SLB Developer Mode and MCP: AI-built sections (paid)

In the paid edition, an AI agent such as Claude Code can build sections and pages through Developer Mode and the MCP server, and you publish the result yourself. A PHP lint and schema-validation gate runs before section files are written.

What you need

  • The paid SLB edition with an active licence key (the licence is required for Developer Mode and MCP only)
  • Developer Mode switched on (it is off by default)
  • Node.js 18 or later on your computer
  • WordPress 5.6 or later over HTTPS, for Application Passwords
  • Claude Code, for example the VS Code extension

How it works

  1. Turn on Developer Mode under SLB Editor > Settings.
  2. Copy the mcp folder from the plugin to your computer and run npm install in it once.
  3. Click Generate MCP credential on the SLB settings page and save the connection details in a private .env file.
  4. Register the server with Claude Code, then restart it.

The Application Password only works for SLB routes. Keep it private and regenerate it if it leaks.

The draft theme

The agent works on a draft copy of your live theme and on draft pages. Visitors still see the live theme until you publish. You press Publish Draft Theme in the browser; the agent cannot publish by itself, and Rollback to Previous Theme restores the previous live theme.

  1. A design brief, which you read and correct.
  2. Create the draft.
  3. Theme settings first: colours and fonts.
  4. Upload assets, then write sections and create pages.
  5. Set the header, footer and menus on the draft.
  6. Build the stylesheet.
  7. Run the site audit and fix every blocker.
  8. Preview, then publish.

The site audit

The audit visits the site at 390 px, 768 px and 1440 px in a real browser and checks it against the SLB Theme Acceptance Standard. Publishing is blocked until the audit has no blockers. It needs Chrome or Edge on your computer.

Safety

  • Developer Mode lets an administrator’s login write PHP files on the server. Use strong passwords and two-factor sign-in, and turn it off when you are not building.
  • You can lock it with a wp-config.php setting so nobody with only a WordPress login can change it.
  • An optional MCP Bypass lets the agent publish and roll back without you. Most users should never use it.

For the free edition’s limits, see free vs paid.

Related: SLB documentation · Getting started · Free vs paid

Last updated