Insights into creating and using blocks to build faster, better, and more beautiful WordPress websites.
If you’re a theme or plugin developer in the page building ecosystem, now is a better time than ever to start capitalizing on arguably the most exciting addition to Gutenberg, since Gutenberg: patterns.
Let’s dive in and discover how to leverage the new Patterns API and build beautiful patterns.
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.
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.
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!
While there is no shortage of articles published about adding general support for a theme’s color palette within the Gutenberg editor, I’m going to focus on the color class changes deployed in Gutenberg 2.8.
Gutenberg includes a default color palette component for blocks to utilize, although it’s relatively easy for a WordPress theme to provide a more suitable palette to empower users.
A couple weeks ago, I took the plunge and activated Gutenberg on my personal blog. There were a few quirks here and there, but for the most part, migrating to the new Gutenberg block editor has been a pleasant experience. Want to try out Gutenberg my theme + my theme?
This morning I deployed the Gutenberg block editor, the upcoming block-based editor for WordPress core, on this blog — and guess what? My website didn’t implode and disappear into the abyss! While the migration was not completely clean cut, the operation was pretty smooth.
Here’s what went down on my journey migrating richtabor.com to use the Gutenberg block editor.
As I mentioned last week in my 2017 Year in Review post, I’ve been learning quite a lot about how WordPress themes will interface with Gutenberg and developing Gutenberg blocks myself. Sure, there are a number of unknowns surrounding the project, but if you’re still worried about the pending release of WordPress 5.0 and Gutenberg, now is a better time than ever to start educating yourself.
I had the idea for a content spacer block as I was having a tough time creating ample spacing between even the simplest Gutenberg blocks. So I built the GutenKit Spacer Block, a nifty block plugin for Gutenberg that lets you easily add white space between content blocks.
11 replies
