooCommerce. Now, there are a ton of ways that you can use the assistant such as installing plugins like you saw generating code and managing other aspects of your site. It's worth experimenting with different prompts to see what it can do, and as always, with AI tools expected to get better and more capable over time. Alright, so that's a full tour of Studio from setting up your first local site to syncing with production, sharing live previews, and even using the built-in AI Assistant. So whether you're building a theme, developing a plugin Studio gives you a fast flexible development environment that fits right into your workflow, and of course is completely free and open source. The link to the GitHub repository is available in the video description below. So if you haven't tried it yet, I highly encourage you to head on over to developer.WordPress.com/Studio to download the app and start exploring. As always, I hope you found this video useful, and if you did, please like and subscribe. Also, feel free to drop any questions about Studio you might have in the comments. Thanks so much for watching and I'll catch you on the next one., An Introduction to WordPress Studio, WordPress.com, 01kw2mf82khjjjgkcpxrs859yt.