From OceanWP to AI-Powered Innovations: Nicolas Lecocq’s Journey in Revolutionizing WordPress Development

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WPBeginner»Blog»Perspectives»Nicolas Lecocq Returns: The Journey of Creating 6 Innovative WordPress Products Using AI

The return of the OceanWP Creator: Nicolas Lecocq Develops 6 Innovative WordPress Products Using AI

By Editorial Team | August 13, 2025 | Reader Transparency

If you’ve been involved in the WordPress community for some time, you’ve likely come across OceanWP. Introduced as a free theme offering premium functionalities, it swiftly became a go-to choice for freelancers, agencies, and individuals building their own websites.

Nicolas Lecocq, the original creator, left the WordPress scene after selling his theme, but he made a comeback years later with a fresh perspective on product development. This time, he is focusing on speed and rethinking aspects like performance, user experience, and the potential impact of AI in the development process.

With his new venture, DigiHold, Nicolas has introduced six WordPress products in under a year — a feat he claims would have required him several years in the past.

In this discussion, Nicolas explores the potential that arises when expertise combines with innovative AI technologies, emphasizing the importance of developing products that genuinely benefit users.

"A product is effective when it addresses an actual issue… that's my main priority at this time."

Nicolas Lecocq – Developer of OceanWP & Founder of DigiHold

"A product is effective when it addresses an actual issue… that's my main priority at this time."

Continue reading to discover exclusive insights and recommendations from the developer of one of the most popular themes in the history of WordPress.

📣 Introducing our series, #MyWordPressStory, where we share valuable experiences from some of the top leaders in the WordPress community.

If you're interested in being included in our interview series, whether you are a plugin developer, entrepreneur, or SEO specialist, please don't hesitate to contact us using our contact form.

📹 Video Discussion with Nicolas Lecocq

To view our full video discussion featuring Nicolas Lecocq, simply watch it below:

Alternatively, you can click on the links provided below to explore the topics we discussed in the interview and additional information.

🚀 Introducing Nicolas Lecocq: From Sports Enthusiast to Self-Taught Programmer

Nicolas began his adventure with WordPress in 2012, driven by a passion rather than a business strategy.

Nicolas's initial blog centered around MMA sports. While it was short-lived, it allowed him to explore the versatility of WordPress.

"I aimed to start a blog, so I looked up 'the best method to create a blog' on Google, and it was clear that WordPress was the answer."

Nicolas Lecocq

"I aimed to start a blog, so I looked up 'the best method to create a blog' on Google, and it was clear that WordPress was the answer."

Before long, he began playing around with different themes and trying out various coding techniques. During that period, the availability of learning materials was significantly less than what we have now.

Nicolas utilized a combination of YouTube instructional videos, online discussion boards, and a practice that many experienced developers still advocate: examining the code of different themes to understand their construction.

"I used to watch YouTube videos, but back then, the amount of information available was quite limited compared to what we have now. I gradually taught myself by making small edits to various topics."

Nicolas Lecocq

In the beginning of his freelance career, he created responsive websites for clients, at a time when mobile-friendly designs had not yet become the norm.

This experience uncovered a key understanding that would shape his professional journey: each project appeared to demand the acquisition of a completely different concept.

Nicolas started to envision a comprehensive and adaptable answer.

A single theme that can accommodate various types of websites, such as online stores and real estate platforms, while maintaining a uniform process for both developers and site administrators.

That concept evolved into OceanWP.

💥 Related Article: Tobias Bäthge transformed a personal endeavor for his baseball team into TablePress, a WordPress plugin that currently supports over 700,000 websites. Check out the complete interview to learn about his journey.

📈 The OceanWP Effect: The Advantage of Free Over Premium

OceanWP originated as a tool to simplify the work Nicolas did for his clients.

Rather than adjusting to a different theme for each project, he created a versatile one that could accommodate all needs, and he was thoroughly familiar with it.

"When you focus on a single theme to generate ideas, it becomes simpler to utilize it effectively."

Nicolas Lecocq

"When you focus on a single theme to generate ideas, it becomes simpler to utilize it effectively."

Initially, Nicolas intended to market OceanWP as a paid theme.

However, after his initial effort to create a paid theme on ThemeForest failed to attract attention, he opted for a new strategy.

He launched OceanWP as a free theme, accompanied by a supplementary plugin named Ocean Extra.

This enabled users to access the complete features of the theme while adhering to the rules set by WordPress.org.

They were able to utilize an exceptionally broad range of features without any cost, especially at a time when most robust themes were only available for purchase.

"I included a ton of complimentary features, making it feel like a premium theme available at no cost. People really appreciated it."

Nicolas Lecocq

In addition to these tools, Nicolas introduced premium add-ons for OceanWP that offer paid functionalities.

The initial six months saw sluggish growth, primarily driven by recommendations from existing users. However, once it gained traction, it experienced rapid expansion.

In just a year, OceanWP transformed from a casual endeavor into one of the leading themes available. With numerous installations, Nicolas experienced a significant increase in his earnings from OceanWP, rising from approximately $2,000–$3,000 monthly to $15,000 monthly.

The blend of adaptability, extensive functionalities, and a no-cost starting option has made OceanWP a popular choice among freelancers, WordPress agencies, and individuals creating their own websites.

We can also endorse the OceanWP theme. Over the years, we’ve suggested it many times due to its flexibility and comprehensive range of features.

We frequently rank it as one of our preferred options for free themes across various categories. It holds the #4 spot on our list of the finest free business themes for WordPress.

🎯 Gaining Insights from Achievements and Challenges

Creating OceanWP provided Nicolas with an intensive experience in developing and maintaining a successful WordPress product. With the successes also came important lessons learned.

One of the most significant factors? Performance is important.

"I incorporated numerous features without giving much thought to performance… now, performance has become my top priority."

Nicolas Lecocq

"I incorporated numerous features without giving much thought to performance… now, performance has become my top priority."

Initial iterations of OceanWP included an extensive array of functionalities; however, Nicolas acknowledges that certain features contributed to slower website performance.

💥 Related Article: Want to discover more about optimizing the performance of your WordPress site? Explore our comprehensive guide to enhance the speed and efficiency of WordPress.

As time went on, input from users contributed to enhancements. This feedback was received via contact forms, forums on WordPress.org, support emails, and even GitHub.

For Nicolas, the discussions went beyond mere bug notifications or requests for new features. They served as a blueprint for enhancing the product.

“It’s your invention, but it belongs to them. Therefore, it’s essential to pay attention to their feedback.”

Nicolas Lecocq

After a period of three to four years, he made the decision to sell OceanWP.

The experience had significantly shaped him, yet he was eager to seek out fresh concepts and focus on his individual priorities.

His upcoming venture, Olympus, was designed to be quicker and more streamlined than OceanWP. However, shortly after its release, personal challenges and partnership problems compelled him to withdraw.

The setback changed his perspective on working together with others.

"I won't repeat the errors I made with Olympus by entering into poor partnerships now. I’m quite choosy about my collaborators."

Nicolas Lecocq

"I won't repeat the errors I made with Olympus by entering into poor partnerships now. I’m quite choosy about my collaborators."

Nicolas learned several key lessons from those experiences: focus on delivering results, design with the user's requirements in mind, and select partners thoughtfully.

🤖 The AI-Driven Revival: Creating 6 Products in Less Than a Year

In 2024, Nicolas re-entered the realm of WordPress development, beginning once again with freelancing and constructing websites for various clients.

However, he observed a trend that would shape his upcoming phase. Almost all of his clients were looking to sell various products, such as services, eBooks, or online courses.

This insight served as the cornerstone for his newly established business, DigiHold.

DigiHold aims to meet the requirements of eCommerce through a range of offerings:

Every product is accompanied by a Pro version, resulting in a total of six editions, all developed in less than a year.

The distinguishing factor this time around? An emphasis on performance combined with the capabilities of artificial intelligence.

"Coding is impossible without AI. It significantly speeds up the process… it's a transformative development."

Nicolas Lecocq

"Coding is impossible without AI. It significantly speeds up the process… it's a transformative development."

Nicolas relies significantly on Claude AI, as he favors it over ChatGPT for his development projects.

His process includes teaching the AI using his code repository, requesting assistance with feature implementation, and meticulously evaluating each recommendation for efficiency, safety, and overall user experience.

He was quick to point out that AI does not eliminate the necessity of understanding coding; rather, it enhances that requirement.

"Nicolas mentioned, 'At times, it shares negative thoughts with me. I understand that these thoughts aren’t beneficial, so I choose to ignore them.'"

🔮 The Importance of AI Integration: Preparing for the Future Web

For Nicolas, artificial intelligence is more than just a supportive technology; it's a key component that he is incorporating into his products.

DigiFusion Pro has added support for ChatGPT and Claude, enabling users to create content for their blog entries and pages directly within WordPress.

He believes that all website owners, not just developers, should have the tools to integrate AI into their own processes.

The emphasis on incorporating AI stems from a progressive perspective that the methods by which individuals explore the internet are evolving.

“It’s essential to understand how to apply SEO for AI since it represents the future… it’s already in progress.”

Nicolas Lecocq

“It’s essential to understand how to apply SEO for AI since it represents the future… it’s already in progress.”

Nicolas anticipates that search tools powered by AI, such as ChatGPT, will take the place of many conventional searches conducted on Google.

For developers and website administrators, this implies considering ways to enhance content for artificial intelligence. He believes that this change will be essential in the years ahead.

He mentioned, "I believe that using ChatGPT will make online searches simpler, leading to an increase in its usage among people."

To gain more insights, take a look at our introductory guide on optimizing generative AI for WordPress.

By incorporating AI features into products from the beginning, Nicolas is preparing DigiHold for this shift and assisting his clients in making the transition as well.

💡 Product Principles & Guidance for Developers

A key characteristic shared by all of Nicolas's creations is that they are inspired by actual demands rather than fleeting trends.

DigiCommerce, DigiBlocks, and DigiFusion were all developed to address particular challenges encountered by his clients.

“A product is effective when it addresses a genuine issue… if your sole motivation is to make money, I think it won’t truly succeed.”

Nicolas Lecocq

“A product is effective when it addresses a genuine issue… if your sole motivation is to make money, I think it won’t truly succeed.”

That perspective influences everything, including his decisions about features and his approach to managing performance.

While he places great value on user input, he isn't hesitant to reject proposals that could hinder the website's performance.

Rather than providing direct solutions, he opts to suggest alternatives through child themes or personalized code.

"Consideration for performance and user experience is essential when developing WordPress products today."

Nicolas Lecocq

"Consideration for performance and user experience is essential when developing WordPress products today."

His process for development is streamlined and purposeful.

He utilizes:

For novice developers, his guidance is straightforward: focus on mastering the basics before depending on artificial intelligence.

"It's essential to start by learning how to code, and afterward, AI can assist you with your programming."

Nicolas Lecocq

"It's essential to start by learning how to code, and afterward, AI can assist you with your programming."

This involves beginning with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to grasp their functionalities, and then leveraging AI to enhance and streamline your existing skills.

💥 Additional Content: Interested in insights from entrepreneurs? Take a look at our conversation with Ionut Neagu, one of the co-founders of Themeisle.

💭 Concluding Reflections

Nicolas Lecocq's journey has come full circle, evolving from self-taught WordPress theme editing to creating one of the most widely used free themes globally.

He is coming back after several years, equipped with a fresh perspective and an impressive array of skills.

His path is characterized by perseverance, flexibility, and a commitment to ongoing education. The challenges he encountered did not derail his professional journey; rather, they transformed his approach to work, his selection of partners, and his product development process.

With AI integrated into his daily routine, he can work more quickly than before while prioritizing performance and user experience.

However, he suggests that other developers view AI as a tool for enhancement rather than a substitute.

Nicolas Lecocq stated, "I think I could have completed my six products over the course of several years by hand. Instead, I achieved it in under a year using AI."

Nicolas demonstrates to developers and entrepreneurs that having solid skills, listening to user feedback, and utilizing innovative tools can create new opportunities.

For more information about Nicolas's current projects, visit the DigiHold website.

📚 Additional Resource: Professional Guides for WordPress Developers

Are you interested in emulating Nicolas and creating your own WordPress offerings?

These WPBeginner tutorials can assist you in getting underway:

If you enjoyed this article, consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.

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The Editorial Team at WPBeginner consists of skilled WordPress professionals, headed by Syed Balkhi, who has more than 16 years of expertise in WordPress, web hosting, eCommerce, SEO, and marketing. Established in 2009, WPBeginner has grown to become the largest free resource for WordPress in the field and is frequently likened to the Wikipedia of WordPress.

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1 CommentSubmit Your Response

Nicolas Lecocq

August 18, 2025, at 8:19

I appreciate the opportunity to interview; it was a pleasure to exchange some advice!

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