What is Web Dev Guru

Web Dev Guru is a specialized full-stack web development assistant focused on HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, MySQL, Python, and WordPress. The design goal is twofold: (1) act as a fast, accurate pair-programmer that writes, reviews, and refactors code; (2) serve as a pragmatic teacher that explains trade-offs, best practices, and underlying concepts without hand-waving. How it works in practice: you describe a goal or paste code; I respond with production-minded solutions—complete snippets, file structures, database schemas, and step-by-step reasoning. I prioritize security (escaping, sanitization, prepared statements), performance (query/index tuning, caching, asset budgets), accessibility (semantic HTML, ARIA), and maintainability (clear boundaries, comments, naming conventions). Illustrative scenarios: - Speed up a slow WordPress site: I audit plugins, propose caching and object-cache strategy (e.g., Redis), suggest media optimizations (WebP, lazy-loading), identify heavy queries, and provide concrete before/after code changes and configuration diffs. - Build a CRUD feature with PHP + MySQL + vanilla JS: I outline the DB schema, write the PHP routes/controllers and prepared-statement queries, return JSON for AJAX, andWeb Dev Guru Overview provide the HTML/CSS/JS for the UI, including client-side validation. - Untangle a CSS layout issue: I replicate the grid/flexbox behavior with a minimal test case, explain why the layout collapses (e.g., min-content sizing, flex-basis quirks), and deliver a corrected, responsive pattern.

Core Capabilities and How They’re Applied

  • Architecture & Technical Planning

    Example

    Design a multi-tenant MySQL schema and request flow for a SaaS dashboard. Deliver: ERD, normalized tables, index plan (covering indexes for common WHERE/ORDER BY), migration skeletons, and a routing map for PHP endpoints.

    Scenario

    A founder needs to move from a spreadsheet to a web app. I turn the domain entities into tables (e.g., tenants, users, roles, subscriptions, invoices), propose partitioning/tenant_id scoping, define foreign keys and cascading rules, and provide SQL DDL plus seed data. I also sketch a clean directory layout (public/, src/, views/, config/) and environment config (env-specific DB creds, error reporting levels).

  • Code Generation, Refactoring & Reviews

    Example

    Refactor a procedural PHP contact form into a maintainable structure with validation, CSRF protection, and DB writes via PDO prepared statements.

    Scenario

    You share an existing form handler. I return: (1) HTML with semantic labels and accessible error feedback; (2) a PHP controller that checks a session token (CSRF), validates/sanitizes input, and inserts via `INSERT INTO messages(name,email,body) VALUES (:name,:email,:body)`; (3) a thin repository class for queries; (4) CSS for a responsive form; (5) unit-size snippets for input filtering; (6) guidance to add an index on `messages(email)` if you query by email. For JavaScript, I add unobtrusive validation (constraint API + custom messages) and progressive enhancement so the form still works without JS.

  • Debugging, Performance Tuning & Security Hardening

    Example

    Fix intermittent 500 errors and long TTFB on a WordPress store caused by an N+1 product meta query and un-cached transients.

    Scenario

    I ask for the stack (PHP version, web server, DB), enable targeted logging (`WP_DEBUG_LOG`, `SAVEQUERIES` or Query Monitor), locate the hot path, replace the meta loop with a single `JOIN`/`IN` query using prepared statements, add proper object caching, and suggest OPcache settings. Security steps include: input sanitization (`sanitize_text_field`, `esc_url_raw`), output escaping (`esc_html`, `esc_attr`), nonces for actions, least-privilege DB credentials, and removing `wp-admin` file editing. I provide exact code changes and before/after metrics to aim for (e.g., LCP < 2.5s, TTFB < 200ms on cached pages).

Who Benefits Most

  • Founders, small businesses, and content teams using WordPress

    They need reliable sites without a full-time engineering staff. I help choose the right approach (custom theme vs. child theme vs. block patterns), audit plugin bloat, implement fast, accessible templates, and set up safe deployment (staging > production). Typical wins: faster page loads via image strategy (WebP + srcset + lazyload), trimmed CSS/JS, stable backups/migrations, secured forms, and clear editorial workflows.

  • Developers and technical teams working with HTML/CSS/JS, PHP/MySQL, and Python

    They want a second set of senior eyes for design decisions, code reviews, and hard problems. I provide architecture sketches, regexes, SQL tuning (EXPLAIN plans, indexes), safe data access (PDO, parameterized queries), testable modules, and performance checklists. Ideal for juniors leveling up, seniors under deadline pressure, and agencies standardizing patterns across projects without adopting heavy frameworks.

How to Use Web Dev Guru

  • Visit aichatonline.org for a free trial without login, also no need for ChatGPT Plus.

    Open the site, choose “Web Dev Guru,” and start chatting instantly—no signup, no paywall.

  • Define goal + context

    State what you’re building or fixing (e.g., “responsive WP landing page” or “optimize MySQL queries”). Share stack and constraints: PHP/Node versions, WordPress version, hosting (cPanel/Docker), DB engine, target devices, performance/SLA goals. The clearer the brief, the better the output.

  • Provide minimal reproducible inputs

    Paste the smallest code/SQL/logs that show the issue (within ``` blocks). Include URLs, error messages, schema snippets, and environment notes (theme/plugins, cache layers). Never post secrets; provide env keys as placeholders.

  • Pick an assistance mode

    Ask for what you want: code generation, refactor, debugging checklist, performance/security audit, database design, API spec, or WordPress plugin/theme scaffolding.Web Dev Guru guide Request deliverables like tests, docs, Lighthouse/Query Monitor action items, or deployment steps.

  • Iterate, test, ship

    Run suggestions locally (MAMP/WAMP/LAMP, Docker, Vite), add tests (PHPUnit/Jest/PyTest), commit with Git, deploy via staging → production. Validate with Lighthouse, WebPageTest, Query Monitor, slow query log, and enable caching/CDN. Loop back with findings for refinement.

  • Code Review
  • Performance Tuning
  • Bug Fixing
  • API Design
  • WordPress Setup

Web Dev Guru: Deep-Dive Q&A

  • Can you create a production-ready responsive landing page?

    Yes—I'll deliver semantic HTML5, BEM-style CSS with Grid/Flexbox, fluid typography (clamp), accessible components (ARIA, color contrast), and progressive enhancement JS. I include form validation, Schema.org + Open Graph tags, and Core Web Vitals targets. You’ll get clean snippets, a file structure, build steps, and deploy guidance for Netlify/Vercel/cPanel.

  • How do you speed up WordPress sites at scale?

    I profile with Query Monitor/Lighthouse, then apply page caching + persistent object cache (Redis/Memcached), trim autoloaded options, add missing DB indexes, optimize media (WebP, lazy-load, responsive sizes), preload critical CSS, and audit heavy plugins/hooks. I suggest WP-CLI routines, cron offloading, CDN strategy, and Nginx/Apache cache rules with measurable KPIs.

  • What security practices do you enforce for PHP/MySQL and WordPress?

    Defense-in-depth: prepared statements (PDO/MySQLi), output escaping, CSRF nonces, strict cookies (HttpOnly/SameSite), robust password hashing, role/capability hygiene, file upload validation, and least-privilege DB users. I harden headers (CSP/HSTS), configure CORS correctly, sanitize user input, and provide patch checklists and automated scanners you can run in CI.

  • Can you design REST APIs and integrate front-ends?

    Absolutely. I draft an OpenAPI 3 spec (versioned endpoints, pagination, errors), pick a backend (Laravel/Slim, Flask/FastAPI), and auth (JWT/OAuth2). I add caching (ETag/Cache-Control), rate limits, and CORS. On the client, I supply fetch/Axios examples, TypeScript types, and patterns for SWR/React Query or vanilla JS, plus testing stubs.

  • How do you debug hard production issues?

    We create a minimal reproduction, capture logs/traces, and use Xdebug/browser devtools and slow query logs. I apply binary-search rollbacks, feature flags, and health checks, then instrument timing and SQL. You’ll get a step-by-step triage plan, a root-cause summary, and a postmortem checklist to prevent regressions.

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