Insights, thoughts, and tips on product, design, and development. Pick a topic and start exploring.
Block variations, a new method to extending the WordPress block editor, recently landed in WordPress 5.4. The newly introduced Block Variations API provides alternate configurations of a block that are selectable when a block is first added to a page.
Now block variations can be big deal, if properly adopted. It is important to note that block variations differ quite a bit from block style variations–and even block patterns.
Ever glanced at a website and wondered if it was built with Gutenberg blocks? If so, you’re in luck. Nick Hamze, a prolific block builder connoisseur, has launched a new Chrome extension aimed at helping folks detect what blocks are being used on a website.
While the block editor absolutely leveled-up the WordPress publishing experience, building beautiful web pages is still quite a challenge. It’s like we’re handing folks the International Space Station LEGO set — without any sort of help to build it. Sure, the cleverest master builders will likely figure it out, but what about everyone else — the other 99%?
Now if that set came with four or five assembled “chunks” of the ISS, completing the build would be much simpler. Maybe even simple enough for that 99%.
Enter Gutenberg block patterns: thoughtful arrangements of blocks that deliver entire sections of a page, with just a click.
As we cross into this next decade, I can’t help but to look back with excitement on this last year in particular. My career took a rather unexpected—yet incredible—turn.
There’s been a lot of discussion around the future of WordPress themes lately due to the ongoing evolution of the block editor. Now that Gutenberg is expanding into other areas of a site (apart from post content), the definitive end of WordPress themes as we know them today is coming. But is that really so terrible? No, I don’t think so.
WordCamp Europe was as just as incredible as everyone said it would be. The city of Berlin was welcoming and beautiful, the sessions were great, and there was a lot of tasty food. But best of all, the vibrant WordPress community we all know and love was there in full-force. It’s so neat how WordPress brings folks from all across the world together for a common good: democratizing publishing; that’s WordPress’s greatest strength.
I’ve made a number of things as a WordPress “maker” — most notably ThemeBeans, CoBlocks, and Block Gallery. My mission and clear focus through building products has always been to deliver a phenomenal WordPress experience. It’s the foundation upon which my career is built. And while it’s been a fantastic experience so far, it almost feels like I’m just getting started — in such a good way.
As I mentioned in my 2018 Year in Review, Jeffrey Carandang and I have recently joined ranks, doubling down our efforts to making CoBlocks absolutely brilliant. And after months of very challenging work, we finally have something to show you. We think you’re going to like this. A lot. This is the Gutenberg page builder you’ve been waiting for. CoBlocks will make you rethink what WordPress is capable of.
I’ve been building WordPress products for close to eight years now, yet sometimes it feels like I’m just getting started. I can’t believe what a brilliant year 2018 was.
It’s been a year of adventure, change, and growth – both personally and professionally.
Block Gallery, my Gutenberg block project for building beautiful galleries with WordPress 5.0, was announced as this year’s winner in the Best Solution category of the Automattic Design Awards.
You have no idea how awesome it feels to finally have the first official version of Merlin WP released. After many months of development, Merlin WP 1.0 is finally here. I first wrote about improving the onboarding experience of WordPress themes late last year, and since publishing the initial beta, Merlin WP has received quite a lot of attention.
It’s no secret that I’m a huge proponent of Gutenberg, the new block editor to be released next month in WordPress 5.0. Ever since WordCamp US last year, I’ve been deep into all things Gutenberg, wrapping my head around block development and working on supporting the new editor in all my themes.
There’s no better time to start exploring how each of our WordPress themes will interface with Gutenberg. So to help folks level-up their themes to support the new WordPress block editor, I built the Block Unit Test WordPress plugin.
Testing every core block within Gutenberg — and every variation of every block — is no small task. As a founder of a pretty awesome WordPress theme shop with over 20 active themes, I needed to employ a fast-paced methodology to testing, preparing my WordPress themes for Gutenberg. The Block Unit Test WordPress Plugin is built just for that purpose: to easily prepare WordPress themes for Gutenberg.
As you’ve probably been well aware of, I’ve been living and breathing all things Gutenberg since attending WordCamp US last year. And while I have a few irons in the fire, with a change as profound as the new block editor, there’s not a better time to dive in and continue exploring… cue CoBlocks!
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