In the previous story we explored why FlexPlat exists. This post explains how FlexPlat actually works — the architecture, components, and decisions that make headless WooCommerce predictable and fast.
Core architecture
FlexPlat has two cooperating parts that stay loosely coupled:
The WordPress plugin (FlexWP)
- Lives inside your existing WordPress/WooCommerce site
- Exposes structured data via REST and/or GraphQL endpoints
- Works with ACF, CPT, and custom hooks to organize content
- Stores settings (theme choice, site metadata, session hints)
The frontend app (Next.js + Tailwind)
- Consumes the WordPress API in headless mode
- Renders product pages, categories, blog, and (optionally) checkout
- Tailwind CSS for full design control and responsiveness
- Deploys to Vercel/Cloudflare; cacheable by default
Component-based frontend (Tailwind + Next.js)
The frontend is assembled from reusable blocks so teams can move quickly:
- HeroSection
- ProductGrid / ProductCard
- CartDrawer
- CheckoutForm
- TestimonialBlock
- FeatureIcons
- Built with Tailwind CSS
- Responsive and accessible
- Bound to dynamic data from WordPress via REST/GraphQL
- Easy to theme, swap layouts, and ship new storefronts in days
Data layer: REST + GraphQL hybrid
Choose the interface that fits your team and pages:
- Custom REST endpoints — minimal, frontend-optimized payloads
- Optional GraphQL (e.g., WPGraphQL) — composable, typed queries
- Either way: clean, structured, cacheable responses
Caching & performance
FlexPlat uses caching on both sides for speed and stability:
- WordPress-side: transients/object cache for API endpoints
- Next.js-side: SSR/ISR/SWR styles depending on route criticality
- Tailwind’s small CSS + modern image handling for fast LCP
- Near-instant perceived loads on content routes
- 90+ Lighthouse/PageSpeed potential (site-dependent)
- Lightweight bundles and predictable Core Web Vitals
Plugin compatibility
- WordPress remains your admin/content layer
- WooCommerce, ACF, SEO plugins, forms continue to work as expected
- Backend automations (Polylang/WPML, Mailchimp, Stripe, etc.) remain intact
Visual page builders that output theme HTML are intentionally bypassed — FlexPlat supplies its own clean UI components for mapped routes.
Developer experience
- Tailwind + JSX for precise UI control
- Local dev with hot reload; push to Vercel for auto-deploys
- Configure plugin settings for endpoints/theme selection
- Works great with Cursor, Copilot, GPT-assisted workflows
Who is FlexPlat for?
- Agencies who want a reusable, resellable system
- Developers tired of fragile legacy Woo themes
- Founders building modern eCommerce/SaaS MVPs
- Teams seeking control over the Woo stack without a rewrite
Conclusion
FlexPlat is a practical bridge: keep your WordPress ecosystem and SEO, render mapped routes with Next.js + Tailwind, and rely on instant fallback for safety. It’s how to go headless without gambling your storefront.