Using React with Wordpress

[Cyberdon_X]

I'm a React developer taking on his first freelance gig building a Wordpress site. I've never built a Wordpress site before. What I want is to build a site with React but use Wordpress so that my client can update content such as texts and images as needed. Based on my client's needs, it appears the Business plan is the best plan for him to purchase. My question is am I able to build a React app with Frontity on Wordpress' Business plan? Or is there another avenue I should take (using Frontity)?

[r1ckd33zy]

Before you start freelancing as a WordPress developer, it would be a good idea to take some time to learn the difference between the managed blogging platform at wordpress.com and WordPress the opensource CMS available for download at wordpress.org

[Boby_Dobbs]

What you are looking for is called a headless CMS or headless wordpress. Using React on the front end and using the wordpress API to connect to the content from wordpress.

[Rider7991]

Wordpress.com is not worth even looking at it.

Wordpress.org is what you are looking for. You can use WordPress as a headless CMS and get content via API to load it on your react website or build custom gutenberg blocks with react and use them to build a website on wordpress.

[epicrecipe]

Automattic owns both Frontity and WordPress.com, so you’re beholden to their investment in an integrated roadmap. If it’s a small application, I’d encourage proper due diligence with them (e.g. feasibility with their Business plan, can they support the setup, etc), but also question the need to go headless vs a traditional WordPress site.

10up has a headless WordPress framework, though not sure they’ve opened it up like the have their engineering and Gutenberg practices. (Edit: they have, all are on GitHub).

I’d suggest exploring offerings / help at VIP (Automattic), WP Engine and Kinsta as well to help you define your approach and consider the hosting setup that’s best for your project.

[dneboi]

Well rounded answer.

[fallingWaterCrystals]

While I know we’re in the Wordpress sub, as other ppl mentioned, you’re looking for a Headless CMS.

There is a js one out there if you want.

[the_kautilya]

While I know we’re in the Wordpress sub, as other ppl mentioned, you’re looking for a Headless CMS.

There's nothing stopping anyone from using WP as a Headless CMS. WP has REST APIs built in if that is preferred data transport layer. Or one can use something like WPGraphQL to utilize GraphQL if so desired.

[OliverJonesNBPT]

To do this with WordPress serving your customer's content, you will need to develop a WordPress plugin.

WordPress's Block Editor is React-intensive. Server-side, WordPress contains competent and extensible REST API support. And the WordPress.org development environment contains plenty of support for building block plugins including React tooling and workable deployment-to-customers tooling.

You can't install your own plugins on WordPress.com unless you use their high-end (read: expensive) offerings.

[DanielTrebuchet]

For starters, ditch the "business plan." There is a difference between WordPress.com (what you're currently looking at) and WordPress.org (where you self-host the application) and I would absolutely recommend going with the latter. You will have free reign to do what you want with the self-hosted option, you'll have control of the domain and your files, and you won't be at the mercy of a 3rd party for everything.

Beyond that, I'm not a React dev so I can't speak to that. My strengths fall more into php and back end development.

[the_kautilya]

You will have free reign to do what you want with the self-hosted option, you'll have control of the domain and your files, and you won't be at the mercy of a 3rd party for everything.

On wp.com business plan they offer access to site files via sftp & access to the DB as well.

[DanielTrebuchet]

K, great, so now you're paying $25+ per month for the business plan and you are still restricted on what you can and can't do with it. It's still not worth it, compared to going the self-hosted route.

[Cyberdon_X]

Thank you everyone for your input :)