Marcel Tannich - Automating WordPress Setup with Modern AI Tools

Still clicking through the WordPress GUI, installing the same plugins, and manually changing settings over and over again? Stop wasting time on repetitive tasks! This session will show you how to automate WordPress setups using WP-CLI, scripting, and AI-powered tools.

We’ll explore how AI can assist in generating reusable, tailored configurations for effortless project setup. I’ll showcase a simple web app that lets you select requirements via a GUI to create a consistent config. All code examples, scripts, and resources will be shared via GitHub—so you can start automating immediately.

This slides were created for WordCamp Europe 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. https://europe.wordcamp.org/2025/session/automating-wordpress-setup-with-modern-ai-tools/

Transcript

1. Automating WordPress Setup with Modern AI Tools Marcel Tannich
2. Marcel Tannich Freelance Dev + Support Team Lead @ onTheGoSystems WP-CLI lover, WordCamp nerd, setup hater Photo: Carmen Tannich-Wallner
3. One webinar. One command. Total mindset shift.
4. The Problem ✓ Install WordPress manually or through a hosting panel. ✓ Configure wp-config.php. ✓ Set up basic settings: permalinks, users, SEO, caching, and security. ✓ Install and configure essential plugins and themes. ❗ Inconsistent and error-prone across projects. ❗ A waste of your valuable time.
5. The Solution: WP-CLI + Scripting = Instant Setup ✓ WP-CLI installs WordPress in seconds. ✓ Scripts automate settings, plugins, themes. ✓ One command = full project setup. ✓ Consistent. Repeatable. Reliable. ☕ Done before you finish your coffee!
7. The Big Leap: From terminal-only -> to for everyone ✓ Not everyone was comfortable with CLI or WP-CLI. ✓ So why not build a web-based script generator? ✓ Just check what you need — plugins, themes, settings. ⚡ Copy, paste, run! No coding, no fear.
8. The Evolution: From Scripts → AI-Powered Automation ✓ Vercel v0, Replit, Lovable -> build automation tools faster. ✓ Turn ideas into working concepts -> not writing every line of code. ✓ Build once, reuse on any future WordPress project. 💡 If AI can do this… what’s the next step?
10. The Impact: Now -> Next NOW: ✓ Projects in minutes. ✓ AI on the command line. ✓ Consistent baselines. ✓ Full-stack automation. NEXT: ✓ AI agents via MCP. ✓ One-command stack build. ✓ Describe, don’t script. ✓ Self-healing workflows. ⚡ Scale faster. Work smarter.
11. The Takeaway: ✓ Automation isn’t about being lazy. It’s about eliminating distractions so you can focus on what matters. ✓ Stop doing work a machine can do faster and error-free. ⚡ Focus on strategy, not setup. ⚡ Build more. Learn more. Rest more.
12. Download resources All resources are available on GitHub: github.com/marceltannich/wceu_2025 tannich.com bsky.app/profile/tannich.com
13. Thank you!