wp-performance — Claude Code skill: what it does, how to install
Backend profiling skill for optimizing WordPress sites using WP-CLI, REST headers, and diagnostic scripts without browser access.
npx skills add WordPress/agent-skills --skill wp-performance -a claude-codeWhat wp-performance does
The skill targets WordPress 7.0+ on PHP 7.4.0+ and works strictly in headless environments. Instead of opening admin screens, the agent checks response times with curl, runs the bundled script perf_inspect.mjs, and profiles runtime stages using wp doctor and wp profile. This establishes an accurate baseline before any code changes take place.
Investigation focuses on specific bottleneck areas: bloated autoloaded options, inefficient database queries, object cache misses, lagging WP-Cron events, and slow outbound HTTP API requests. When Query Monitor is active, the skill extracts telemetry headlessly by reading x-qm-* HTTP response headers and _envelope payloads from the REST API.
Production environments demand strict safety checks because enabling SAVEQUERIES or clearing caches under active traffic can degrade server stability. The skill requires confirming write permissions first and forbids risky write operations without explicit approval.
What it helps with
- identify oversized autoloaded options in the database
- profile hook execution stages with WP-CLI
- extract headless Query Monitor metrics from REST API headers
- diagnose bottlenecks in WP-Cron and outbound HTTP requests
Example prompts for the agent
- Check database and autoload bloat in --path=/var/www/html using wp doctor
- Profile bootstrap stages and hooks for the /wp-json/wp/v2/posts endpoint
- Inspect x-qm-* response headers to pinpoint slow database queries
How to install wp-performance
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add WordPress/agent-skills --skill wp-performance -a claude-code2Manually: put the files in place
~/.claude/skills/wp-performance/SKILL.mdCopy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/wp-performance/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add WordPress/agent-skills --skill wp-performance -a codex2Manually: put the files in place
.agents/skills/wp-performance/SKILL.mdFor all projects use ~/.agents/skills/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add WordPress/agent-skills --skill wp-performance -a cursor2Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/skills/wp-performance/SKILL.mdCursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/
1GitHub CLI
gh skill install WordPress/agent-skills wp-performance2Manually: put the files in place
.github/skills/wp-performance/SKILL.md1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add WordPress/agent-skills --skill wp-performance -a gemini-cli2Platform CLI
gemini skills install https://github.com/WordPress/agent-skills --path skills/wp-performanceManually: put the files in place
.devin/skills/wp-performance/SKILL.mdThe legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works
Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add WordPress/agent-skills --skill wp-performance -a opencodeClaude.ai
Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills
From the same set8
The whole set →Similar
Questions about wp-performance
How to install wp-performance in Claude Code?
Run npx skills add WordPress/agent-skills --skill wp-performance -a claude-code in your terminal. This registers the skill for Claude Code.
What does wp-performance do?
It guides coding agents through backend WordPress profiling, focusing on database indexing, autoloaded option sizes, object caching, and cron execution without requiring a web browser.
Can it use Query Monitor without a browser?
Yes, it authenticates against the WordPress REST API and reads Query Monitor diagnostics directly from x-qm-* response headers or the _envelope response structure.
