Companion

Optional editorial extras for writers who want a little more. The theme is complete without it — add Fernlight Companion only if you want these.

Get Fernlight Companion

Companion Free 1.3.13 was submitted for WordPress.org recheck on 12 October 2026; approval is pending. Explore Companion Pro.

AI tool details in Companion

The free Site Intelligence tools help owners and AI assistants understand the site, plan changes, and review options. These AI reports do not create drafts, edit live content, or publish; Companion also includes editorial blocks and owner-operated settings.

  • Site context pack: exports theme version, active style, design tokens, theme context, pattern metadata, starter-site structure, nav, public pages, post types, categories, and safe instructions as Markdown or JSON.
  • Readiness and maintenance reports: checks endpoint status, pattern metadata coverage, token availability, privacy posture, stale content, missing CTAs, plugin/theme status, and setup risks.
  • Recommendation abilities: pattern recommendations, content inventory, content worklists, placeholder slot-copy scaffolds, page validation, internal-link suggestions, CTA wiring, content-priority signals, and style recommendations.
  • Stack discovery: one manifest maps active editions, REST routes, Abilities equivalents, feature ownership, and where Pro write workflows live.
  • AI boundary: Free Site Intelligence recommends, validates, and exports without calling external AI providers or publishing content. Owner-operated Starter Content and settings are separate, explicit actions.

What it adds

  • Eight editorial blocks: hero, pull-quote, callout, divider, related grid, newsletter, icon (12 inline SVGs), and tabs (accessible tabbed panels).
  • An optional filterable blog grid for archive and journal pages; enable live search and load-more explicitly.
  • Automatic heading anchors for deep-linking long posts.
  • A subtle reading-progress indicator and previous / next post navigation.
  • A related-posts grid to keep readers reading.
  • An optional archive layout switcher — enable it explicitly to let readers switch grid, list, or masonry.
  • Per-category accent colors, pinned from the category editor.
  • Site Intelligence: local context exports, readiness checks, prompt recipes, content inventory, pattern recommendations, validation, internal-link and CTA suggestions, style recommendations, and maintenance reports.
  • A canonical stack manifest that maps theme, Companion, and Pro editions, REST routes, Abilities equivalents, active features, and write-workflow locations from one front door.
  • Read-only action guidance: Companion recommends and validates; Pro owns draft-first write workflows.

Why a separate plugin

Themes handle presentation; plugins handle content and behavior. Switching themes does not delete your content. Keep Companion active for dynamic blocks and interactive features; deactivation can remove their rendered output.

Install

The free edition, version 1.3.13, was submitted for WordPress.org recheck on 12 October 2026; approval is pending. Once approved, install it through Plugins → Add New. For premium features, Companion Pro replaces the free edition; use one active Companion plugin.

Settings and requirements

Requires WordPress 6.7+ and PHP 8.0+. Open Appearance → Fernlight Companion for Style, Starter Content, Performance, Settings, and License & Pro. Category accents can be managed under Appearance → Fernlight Accents. Instant search, load-more, and archive layout switching require explicit opt-in; they do not run automatically on every block.

Deactivation preserves stored content and settings. Dynamic block and shortcode output needs the plugin; re-saved Pull Quote, Tabs, and Newsletter blocks have text fallbacks. Keep Companion active where those features are in use.

Connect an AI client

In Companion 1.3.13, open Tools → Fernlight AI Connections → Connect AI Client for endpoint and authentication guidance. Administrators set owner purpose, audience, voice, protected material, reference pages, and environment confirmation in Site Context → Site Brief. Editing Guidelines distinguishes saved site guidance from product defaults.

Use a compatible authenticated client for site reads and page inspection. REST works without MCP Adapter; optional MCP access requires a separately installed adapter and owner-selected tool exposure. Free Site Intelligence stays read-only. An eligible Pro plan adds separate draft creation and Draft Review; the Client Handoff Guide provides written instructions and does not change user permissions.

Server detection and a successful server-side check do not prove an external client is connected. Verify discovery and a read in your actual client. Configured Codex/Claude end-to-end acceptance remains pending. See the AI Tools Guide.