WordPress 5.9 Planning Roundup

Happy September no matter where you are in the world! Since we’re halfway through the alpha period for the next big release of WordPress, it’s time to gather all the pieces of planning into one place. This post will include all the best guesses and targets for dates, features, and squads.

This release will follow the same general cadence as the other releases this year, with a long alpha period (132 days) and a short betaBeta A pre-release of software that is given out to a large group of users to trial under real conditions. Beta versions have gone through alpha testing in-house and are generally fairly close in look, feel and function to the final product; however, design changes often occur as part of the process. period (14 days) before the release candidaterelease candidate One of the final stages in the version release cycle, this version signals the potential to be a final release to the public. Also see alpha (beta). phase.

Proposed WordPress 5.9 Schedule

These are my best guesses at the milestones:

MilestoneDateDays from
Alpha (trunktrunk A directory in Subversion containing the latest development code in preparation for the next major release cycle. If you are running "trunk", then you are on the latest revision. open for 5.9 release)June 30, 2021
Go/no go DateOctober 12, 2021104 days after Alpha
Feature freeze/Bug FixesNovember 9, 202142 days after go/no go
Beta 1November 16, 20217 days after Feature Freeze
Release Candidate 1November 30, 202114 days after Beta 1
General releaseDecember 14, 202114 days after RC1
WP5.9 Schedule

This schedule puts Beta 1 the week of a major US holiday and a few major commerce dates worldwide. It does avoid putting RC1 during that week.

Proposed WordPress 5.9 Scope

The main goal for 2021 is getting full site editing to all WordPress users. For WP5.9 the following features are in the suggested roadmap:

  • Blocks + intrinsic web design
  • Navigation menus
  • Interface for theme.jsonJSON JSON, or JavaScript Object Notation, is a minimal, readable format for structuring data. It is used primarily to transmit data between a server and web application, as an alternative to XML.
  • Refining editing flows for blockBlock Block is the abstract term used to describe units of markup that, composed together, form the content or layout of a webpage using the WordPress editor. The idea combines concepts of what in the past may have achieved with shortcodes, custom HTML, and embed discovery into a single consistent API and user experience. themes
  • New default theme
  • Additional design tools

There are also a few roadmap hopefuls out there.

  • Pattern insertion + creation
  • Unzip/Rollback Failsafes
  • PHPUnit Tests
  • Improved compatibility with PHPPHP The web scripting language in which WordPress is primarily architected. WordPress requires PHP 5.6.20 or higher 8.0 and 8.1

Proposed WordPress 5.9 Leads

  • Release LeadRelease Lead The community member ultimately responsible for the Release.: Matt Mullenweg
  • Release Coordinators:
  • Triagetriage The act of evaluating and sorting bug reports, in order to decide priority, severity, and other factors. Lead:
  • Editor Tech:
  • Editor Design:
  • CoreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. Tech:
  • Theme Lead:
  • Technical Writer: Jonathan Bossenger
  • Docs Lead:
  • Marketing & Comms: Josepha Haden
  • AccessibilityAccessibility Accessibility (commonly shortened to a11y) refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design ensures both “direct access” (i.e. unassisted) and “indirect access” meaning compatibility with a person’s assistive technology (for example, computer screen readers). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessibility) Lead:
  • Test Lead:

How to help!

I think we will need a slightly larger release squad for this final release of the year, so I’m opening calls for volunteers. As we approach the go/no go date and get a better idea of what features will really land in the release, we’ll get more squad leads assigned.

However, there are a couple of roles we really could use some volunteers for right now:

  1. Triage Lead
  2. Release Coordinators

If you’re interested in lending a hand, please share your interest in the comments!

Props to @francina for early versions of this post, and @jeffpaul + @desrosj for wrestling calendars with me.

#5-9, #planning

CSS Chat Agenda: September 02, 2021

The next weekly CSSCSS Cascading Style Sheets. meeting is today, Thursday September 02, at 21:00pm UTC in the #core-css channel in Making WordPress SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform https://slack.com/. The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at https://make.wordpress.org/chat/..

There will also be a CoreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. CSS Triagetriage The act of evaluating and sorting bug reports, in order to decide priority, severity, and other factors. starting at 20:00pm UTC, an hour before the meeting.

Meeting Agenda

  • Welcome (21:00pm UTC)
  • Announcements & housekeeping
  • CSS Custom Properties (#49930)
  • Open floor / CSS link share

See you there!

#agenda

Editor chat summary: 1 September, 2021

This post summarizes the weekly editor chat meeting (agenda here) held in Slack. Moderated by @annezazu.

Announcements

GutenbergGutenberg The Gutenberg project is the new Editor Interface for WordPress. The editor improves the process and experience of creating new content, making writing rich content much simpler. It uses ‘blocks’ to add richness rather than shortcodes, custom HTML etc. https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/ 11.4 launched

Release notes coming soon after a quick fix. For now, some highlights:

  • The Gallery BlockBlock Block is the abstract term used to describe units of markup that, composed together, form the content or layout of a webpage using the WordPress editor. The idea combines concepts of what in the past may have achieved with shortcodes, custom HTML, and embed discovery into a single consistent API and user experience. now acts as a wrapper for coreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. Image Blocks thanks to the Gallery Block Refactor. PluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party and theme authors, please do check out out this dev note to get up to speed on backwards compatibility
  • The Featured ImageFeatured image A featured image is the main image used on your blog archive page and is pulled when the post or page is shared on social media. The image can be used to display in widget areas on your site or in a summary list of posts. block now has the option to add duotone filters so you now have even more ways to add your own style to your content.
  • Padding support was added to the Buttons Block making it easier to get the spacing just right.

5.8.1 RC launches today (Sept 1)

Based on the schedule previously shared, 5.8.1 RC will launch today with the release coming on September 8th. If you can, please help test the release.

Final day for the current FSE call for testing (Sept 1 )

It’s the last day to explore the current FSE Outreach Program call for testing. If you have time, share your thoughts! If you don’t, please help amplify by sharing with others.

Reminder: monthly block theme meeting in #themereview

A reminder was shared that there is a block theme meeting in for anyone keen to chat about what’s happening with block themes. This is a recurring monthly meeting so if you missed today’s, don’t worry!

Monthly Priorities & Key Project Updates

The overarching plan for September has not yet been shipped yet so we based today’s conversation on the July & August Plan. As a reminder to those working on these projects, async updates are both welcomed if you can’t make the meeting and needed.

Navigation Editor

For the Navigation Editor portion, @talldanwp shared a lovely update. Here are some highlights:

  • A plan has been formed for migrating from the customize APIAPI An API or Application Programming Interface is a software intermediary that allows programs to interact with each other and share data in limited, clearly defined ways. to the REST APIREST API The REST API is an acronym for the RESTful Application Program Interface (API) that uses HTTP requests to GET, PUT, POST and DELETE data. It is how the front end of an application (think “phone app” or “website”) can communicate with the data store (think “database” or “file system”) https://developer.wordpress.org/rest-api/. in the navigation editor.
  • The nav editor headerHeader The header of your site is typically the first thing people will experience. The masthead or header art located across the top of your page is part of the look and feel of your website. It can influence a visitor’s opinion about your content and you/ your organization’s brand. It may also look different on different screen sizes.’s design has been refreshed.
  • Some conversation is underway around extensibility of the editor (join in if you’re interested)

Mobile

Shipping:

  • Block picker search

 Notable fixes:

  • Fixed an npm install breakage on Gutenberg’s trunk branchbranch A directory in Subversion. WordPress uses branches to store the latest development code for each major release (3.9, 4.0, etc.). Branches are then updated with code for any minor releases of that branch. Sometimes, a major version of WordPress and its minor versions are collectively referred to as a "branch", such as "the 4.0 branch". due to third-party dependency we were building that had an unpinned typescript dependency.

In Progress:

  • Embed block (hoping to release some inline previews in our next release)
  • GSS Font size, line height, colors

Patterns

For patterns, some context was shared amongst the core editor wranglers from @paaljoachim that the design tool overview enhancements will ultimately also trickle down to make pattern creation easier, more responsive, etc.

Styling

I’m going to reuse part of the async update from André since he’s done a ton of work there. Lots of work is underway with adding duotone support in theme.json along with a PR around enabling global styles to all themes. Expect work to continue on this path for the week ahead.

No update for the Template Editor or the Navigation Block

If anyone has any context to add around the Template Editor or the Navigation Block, feel free to chime in below in the comments.

Task Coordination

Feel free to add items to this post if you weren’t able to make the meeting.

@mikeschroder

Shipped:

  • Closed 32024 via [51677]. Thanks everyone for your help, including with the follow-up tests commit! 
  • Opened two Video Block poster related PRs (34415 and 34411).

This week, planning to investigate 33437.

@oandregal

@zieladam

@youknowriad

  • I’ve worked a bit on performance. I want to get back to some layout related work.
  • I’ve reviewed a number of PRs as well.
  • I’ve spent some time this week exploring some wild ideas for block registration (both to make easier and more universal/language independent). For the curious, the repo is here https://github.com/youknowriad/blocky it’s no where near ready but I’d love to learn more about your custom blocks, if you have examples or ideas about how you’d ideally write them and what use-cases would you want to see for the simplified “view” property.

@joen

@gziolo

@annezazu

  • Recapping and responding to the current call for testing for the outreach program.
  • Finalizing the next call for testing(more exploration than call for testing right now on theme switching).
  • Drafting some core editor improvement posts + assisting with an upcoming News post
  • Shipped a YouTube video all about patterns.
  • Triaging unlabeled PRs (down from over 100 to in the 20s). The unlabeled PRs that are left I am not quite sure what to do with so feel free to jump in.

Open Floor

Offer to run a Gutenberg Release for the first time. Raised by @mikeschroder.

If folks are interested, after shadowing @talldanwp (thanks again!), I would love to try running a Gutenberg release for the first time. Whenever it works best for the team is okay with me!

Next step: @priethor will coordinate since he helps wrangle the release process.

Proposed migrationMigration Moving the code, database and media files for a website site from one server to another. Most typically done when changing hosting companies. of E2E specs to Playwright. Raised by Bart Kalisz.

A proof concept was shared and well received thus far as part of a proposed migration to Playwright. At this point, a wider discussion needs to happen with impacted parties to ensure that folks are willing to follow the proposed changes. A few folks chimed in agreeing that a wider discussion needs to happen along with perhaps a comparison with Cypress (mentioned by @swissspidy). Depending on how things go, a Make Core post might make sense.

Next steps: Bart alerted the crew in #core-test and @annezazu will ensure that it gets discussed in the Core Dev meeting for wider attention.

Call for community ideas for FSE Outreach testing calls. Raised by @annezazu.

I’d love to start experimenting with community members sharing ideas for what to test in the outreach program. If you’d like to suggest an idea for a call for testing, know it’s very welcomed and all ideas will be weighed against current project priorities to figure out what makes the most sense to pursue. You can share ideas directly in the #fse-outreach-experiment slackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform https://slack.com/. The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at https://make.wordpress.org/chat/. channel or via DM to me! In case you’re curious about how calls for testing have been wrangled in the past, it’s typically been a combination of monthly project priorities/release priorities + my own testing/what I can make happen + conversations with contributors.

#core-editor, #core-editor-summary, #summary

WordPress 5.8.1 RC 1

WordPress 5.8.1 Release Candidaterelease candidate One of the final stages in the version release cycle, this version signals the potential to be a final release to the public. Also see alpha (beta). 1 (RC1) is available for testing!

Some ways you can help testing WordPress 5.8.1 RC1:

  • Use the WordPress Beta Tester pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party
    • as this is a minor RC release, select the Point ReleaseMinor Release A set of releases or versions having the same minor version number may be collectively referred to as .x , for example version 5.2.x to refer to versions 5.2, 5.2.1, 5.2.3, and all other versions in the 5.2 (five dot two) branch of that software. Minor Releases often make improvements to existing features and functionality. channel and the Nightlies stream. This will be the latest build including the RC and potentially any subsequent commits in trunk).
  • Use WP-CLIWP-CLI WP-CLI is the Command Line Interface for WordPress, used to do administrative and development tasks in a programmatic way. The project page is http://wp-cli.org/ https://make.wordpress.org/cli/ to test: wp core update https://wordpress.org/wordpress-5.8.1-RC1.zip
  • Directly download the BetaBeta A pre-release of software that is given out to a large group of users to trial under real conditions. Beta versions have gone through alpha testing in-house and are generally fairly close in look, feel and function to the final product; however, design changes often occur as part of the process./RC version (https://wordpress.org/wordpress-5.8.1-RC1.zip)

What’s in this release candidate?

5.8.1 Release Candidate 1 features 41 bug fixes on CoreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress., as well as 20 bug fixes for the BlockBlock Block is the abstract term used to describe units of markup that, composed together, form the content or layout of a webpage using the WordPress editor. The idea combines concepts of what in the past may have achieved with shortcodes, custom HTML, and embed discovery into a single consistent API and user experience. Editor.

The following core tickets from TracTrac An open source project by Edgewall Software that serves as a bug tracker and project management tool for WordPress. are fixed:

  • #52818 – Ordering metaboxes broken in WP 5.7
  • #53556 – Add a new template-editing tagtag A directory in Subversion. WordPress uses tags to store a single snapshot of a version (3.6, 3.6.1, etc.), the common convention of tags in version control systems. (Not to be confused with post tags.) to the Theme APIAPI An API or Application Programming Interface is a software intermediary that allows programs to interact with each other and share data in limited, clearly defined ways.
  • #53562 – Widgets Editor in CustomizerCustomizer Tool built into WordPress core that hooks into most modern themes. You can use it to preview and modify many of your site’s appearance settings. doesn’t load with E2E tests + 0ms Animations
  • #53609 – Responsive widgetWidget A WordPress Widget is a small block that performs a specific function. You can add these widgets in sidebars also known as widget-ready areas on your web page. WordPress widgets were originally created to provide a simple and easy-to-use way of giving design and structure control of the WordPress theme to the user. block embeds not showing in the customizer
  • #53616 – Registered block styles should only be rendered when the block exists on a page
  • #53641 – Can not configure image widget (and others) in widget accessability mode
  • #53654 – Menus: Hide bulk-select options when no menus exist
  • #53667 – Support wp_editor_set_quality for both loaded and saved mime_types
  • #53668 – Generated images for one file can be overwritten by another with the same name when mapping mime types for generated images
  • #53679 – The media library looks broken on mobile
  • #53680 – Correct inline documentation about IMAGETYPE_WEBP and IMG_WEBP
  • #53696 – wp_add_iframed_editor_assets_html() not checking for block editor
  • #53697 – Possible Regressionregression A software bug that breaks or degrades something that previously worked. Regressions are often treated as critical bugs or blockers. Recent regressions may be given higher priorities. A "3.6 regression" would be a bug in 3.6 that worked as intended in 3.5. – Border settings not displaying for Button Block
  • #53702 – Four css files removed between 5.7.x and 5.8 were not included in $_old_files
  • #53713 – Bounce underscore.js version in script-loader
  • #53714 – Bounce jquery.form.js version in script-loader
  • #53715 – Bounce hoverIntent.js version in script-loader
  • #53716 – The “/” missing at the end of image tag
  • #53719grunt clean:css does not clean the css/dist folder
  • #53738 – Broken loopLoop The Loop is PHP code used by WordPress to display posts. Using The Loop, WordPress processes each post to be displayed on the current page, and formats it according to how it matches specified criteria within The Loop tags. Any HTML or PHP code in the Loop will be processed on each post. https://codex.wordpress.org/The_Loop. in WP_Theme_JSON_Resolver
  • #53752 – Twenty Ten: Block patterns file causes error in child themes
  • #53757 – Widget editor calls get_block_categories() with incorrect arg type
  • #53762 – Replace the remaining references to wp.editor with wp.oldEditor
  • #53769 – Bundled themes: block-patterns.php file should use get_template_directory_uri instead of get_stylesheet_directory_uri
  • #53773 – /wp-adminadmin (and super admin)/includes/ajax-actions.php file line 3006 is creating divide by zero error
  • #53777 – Bump bundled theme versions for
  • #53799 – Remove version-controlled files check from Test Old Branches workflow
  • #53803 – Customizer: Radio button on background image position selector visible on focus
  • #53820 – Build doesn’t support Docker Compose V2
  • #53827 – Increase number of media items displayed when clicking button to “Load More”
  • #53830 – Default filters try to create nonce during installation before options table exists
  • #53833 – ‘Replace image’ Media Modal is missing select fields under filterFilter Filters are one of the two types of Hooks https://codex.wordpress.org/Plugin_API/Hooks. They provide a way for functions to modify data of other functions. They are the counterpart to Actions. Unlike Actions, filters are meant to work in an isolated manner, and should never have side effects such as affecting global variables and output. media due to css issues
  • #53877 – Menus: Selected display locations for new menus aren’t saved
  • #53898 – Duplicated 404 templates in the TemplatePanel
  • #53922Docblockdocblock (phpdoc, xref, inline docs) in get_block_editor_settings function
  • #53932 – Media grid view doesn’t show all media elements
  • #53936 – Output of serialize_block_attributes does not match equivalent GutenbergGutenberg The Gutenberg project is the new Editor Interface for WordPress. The editor improves the process and experience of creating new content, making writing rich content much simpler. It uses ‘blocks’ to add richness rather than shortcodes, custom HTML etc. https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/ function
  • #53955 – Fix and improve the docs for the image_editor_output_format filter
  • #54030 – Pressing esc in Widgets Editor closes panel in customizer
  • #54036 – PclZip throwing errors on PHPPHP The web scripting language in which WordPress is primarily architected. WordPress requires PHP 5.6.20 or higher 8 – previously merged patchpatch A special text file that describes changes to code, by identifying the files and lines which are added, removed, and altered. It may also be referred to as a diff. A patch can be applied to a codebase for testing. is incomplete
  • #54052 – Block editor package updates for 5.8.1

The following block editor issues from GitHubGitHub GitHub is a website that offers online implementation of git repositories that can can easily be shared, copied and modified by other developers. Public repositories are free to host, private repositories require a paid subscription. GitHub introduced the concept of the ‘pull request’ where code changes done in branches by contributors can be reviewed and discussed before being merged be the repository owner. https://github.com/ are fixed:

  • PR33384 – Fix API docs for data reference guides
  • PR33381 – Docs: use markdown headings instead of links for API declarations
  • PR33498 – Docs: Run Prettier after updating API in documentation
  • PR33549 – Use tabs instead of spaces in block transform doc example
  • PR30617 – Fix metaboxMetabox A post metabox is a draggable box shown on the post editing screen. Its purpose is to allow the user to select or enter information in addition to the main post content. This information should be related to the post in some way. reordering
  • PR32083 – Block editor: move layout styles to document head (instead of rendering inline)
  • PR33814 – Widgets: Allow HTMLHTML HyperText Markup Language. The semantic scripting language primarily used for outputting content in web browsers. tags in description
  • PR33457 – Editor: Set ‘hide_empty’ for the most used terms query
  • PR33482 – Update widget editor help links to point to the new support article
  • PR33621 – Fixed that the block is selected instead of the title when using the select all shortcut.
  • PR33699 – Writing flow: select all: remove early return for post title
  • PR33618 – Call onChangeSectionExpanded conditionally
  • PR33679 – FontSizePicker: Use number values when the initial value is a number
  • PR33739 – Fix justification for button block when selected
  • PR33771 – Add error boundaries to widget screens
  • PR33802 – Fix insertion point in Widgets editors
  • PR34280 – Default batch processor: Respect the batch endpoint’s maxItems
  • PR34314 – Fix button block focus trap after a URLURL A specific web address of a website or web page on the Internet, such as a website’s URL www.wordpress.org has been added
  • PR34076 – Text for dropdown fields within legacy widgets in the Customizer is off centered
  • PR32935 – Add a SearchControl component and reuse accross the UIUI User interface(class change in tests)

What’s next?

The dev-reviewed workflow (double committercommitter A developer with commit access. WordPress has five lead developers and four permanent core developers with commit access. Additionally, the project usually has a few guest or component committers - a developer receiving commit access, generally for a single release cycle (sometimes renewed) and/or for a specific component. sign-off) is now in effect when making any changes to the 5.8 branchbranch A directory in Subversion. WordPress uses branches to store the latest development code for each major release (3.9, 4.0, etc.). Branches are then updated with code for any minor releases of that branch. Sometimes, a major version of WordPress and its minor versions are collectively referred to as a "branch", such as "the 4.0 branch"..

As per the proposed WordPress 5.8.1 schedule, the final release is expected on Wednesday, September 8, 2021. Please note that this date can change depending on possible issues after RC1 is released. Coordination will happen in the WordPress.orgWordPress.org The community site where WordPress code is created and shared by the users. This is where you can download the source code for WordPress core, plugins and themes as well as the central location for community conversations and organization. https://wordpress.org/ SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform https://slack.com/. The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at https://make.wordpress.org/chat/. #5-8-release-leads channel.

A special thanks to everyone who helped test, raised issues, and helped to fix tickets. With this release candidate testing continues, so please, help test!

The 5.8.1 release is being led by @desrosj and @circlecube.

Props @webcommsat and @desrosj for peer review.

#5-8, #5-8-1, #minor-releases, #releases

What’s new in Gutenberg 11.4? (1 September)

Depending on where you live, it’s the first day of Spring. Or Autumn. Or, if you live on Venus, just another season of sulphuric acid showers.

No matter where you are, GutenbergGutenberg The Gutenberg project is the new Editor Interface for WordPress. The editor improves the process and experience of creating new content, making writing rich content much simpler. It uses ‘blocks’ to add richness rather than shortcodes, custom HTML etc. https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/ 11.4 has been released with new features to brighten your mood including the refactored Gallery BlockBlock Block is the abstract term used to describe units of markup that, composed together, form the content or layout of a webpage using the WordPress editor. The idea combines concepts of what in the past may have achieved with shortcodes, custom HTML, and embed discovery into a single consistent API and user experience., duotone filters for featured images, and more block design tools!

Gallery Block now uses Image Blocks

The Gallery Block now acts as a wrapper for coreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. Image Blocks.

Individual gallery images will therefore feature all existing and future functionality of not only Image Blocks – for example, the ability to add custom links, filters, and styles – but also standard block behavior such as move, drag and drop, copy, and keyboard navigation.

For now, the new Gallery Block can be enabled on the Gutenberg Experiment page, but the plan is for the Gallery Block to ship with WordPress 5.9.

Theme and pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party authors can get wise about backward compatibility recommendations over in the Gallery Block Refactor Dev Note.

Duotone filters for featured images

Duotone filters were introduced to image and cover blocks in 10.6. By extending duotone filters to Post Featured ImageFeatured image A featured image is the main image used on your blog archive page and is pulled when the post or page is shared on social media. The image can be used to display in widget areas on your site or in a summary list of posts. blocks, 11.4 enables us to set consistent effects across post and page templates, recent posts lists, and Query Block content.

Padding support for Button Blocks

As of 11.4, we can define padding for Button Blocks with the further option of linking padding values to vertical and horizontal axial sides.

The aim is to provide greater control as well as uniformity in the way we display button elements. We can still set a single padding value for all sides – adding extra vertical or horizontal padding just gives us that extra flexibility to create variations on our design patterns.

Support for block gap spacing

Having a consistent way to tweak the margin/gap between blocks has been a long-standing feature requestfeature request A feature request should generally begin the process in the ideas forum, on a mailing list, as a plugin, or brought to the attention of the core team, such as through scope meetings held for each major release. Unsolicited tickets of this variety are typically, therefore, discouraged.. 11.4 introduces the groundwork for adding gap spacing control to blocks such as Buttons, Images, and Columns, opening up the possibility of more powerful and precise layout tools.

There’s work in progress to bring this to the editor so stay tuned for updates in upcoming releases!

Other notable highlights

Font weight support is now available for the Post Date and Post Terms Blocks.

An “early betaBeta A pre-release of software that is given out to a large group of users to trial under real conditions. Beta versions have gone through alpha testing in-house and are generally fairly close in look, feel and function to the final product; however, design changes often occur as part of the process.” feature has also made it into 11.4: the ability to expose a parent block’s toolbar controls to its child blocks. A use case would be changing the alignment of Buttons when editing a single Button. Keep an eye out for a request for feedback on this developing feature soon.

11.4.0

Enhancements

  • AccessibilityAccessibility Accessibility (commonly shortened to a11y) refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design ensures both “direct access” (i.e. unassisted) and “indirect access” meaning compatibility with a person’s assistive technology (for example, computer screen readers). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessibility)
    • Cover Block: Allow alt text in Cover blocks. (33226)
    • Add aria-describedby to custom select control component to describe currently-selected font size. (33941)
  • Block Editor
    • Block Lists: improve iframeiframe iFrame is an acronym for an inline frame. An iFrame is used inside a webpage to load another HTML document and render it. This HTML document may also contain JavaScript and/or CSS which is loaded at the time when iframe tag is parsed by the user’s browser. block, pattern and template previews. (28165)
  • Block Library
    • Query LoopLoop The Loop is PHP code used by WordPress to display posts. Using The Loop, WordPress processes each post to be displayed on the current page, and formats it according to how it matches specified criteria within The Loop tags. Any HTML or PHP code in the Loop will be processed on each post. https://codex.wordpress.org/The_Loop.: update Post Template sub-block icon. (34204)
    • Convert Gallery block to use Image blocks. (25940)
    • Post Featured Image: add duotone block supports. (34113)
    • Post Featured Image: add contextual help text to the scaleproperty. (34158)
    • File block: update transform from image to use image filename if caption is empty. (34256)
    • Post date Block: add font weight support to the block. (34070)
    • Post terms: add font weight support to the block. (34142)
    • Site Tagline: add font weight support. (33983)
    • Button: update spacing support to use axial padding. (33859)
  • Components
    • Add deprecated props adapter for ColorPicker. (34014)
    • Wrap SegmentedControl in a BaseControl with an added help property. (34017)
    • Combobox: update the current selection if the list of suggestions is filtered. (33928)
    • Post Title: use rich text hook and updating tagtag A directory in Subversion. WordPress uses tags to store a single snapshot of a version (3.6, 3.6.1, etc.), the common convention of tags in version control systems. (Not to be confused with post tags.) to h1 (31569)
  • Design Tools
    • Add layout default value support for blocks. (34194)
    • Dimensions Panel: add padding tool as default for blocks where this is a common setting. (34026)
  • Navigation Screen
    • Update navigation screen topbar. (34166)
  • Packages
    • Updates the “settings” icon, which toggles the display of additional controls in an interface. (34165)
  • Post Editor
    • Migrate post editor feature preferences to the interface package. (34154)
  • Widgets Editor
    • Migrate customize widgets feature preferences to interface package. (34135)
    • Refactor editor ‘feature’ preferences to interface package. (33774)

Bug Fixes

  • Block APIAPI An API or Application Programming Interface is a software intermediary that allows programs to interact with each other and share data in limited, clearly defined ways.
    • Spacing/Dimensions Supports: separate spacing from dimensions for compatibility purposes. (34059)
  • Block Editor
    • Font-size adjustment for tablet and mobile device previews. (33342)
    • Fix single block selection by holding shift key. (34137)
    • Fix unwanted additional spaces added around pasted text on Windows. (33607)
    • Inserter: prevent non-deterministic order of inserter items. (34078)
    • Try: Fix multiselect toolbar indent and reformat BlockContextualToolbar(). (34038) (34173)
  • Block Library
    • Latest Comments: use site localeLocale A locale is a combination of language and regional dialect. Usually locales correspond to countries, as is the case with Portuguese (Portugal) and Portuguese (Brazil). Other examples of locales include Canadian English and U.S. English. in the editor. (33944)
    • Navigation: fix vertical layout on the frontend. (34226)
    • Navigation: add z-index value to responsive menu overlay. (34228)
    • Navigation: enable flex on container to fix space between. (34258)
    • Navigation: fix submenu icon positioning. (34168)
    • Navigation block: add missing </ul> closing tag. (34077)
    • Post ExcerptExcerpt An excerpt is the description of the blog post or page that will by default show on the blog archive page, in search results (SERPs), and on social media. With an SEO plugin, the excerpt may also be in that plugin’s metabox.: remove interactive formatting. (34083)
    • RichText: fix space key for button and summary elements. (30244)
    • Search Block: add space between generated border class names. (34025)
  • Build Tooling
    • Webpack: Fix watch on .json and .php files. (34024)
    • Pin TypeScript dependency to a specific version to avoid pulling in breaking changes. (34422)
  • Components
    • Fix RTL on Flex component. (33729)
    • NavigationSidebar: fix template content for content-navigation-item preview. (34203)
    • Remove deprecated import style for storybook/addon-docs. (34095)
    • ToolsPanel: add tools panel item deregistration. (34085)
    • Post Title: remove wrapper div and fix border style. (34167)
  • Core Data
    • GetEntityRecords returns items even if some included IDs don’t exist. (34034)
  • Design Tools
    • Allow zero values for theme.json styles. (34251)
  • Global Styles
    • Site editor: fix for how CSSCSS Cascading Style Sheets. custom properties are generated. (33932)
  • Packages
    • Rich Text: add check to toTree() in replacements before accessing its type. (34020)
  • Post Editor
    • Fix selector params in isPluginItemPinned() selector. (34155)

Performance

  • Data Layer
    • Data: Add a batch function to the data module to batch actions. (34046)

Experiments

  • Block API
    • Block Editor: absorb parent block toolbar controls. (33955)
    • Block Editor: use groups for InspectorControls. (34069)
  • Block Library
    • Add generic classnames to children of Navigation. (33918)
  • Global Styles
    • Add slashes back to the Theme JSONJSON JSON, or JavaScript Object Notation, is a minimal, readable format for structuring data. It is used primarily to transmit data between a server and web application, as an alternative to XML.. (33919)
    • Add block spacing gap configuration to theme.json and add support for this CSS variable to the “flow/default” layout. (33812)

Documentation

  • Handbook
    • Alphabetize glossary entries. (34058)
    • Correct minor typos in wp-plugin.md (34185)
    • Remove extraneous params from block_type_metadata hook. (34151)
    • Update incorrect settings examples in “Global Settings & Styles”. (34084)
    • Use block.json to add attributes in create block tutorial. (33978)
    • Fix typo in block gap documentation in theme-json.md. (34231)
    • Fix broken mobile testing documentation link in testing-overview.md. (34187)
    • Fix typo in legacy-widget-block.md. (34103)
    • Update spelling and fontSize examples in create-block-theme.md. (34152)
  • Library
    • Bump mobile version in experiments page for Gallery. (34220)
  • Packages
    • Add documentation for mobile components directory. (33872)

Code Quality

  • Block Editor
    • Render head and body with single portal for block previews. (34208)
    • BlockList: refactor element context for style/svg appending. (34183)
    • BlockList: use InnerBlocks internally. (29895)
  • Components
    • Unit Control: add unit tests for getValidParsedUnit utility method. (34029)
    • Rename SegmentedControl to ToggleGroupControl. (34111)
    • Dropdown Menu: remove min-width from the dropdown component and add whitespace rule to avoid wrapping (33995)
  • Core Data
    • Allow passing store definitions to controls. (34170)
  • Site Editor
    • Remove extra DOM element used for template part overlay. (34012)

Tools

  • Build Tooling
    • Automated Changelog: force group all documentation tasks under Documentation. (34042)
    • Automated Changelog: rename “Editor” grouping to “Post Editor” to avoid ambiguity with other editors. (34093)
    • Automated Changelog: sort feature groups by issue name. (34071)
    • Automated Changelog: use nested headings for feature groups instead of indenting lists. (34040)
    • Automated Changelog: remove Uncategorized headerHeader The header of your site is typically the first thing people will experience. The masthead or header art located across the top of your page is part of the look and feel of your website. It can influence a visitor’s opinion about your content and you/ your organization’s brand. It may also look different on different screen sizes. in output and place items at top. (34037)
    • Add Typescript extensions to watched files. (34094)
    • Remove obsolete step that pushes tags in NPM publishing flow. (34114)
    • Release workflow: only commit modified changelogs. (34211)
  • ESLint
    • Eslint plugin: use @typescript-eslint/no-duplicate-imports in TS projects. (34055)
  • GitHubGitHub GitHub is a website that offers online implementation of git repositories that can can easily be shared, copied and modified by other developers. Public repositories are free to host, private repositories require a paid subscription. GitHub introduced the concept of the ‘pull request’ where code changes done in branches by contributors can be reviewed and discussed before being merged be the repository owner. https://github.com/ Contributor Templates
    • Issue Forms: simplify the bugbug A bug is an error or unexpected result. Performance improvements, code optimization, and are considered enhancements, not defects. After feature freeze, only bugs are dealt with, with regressions (adverse changes from the previous version) being the highest priority. report form template. (34007)
  • Logs
    • Hide deprecation logs under a console group. (34163)
  • Testing
    • Emulate reduced-motion in end-to-end tests. (34132)
    • Re-enable Android end-to-end tests. (34243)
    • Remove extra props from Cover deprecations. (34066)
    • Remove the ENVIRONMENT_DIRECTORY env variable that was added to the performance jobs. (34086)
    • Add snapshot test for changelog formatting. (34049)
    • Experiment with using REST APIREST API The REST API is an acronym for the RESTful Application Program Interface (API) that uses HTTP requests to GET, PUT, POST and DELETE data. It is how the front end of an application (think “phone app” or “website”) can communicate with the data store (think “database” or “file system”) https://developer.wordpress.org/rest-api/. in end-to-end tests to build up states. (33414)

Performance benchmark

VersionLoading TimeKeyPress Event (typing)
Gutenberg 11.46.35s36.87ms
Gutenberg 11.36.29s36.97ms
WordPress 5.86.91s35.48ms

Thanks to @critterverse for our release preview assets, @priethor for guiding the release, @noisysocks, @talldanwp, and @andrewserong for their help with the release build and deployDeploy Launching code from a local development environment to the production web server, so that it's available to visitors., and to all who contributed to this release. Thank you for your splendid work!

#block-editor, #core-editor, #gutenberg, #gutenberg-new

Dev Chat Agenda for Sept 1, 2021

Here is the agenda for this week’s developer meeting to occur at September 1, 2021, at 20:00 UTC.

Blogblog (versus network, site) Post Highlights and announcements

Bringing to your attention some interesting reads and some call for feedback and/or volunteers

Components check-in and status updates

  • Check-in with each component for status updates.
  • Poll for components that need assistance.

Open Floor

Do you have something to propose for the agenda, or a specific item relevant to the usual agenda items above?

Please leave a comment, and say whether or not you’ll be in the chat, so the group can either give you the floor or bring up your topic for you accordingly.

This meeting happens in the #core channel. To join the meeting, you’ll need an account on the Making WordPress Slack.

Peer review @annezazu and @circlecube.

#agenda, #core, #dev-chat

A Week in Core – August 30, 2021

Welcome back to a new issue of Week in CoreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress.. Let’s take a look at what changed on TracTrac An open source project by Edgewall Software that serves as a bug tracker and project management tool for WordPress. between August 23 and August 30, 2021.

  • 33 commits
  • 34 contributors
  • 63 tickets created
  • 11 tickets reopened
  • 49 tickets closed

The Core team is currently working on the next point (5.8.1) and major (5.9) releases.

Ticketticket Created for both bug reports and feature development on the bug tracker. numbers are based on the Trac timeline for the period above. The following is a summary of commits, organized by component and/or focus.

Code changes

Administration

  • Remove a misleading pointer cursor from list items in the adminadmin (and super admin) menu – #51551

Build/Test Tools

  • Install the Composer package dependencies within the Docker environment as part of the local development environment installation and testing processes – #53945
  • Preserve text within backticks in SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform https://slack.com/. The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at https://make.wordpress.org/chat/. notifications – #52644
  • Remove shell: bash from PHPUnit test workflow – #53363
  • Remove shell: bash from code coverage workflow – #53363
  • Use list format when defining environment variables in Docker compose file – #53820
  • Remove css/dist in grunt clean command – #53719
  • Improve bootstrap error message for when ABSPATH folder does not exist
  • Move wp_list_filter() tests to their own file – #53363, #53987
  • Move wp_list_pluck() tests to their own file – #53363, #53987
  • Move wp_list_sort() tests to their own file – #53363, #53987
  • Remove duplicate wp_list_pluck() tests – #53363, #53987
  • Rename the test file and class for wp_filter_object_list() tests – #53363, #53987

Coding Standards

  • Add missing visibility keywords for wp_filter_object_list() and wp_list_pluck() tests – #53363, #53987
  • Fix WPCSWordPress Coding Standards A collection of PHP_CodeSniffer rules (sniffs) to validate code developed for WordPress. It ensures code quality and adherence to coding conventions, especially the official standards for WordPress Core. issue in [51682]#54030
  • Fix indentation and remove ignore annotation in wp_privacy_send_personal_data_export_email()#53359
  • Make ignore annotation more specific in WP_Site_Health_Auto_Updates::test_vcs_abspath()#53359
  • Remove redundant ignore annotation in populate_options()#53359
  • Update the config for WordPress.PHP.FileName in PHPCSPHP Code Sniffer PHP Code Sniffer, a popular tool for analyzing code quality. The WordPress Coding Standards rely on PHPCS. ruleset – #53359
  • Update the config for WordPress.PHP.NoSilencedErrors in PHPCS ruleset – #53359
  • Use static closures when not using $this#53359
  • Pass correct default value to http_build_query() in WP_Sitemaps_Provider::get_sitemap_url()#53635

Customize

  • Prevent collapsing expanded panel/section/control when Esc is pressed on a blockBlock Block is the abstract term used to describe units of markup that, composed together, form the content or layout of a webpage using the WordPress editor. The idea combines concepts of what in the past may have achieved with shortcodes, custom HTML, and embed discovery into a single consistent API and user experience. editor instance – #54030
  • Respect prefers-reduced-motion media query in CustomizerCustomizer Tool built into WordPress core that hooks into most modern themes. You can use it to preview and modify many of your site’s appearance settings. animations – #53542

Documentation

  • Add missing @since tagtag A directory in Subversion. WordPress uses tags to store a single snapshot of a version (3.6, 3.6.1, etc.), the common convention of tags in version control systems. (Not to be confused with post tags.) for the $check_signatures parameter of WP_Upgrader::run()#53399
  • Clarify a comment in WP_Upgrader::run()#53399

Editor

  • Ensure block attribute serialization in PHPPHP The web scripting language in which WordPress is primarily architected. WordPress requires PHP 5.6.20 or higher matches the JavaScriptJavaScript JavaScript or JS is an object-oriented computer programming language commonly used to create interactive effects within web browsers. WordPress makes extensive use of JS for a better user experience. While PHP is executed on the server, JS executes within a user’s browser. https://www.javascript.com/. equivalent – #53936

Filesystem APIAPI An API or Application Programming Interface is a software intermediary that allows programs to interact with each other and share data in limited, clearly defined ways.

  • Make sure to only call fread() on non-empty files in PclZip::privAddFile()#54036

Media

  • Fix wp_unique_filename() to check for name collisions with all alternate file names when an image may be converted after uploading. This includes possible collinions with pre-existing images whose sub-sizes/thumbnails are regenerated – #53668

Menus

  • Save display locations for new menus – #53877

Plugins

  • Display a message on Plugins list table if a pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party requires a higher version of PHP or WordPress – #53990

REST APIREST API The REST API is an acronym for the RESTful Application Program Interface (API) that uses HTTP requests to GET, PUT, POST and DELETE data. It is how the front end of an application (think “phone app” or “website”) can communicate with the data store (think “database” or “file system”) https://developer.wordpress.org/rest-api/.

  • Correct the description for the last_updated property in the block-directory endpoint – #53595

Security

  • Correct the inline docsinline docs (phpdoc, docblock, xref) for the wp_kses_allowed_html filterFilter Filters are one of the two types of Hooks https://codex.wordpress.org/Plugin_API/Hooks. They provide a way for functions to modify data of other functions. They are the counterpart to Actions. Unlike Actions, filters are meant to work in an isolated manner, and should never have side effects such as affecting global variables and output.#53597

Toolbar

  • Provide a CSSCSS Cascading Style Sheets. custom property for the admin bar height – #52623

Props

Thanks to the 34 people who contributed to WordPress Core on Trac last week: @jrf (10), @hellofromTonya (8), @SergeyBiryukov (6), @desrosj (5), @johnbillion (3), @dlh (2), @azaozz (2), @netweb (2), @sabernhardt (1), @pbearne (1), @swissspidy (1), @youknowriad (1), @nico23 (1), @ocean90 (1), @pbrearne (1), @timothyblynjacobs (1), @kevinfodness (1), @peterwilsoncc (1), @mikeschroder (1), @mamaduka (1), @TacoVerdo (1), @zieladam (1), @isabel_brison (1), @kevin940726 (1), @earnjam (1), @gwwar (1), @opurockey (1), @ryelle (1), @kurudrive (1), @circlecube (1), @DavidAnderson (1), @mukesh27 (1), @andraganescu (1), and @ianmjones (1).

Congrats and welcome to our 2 new contributors of the week! @kevinfodness and @kurudrive ♥️

Core committers: @sergeybiryukov (12), @hellofromtonya (7), @desrosj (5), @johnbillion (4), @peterwilsoncc (2), @mikeschroder (1), @ryelle (1), and @azaozz (1).

#5-8-1, #5-9, #core, #week-in-core

Editor Chat Agenda: 1 Sept 2021

Facilitator and notetaker: @annezazu

This is the agenda for the weekly editor chat scheduled for 2021-09-1 14:00 UTC.

This meeting is held in the #core-editor channel in the Making WordPress SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform https://slack.com/. The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at https://make.wordpress.org/chat/..

  • What’s new in GutenbergGutenberg The Gutenberg project is the new Editor Interface for WordPress. The editor improves the process and experience of creating new content, making writing rich content much simpler. It uses ‘blocks’ to add richness rather than shortcodes, custom HTML etc. https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/ (11.4). This release is planned for the day of the meeting.
  • Whats next in Gutenberg: July and August. If a September edition is out by the meeting time, we’ll refer to that.
  • Updates based on updated scope for site editing projects and WP 5.8:
    • Navigation BlockBlock Block is the abstract term used to describe units of markup that, composed together, form the content or layout of a webpage using the WordPress editor. The idea combines concepts of what in the past may have achieved with shortcodes, custom HTML, and embed discovery into a single consistent API and user experience. & Navigation Editor.
    • Template editor.
    • Patterns.
    • Styling.
    • Mobile Team.
  • Task Coordination.
  • Open Floor.

If you are not able to attend the meeting, you are encouraged to share anything relevant for the discussion:

  • If you have an update for the main site editing projects, please feel free to share as a comment or come prepared for the meeting itself.
  • If you have anything to share for the Task Coordination section, please leave it as a comment on this post.
  • If you have anything to propose for the agenda or other specific items related to those listed above, please leave a comment below.

#agenda, #core-editor, #core-editor-agenda, #meeting

CSS Chat Summary: 26 August 2021

The meeting took place here on Slack. @notlaura facilitated and @danfarrow wrote up these notes.

Announcements & Housekeeping

  • Previously we had talked about rotating the meeting facilitator on a regular basis. @notlaura asked anybody wanting to join the rota to step forward
  • UPDATE: We’re now working on a Meeting Guide document, which includes a facilitator schedule for people to sign up to

CSSCSS Cascading Style Sheets. Custom Properties (#49930)

  • @notlaura introduced the project for new attendees and asked for any updates
  • @wazeter committed two PRs last week, one in coordination with @robertg – more commits coming in a few days!
  • @dryanpress similarly expects to be committing in the next few days
  • @ryelle has updated the shared planning document with links to the PRs, and @circlecube has been helpfully indicating merged PRs by striking them through
  • @ryelle asked for help reviewing the PRs – @dryanpress & @wazeter offered their assistance
  • @wazeter shared some details of his methodology for themes.css where he temporarily moved many custom properties to the top of the file with a prefix --wp-admin--themes
  • @ryelle noted that all custom properties should eventually be moved into custom-properties.css
  • @wazeter asked about fallback values which @ryelle responded to: hex fallback rules, which precede rules assigning rgba values for browsers that don’t understand rgba, can now be removed since coreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress.’s browser support has been updated – UPDATE: I’ve added a note about this in the shared doc
  • @notlaura added a final note thanking all contributions, especially newcomers

CSS Link Share / Open Floor

  • @notlaura raised the topic of meeting structure, in particular keeping the structured work sessions for times when attendance is low
  • @wazeter supported the meeting format, noting that he sometimes was unsure what to do in the structured work session
  • @notlaura suggested creating some general guidelines on how to run Core CSS meetings – UPDATE: Now underway here!
  • @ryelle volunteered to run the CSS triagetriage The act of evaluating and sorting bug reports, in order to decide priority, severity, and other factors. session before next week’s meeting – thanks @ryelle!

Thanks everyone!

NOTE: For those interested in facilitating a future meeting or triage, please add your name to the Facilitator Schedule here

#core-css, #summary

CSS Chat Agenda: August 26, 2021

The next weekly CSSCSS Cascading Style Sheets. meeting is Thursday, August 26 at 21:00PM UTC in the #core-css channel in Making WordPress Slack.

CSS Custom Properties (#49930)

Focused on substituting existing colors throughout CoreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. stylesheets, the CSS Custom Properties project aims to make working with Adminadmin (and super admin) Themes & Admin Color Schemes easier and more reliable both in Core and Plugins.

The #core-css team is looking for contributors interested in adopting a stylesheet (a process outlined here). No prior contributing experience is required — we’re happy to assist anyone who would like to participate! This meeting we will continue with work and collaboration, time permitting.

Meeting Agenda

  • Welcome (21:00PM UTC)
  • Announcements & Housekeeping
  • CSS Custom Properties (#49930)
    • Overview & Updates
    • How to Get Involved
    • Status Check-In & Blockers
  • Work & Collaboration (time permitting)
  • Open Floor
  • CSS Link Share (Bring neat examples & helpful tools!)

#agenda, #core-css