Documentation

Step-by-step instructions for every StackSpeed feature. Features marked Paid or Premium require an active subscription. See pricing →

Stack Builder Saved Stacks JSON Export & WP-CLI Commands PDF Performance Report WordPress Deployment Stack Sharing MCP Integration WP-CLI Quick Reference

Stack Builder

Free

The Stack Builder lets you assemble a WordPress plugin stack and instantly see how those plugins will affect your site's performance — before installing anything.

1
Open the Stack Builder
Navigate to /stack-builder. No account required — the builder is fully functional for all visitors.
2
Search for plugins
Use the search bar on the left to find plugins by name or keyword. Results pull from the StackSpeed plugin directory, which includes performance benchmarks and metadata from WordPress.org.
3
Add plugins to your stack
Click the + button on any plugin card to add it. The Stack Panel on the right updates immediately with new scores and metrics.
4
Read your metrics
The panel shows: Performance Score (0–100), Page Load Impact (ms), JS and CSS payload (KB), HTTP requests added, database queries per load, PHP execution time, Security Score, and Update Grade. Each metric is colour-coded — green is good, amber is a warning, red needs attention.
5
Resolve conflict warnings
If two or more plugins in your stack are known to conflict, a warning banner appears at the top of the panel. Review and remove the conflicting plugin before deploying.
6
Adjust your environment
Use the environment settings (server type, hosting tier, PHP version, caching layer) to tailor estimates to your actual setup. Environment adjustments are available to Paid subscribers.

Notes

Metrics marked "AI Estimated" are model-generated for combinations with limited lab data. Treat them as directional guidance, not exact measurements.
Scores use the same 0–100 scale as Google PageSpeed Insights.

Saved Stacks

Paid

Save any stack configuration to your account and return to it any time. Saved stacks preserve your plugin list, environment settings, and cached performance scores.

1
Sign in
Saving stacks requires a Paid or Premium account. Click "Sign in" in the top-right and authenticate with Google, GitHub, or your email.
2
Build your stack
Add plugins using the Stack Builder as described above.
3
Click "Save Stack"
Press the Save Stack button at the bottom of the Stack Panel. A modal will prompt you to name the stack and optionally add a description.
4
View your stacks
Open the user menu (top-right) and click "My Stacks", or navigate directly to /stacks. Each saved stack shows its performance score, load time, security score, plugin list, and environment.
5
Edit a saved stack
Click "Builder" on any stack card to reopen it in the Stack Builder. Make your changes and save again to create a new version.
6
Delete a stack
Click the trash icon on a stack card and confirm. Deletion is permanent.

JSON Export & WP-CLI Commands

Paid

Export any stack as a structured JSON file. Every export includes ready-to-run WP-CLI commands so you can install the exact stack on a server in seconds.

1
Export from the Stack Builder
With a stack loaded, click the Export button in the action bar and choose "Export as JSON". The file downloads immediately — no server call.
2
Export from My Stacks
On the /stacks page, click "Export JSON" on any saved stack card.
3
Understand the file structure
The JSON includes: plugin list with metadata, all performance metrics, environment settings, conflict warnings, methodology version, and a cli section with ready-made WP-CLI commands.
4
Install and activate all plugins in one command
Inside the exported file, find the cli.install_and_activate field. Copy the value and run it from your WordPress root directory (the folder containing wp-config.php).
```
wp plugin install contact-form-7 woocommerce jetpack --activate
```
5
Install without activating
Use cli.install_only if you prefer to review plugins before activating them.
```
wp plugin install contact-form-7 woocommerce jetpack
```
6
Replace an existing plugin set
The cli.deactivate_others field shows a two-step command that deactivates all current plugins and then activates only your stack. Review it carefully before running — it will deactivate plugins that are not in your exported stack.
```
# Deactivate everything, then activate only your stack:
wp plugin deactivate --all && wp plugin activate contact-form-7 woocommerce
```

Notes

WP-CLI must be installed on your server. See https://wp-cli.org for installation instructions.
Run all wp commands from the directory containing wp-config.php.
Plugin slugs in the export are the same slugs used on WordPress.org — they are safe to pass directly to wp plugin install.
The deactivate_others command is commented out by default to prevent accidental use.

PDF Performance Report

Paid

Generate a shareable performance report for any stack. The PDF includes your plugin list, all metrics, conflict warnings, environment settings, methodology version, and confidence ratings.

1
Open the Export menu
In the Stack Builder, click the Export button in the action bar.
2
Choose "Export as PDF"
StackSpeed sends the stack data to the server, generates the PDF, and streams it back. This takes 2–5 seconds depending on stack size.
3
Save or share the file
The PDF downloads automatically as "stackspeed-report.pdf". It is self-contained and can be shared with clients, teams, or attached to project documentation.

Notes

PDF generation requires an active Paid or Premium subscription.
The PDF includes the confidence level (Lab Verified / Research-Backed / AI Estimated) for each metric so recipients know the data quality.

WordPress Deployment

Premium

Install a saved stack directly onto any WordPress site using WordPress Application Passwords. No SSH, no SFTP, no hosting panel — just your WP admin credentials.

1
Generate an Application Password in WordPress
In your WordPress admin, go to Users → Your Profile. Scroll to the "Application Passwords" section. Enter a name (e.g. "StackSpeed") and click "Add New Application Password". Copy the password — you will only see it once.
2
Open the Deploy modal
From the Stack Builder, click Deploy in the action bar. From My Stacks, click Deploy on any stack card, or use the Deploy to WordPress section at the bottom of the page.
3
Enter your site details
Paste your site URL (e.g. https://mysite.com), your WordPress username, and the Application Password you just generated. StackSpeed tests the connection and confirms your credentials are valid before proceeding.
4
Review the install list
StackSpeed checks which plugins are already installed on your site and skips them. Review the remaining list and deselect any plugins you do not want to install.
5
Install
Click "Install X plugins". StackSpeed calls the WordPress REST API for each plugin — fetching it from WordPress.org and activating it automatically. A progress bar shows each plugin's status in real time.
6
Done
A summary shows which plugins were installed successfully and which (if any) encountered errors. Your Application Password is never stored by StackSpeed — it is used only for the duration of the install.

Notes

Application Passwords require WordPress 5.6 or later.
Your WordPress site must be reachable over HTTPS from the public internet. Localhost and .local domains are blocked for security.
StackSpeed installs plugins from WordPress.org only. Premium/paid plugins cannot be installed via this method.
Application Passwords are not stored — StackSpeed uses them transiently and discards them after the session.
Deployment requires a Premium subscription.

MCP Integration

Paid

Connect StackSpeed to AI tools — Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, and others — via the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Your AI assistant can then search plugins, build stacks, and fetch benchmarks on your behalf.

1
Go to MCP Setup
Navigate to /mcp-setup. You must be signed in with a Paid or Premium account.
2
Generate an API key
Click "Generate API Key". Copy the key — it starts with ssd_ and is shown only once.
3
Add StackSpeed to your MCP client
In your AI tool's MCP configuration, add a server entry pointing to the StackSpeed MCP endpoint. Paste the configuration snippet shown on the /mcp-setup page.
```
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "stackspeed": {
      "url": "https://stackspeed.vercel.app/api/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ssd_YOUR_KEY_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}
```
4
Start chatting
Your AI tool can now call StackSpeed tools directly. Try: "Search for caching plugins and show me their performance scores" or "Build me a stack with WooCommerce and compare it to one with Easy Digital Downloads."

Notes

MCP requires a Paid or Premium subscription.
API keys can be regenerated at any time from /mcp-setup. Regenerating a key immediately invalidates the old one.
The MCP server supports: searchPlugins, getPlugin, getBenchmark, buildStack, compareStacks.

Full MCP setup guide →

WP-CLI Quick Reference

Free

Common WP-CLI plugin commands for working with your StackSpeed exports. Run all commands from your WordPress root directory (the folder containing wp-config.php).

1
Install and activate plugins
Install one or more plugins by slug and activate them immediately.
```
wp plugin install contact-form-7 woocommerce --activate
```
2
Install without activating
Download and install plugins without activating them.
```
wp plugin install contact-form-7 woocommerce
```
3
Activate already-installed plugins
Activate plugins that are already installed but inactive.
```
wp plugin activate contact-form-7 woocommerce
```
4
List installed plugins
Show all plugins with their name, status, and version.
```
wp plugin list
```
5
Deactivate all plugins
Useful for debugging — deactivates every plugin at once.
```
wp plugin deactivate --all
```
6
Update all plugins
Update every installed plugin to the latest version.
```
wp plugin update --all
```
7
Install a specific version
Pin a plugin to a particular version using the --version flag.
```
wp plugin install woocommerce --version=8.4.0 --activate
```

Notes

WP-CLI documentation: https://developer.wordpress.org/cli/commands/plugin/
If wp is not found, you may need to add it to your PATH or use the full path: ~/wp-cli.phar

Ready to get started?

The Stack Builder is free — no account needed. Upgrade when you're ready to save, export, and deploy.

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