---
title: Build on LanternWP
summary: How the LanternWP theme, WooCommerce and the Companion plugin fit together, and what we keep working between versions.
url: https://lanternwp.com/developers
updated: 2026-10-08
---

# Build on LanternWP

These docs are for developers and agencies building stores on LanternWP, and for the AI tools they work with.

## How it fits together

- **The theme** is on WordPress.org and works alone: templates, template parts, patterns, `theme.json` and style variations, plus small Interactivity API scripts. It uses WooCommerce's blocks, never Companion's.
- **WooCommerce** is required for the store: its blocks and data cover the catalog, filters, cart, checkout and account. The theme styles and extends them before it would replace anything.
- **LanternWP Companion** comes from lanternwp.com and is optional: blocks WooCommerce lacks, placed by Block Hooks; the demo import; the price history behind the lowest price before a discount.

## What we keep stable

Only the names in the [public API](public-api.md) are a promise. Everything else, including PHP class names and the markup of patterns, is internal and may change in any release.

## Start with

- [Child themes](child-theme.md): build a client's store on LanternWP and keep its updates.
- [Hooks](hooks.md): the filters for the welcome screen and the demo store.
- [Companion's blocks](companion-blocks.md): what Block Hooks place and how to remove it.
- [WP-CLI](wp-cli.md): import a demo from the command line.