WP Engine's Local introduces Atlas for headless WordPress development

Developers can now spin up headless WordPress projects faster than ever. But will this beta tool redefine how we build decoupled sites?

, and Administrator

2026 May 4 . 5:02 AM

1 min read

The image shows a black and white photo of a workbench with a variety of tools on it. On the left... — The image shows a black and white photo of a workbench with a variety of tools on it. On the left side of the image, there is a bucket and a few other objects on the ground. In the background, there are pipes attached to the wall.

WP Engine's Local introduces Atlas for headless WordPress development

WP Engine’s Local development tool has released a new add-on called Atlas: Headless WP. The feature allows users to build headless WordPress sites with a Node.js frontend using the Faust.js framework. Currently in beta, the tool is available in the latest version of Local under the Add-ons menu. The Atlas add-on provides three blueprints with starter code, plugins, and pre-built page structures. These blueprints help developers quickly set up headless sites. However, the add-on only works with new sites in Local—existing projects cannot be converted to headless setups.

Once enabled, Atlas watches and compiles changes made to frontend code automatically. The resulting WordPress instance and front-end app contain no proprietary elements, meaning they can be hosted separately. Developers also have the flexibility to choose different providers for hosting the WordPress backend, the front-end, and content search services. WP Engine has confirmed that sites created with Atlas Blueprints can be hosted anywhere, not just on its own platform. However, while these sites are supported in WP Engine’s import/export workflows, they are not portable to other hosts if built using the add-on. Users testing the beta can seek help in the *Atlas: Headless WP* category of the community forums.

The Atlas: Headless WP add-on expands options for developers using Local. It enables headless site creation with Node.js and Faust.js while keeping hosting flexible. Support and documentation remain available as the tool continues its beta phase.