Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

WP-CLI VS Composer

Compare WP-CLI VS Composer and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

WP-CLI logo WP-CLI

WP-CLI is the command-line interface for WordPress.

Composer logo Composer

Composer is a tool for dependency management in PHP.
  • WP-CLI Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-09-10
  • Composer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-19

WP-CLI features and specs

  • Efficient Management
    WP-CLI allows users to manage WordPress sites using command-line, providing quicker and more efficient access to tasks than traditional dashboards.
  • Automation Capabilities
    It supports scripting and automation, enabling users to automate repetitive tasks like updates and backups, which can save time and reduce human error.
  • Resource Lightweight
    WP-CLI operates without a graphical user interface, making it less resource-intensive and faster, particularly beneficial for remote servers or large-scale operations.
  • Extensibility
    Developers can extend WP-CLI by creating custom commands, tailoring the tool to specific workflows or project requirements.
  • Programmatic Access
    It enables developers to interact with WordPress programmatically, which can be useful for integrating WordPress with other systems or tools.

Possible disadvantages of WP-CLI

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Users unfamiliar with command-line interfaces may find WP-CLI challenging to learn and use effectively without prior experience or training.
  • Limited Visual Feedback
    Since it is a command-line tool, WP-CLI does not provide graphical feedback, which can make it harder for users to visualize the changes they are making.
  • Potential for Human Error
    The precision required in command-line syntax can lead to potentially severe mistakes if commands are entered incorrectly.
  • Partial Plugin Support
    Not all WordPress plugins or themes offer full support for WP-CLI, which might limit its usefulness in certain scenarios.
  • Compatibility Constraints
    WP-CLI may require certain server configurations or dependencies, which can create compatibility issues or require additional setup effort.

Composer features and specs

  • Dependency Management
    Composer allows for easy and efficient management of PHP dependencies, ensuring that the correct versions are used and conflicts are minimized.
  • Autoloading
    Composer supports autoloading, which means you don't have to manually include or require files, reducing boilerplate code.
  • Version Control
    It allows developers to specify and install the exact versions of the libraries they need, which helps in maintaining consistency across different environments.
  • Community Support
    Composer has a vast and active community, resulting in a plethora of libraries and packages readily available for use.
  • PSR Compliance
    Composer adheres to PHP-FIG PSR standards, promoting best practices and interoperability among PHP projects.
  • Custom Repositories
    Ability to use custom repositories allows for flexibility, enabling enterprises to create their own repository for internal use.

Possible disadvantages of Composer

  • Learning Curve
    Beginners may find Composer overwhelming due to its command-line interface and the complexity of managing dependencies.
  • Performance
    Installing or updating packages can sometimes be slow, particularly for projects with many dependencies.
  • Dependency Conflicts
    While Composer aims to minimize conflicts, complex projects can still face issues with dependency resolution that require manual intervention.
  • File Size
    Projects using Composer can lead to increased file sizes due to the inclusion of multiple libraries and their dependencies.
  • Security
    Including third-party packages can expose a project to potential security vulnerabilities if those packages are not well-maintained or audited.

WP-CLI videos

wp-cli - WordPress from the command line

Composer videos

AI vs Human Music Composer 2019 - Orb Composer Review

More videos:

  • Review - Review Composer Cloud from EastWest / Soundsonline.com
  • Review - Behringer Composer PRO-XL MDX2600 Review (AUDIO TEST)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to WP-CLI and Composer)
VPS
100 100%
0% 0
Development Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Cloud Hosting
100 100%
0% 0
Javascript UI Libraries
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using WP-CLI and Composer. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Composer should be more popular than WP-CLI. It has been mentiond 143 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

WP-CLI mentions (34)

  • Power of WP-CLI: Streamline Your WordPress Workflow
    Installation: Follow the simple steps on https://wp-cli.org/ to install it on your operating system. - Source: dev.to / 17 days ago
  • Getting Started with WP-CLI: A Powerful Tool for WordPress Developers
    If WP-CLI is not installed on your system or hosting environment, you can manually install it by following the instructions above or on the official WP-CLI website. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Migrate from Thinkific to WordPress. #5 Other adaptations and conclusions
    WP-CLI is a very powerful and flexible tool that can be helpful in many situations like these migrations. I recommend it every time I have the chance; I've used it in dozens of projects, and each time, I've successfully accomplished everything I needed with it. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Mastering WordPress CLI: A Comprehensive Guide to Boost Your Productivity
    As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, the list of WordPress CLI commands may have expanded or changed. It's always a good idea to check the official WP-CLI documentation for the most up-to-date information. Here's a list of common WP-CLI commands as of my last update:. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Docker environment for WordPress development
    Is a Docker WordPress Environment focused on the development of WordPress plugins and themes, supports WP-CLI, phpMyAdmin, Xdebug and WordPress Coding Standards - WPCS. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
View more

Composer mentions (143)

  • Arguments a customer can understand not to use WordPress
    There is also no requirement to follow the PHP-FIG standards. The best thing that is build because of those standards is Composer. The most plugins I downloaded while writing use composer. The problem is that the plugins ship with their own vendor directory. While the standard is to have one vendor directory for the whole project. This results in different packages with the same or different version of it in the... - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Insights from the PHP Foundation Executive Director
    “Extensions are now very close to being like packages; they basically look like Composer packages. It’s still open to discussion whether PIE will be part of Composer someday. It’s not decided yet, but I hope it will be,” Roman added. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • PHP Core Security Audit Results
    Dependencies are managed by Composer (like npm, cargo, etc) for more than 10 years now. https://getcomposer.org. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • WordPress and Components
    Composer and Packagist have become key tools for establishing the foundations of PHP-based applications. Packagist is essentially a directory containing PHP code out of which Composer, a PHP-dependency manager, retrieves packages. Their ease of use and exceptional features simplify the process of importing and managing own and third-party components into our PHP projects. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • 2025 Best PHP Micro Frameworks: Slim, Flight, Fat-Free, Lumen, and More!
    Simplicity: Getting started is a breeze—install via Composer, define some routes, and you’re off. Scaling up? Add middleware or libs like Twig or Eloquent as needed. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing WP-CLI and Composer, you can also consider the following products

SlickStack - SlickStack is a free LEMP stack automation script written in Bash designed to enhance and simplify WordPress provisioning, performance, and security.

jQuery - The Write Less, Do More, JavaScript Library.

Webinoly - Optimized LEMP Web Server automation script for Ubuntu LTS releases.

React Native - A framework for building native apps with React

cPanel - With its first-class support and rich feature set, cPanel & WHM has been the web hosting industry's most reliable, intuitive control panel since 1997.

Babel - Babel is a compiler for writing next generation JavaScript.